As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on February 26, 2025
1933 Act Registration No. 002-85229
1940 Act Registration No. 811-03802
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
☒ |
Pre-Effective Amendment No. |
|
☐ |
Post-Effective Amendment No. |
147 |
☒ |
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |
☒ |
(Check appropriate box or boxes)
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
c/o Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including
Area Code: (212) 476-8800
Joseph V. Amato
Chief Executive Officer and President
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
c/o Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104-0002
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With copies to:
Lori L. Schneider, Esq.
K&L Gates LLP
1601 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006-1600
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: Continuous
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box):
| ☐ | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
| ☒ | on February 28, 2025 pursuant to paragraph (b) |
| ☐ | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
| ☐ | on _________________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
| ☐ | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
| ☐ | on _________________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485. |
If appropriate, check the following box:
| ☐ | this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date
for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
Title of Securities Being Registered:
Institutional Class shares of Neuberger Berman
Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income
Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate
Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund.
Investor Class shares of Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund.
Class A shares of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund,
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund.
Class C shares of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund,
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund.
Class R3 shares of Neuberger Berman High Income
Bond Fund.
Class R6 shares of Neuberger Berman Core Bond
Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund.
Trust Class shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic
Income Fund.
Class E shares of Neuberger Berman High Income
Bond Fund.
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
CONTENTS OF POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 147 ON
FORM N-1A
This Post-Effective Amendment consists of the following papers and
documents.
Cover Sheet
Contents of Post-Effective Amendment No. 147 on Form N-1A
Part A - Prospectuses
Part B - Statement of Additional
Information
Part C - Other Information
Signature Page
Exhibit Index
Exhibits
This registration statement does not affect the registration of any
series or any class of a series of the Registrant not included herein.
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
|
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund
|
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund
|
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund
|
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
|
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund
|
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund
|
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
|
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
|
|
|
|
Prospectus February 28, 2025
These securities, like the securities of all mutual funds, have not been approved
or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has not determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Contents
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
Fund Summaries
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund
Class A Shares (NCRAX), Class C Shares (NCRCX), Institutional Class Shares (NCRLX)
The Fund seeks to maximize total return consistent with capital preservation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 151 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
| | | |
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price) | | | |
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of the lower of original purchase price or current market | | | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | | | |
| | | |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | | | |
| | | |
Total annual operating expenses | | | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement2 | | | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
| | | | |
| | | | |
Class C (assuming redemption) | | | | |
Class C (assuming no redemption) | | | | |
| | | | |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 156% of the average value of its portfolio. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate including to-be-announced (“TBA”) roll transactions was 156%.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests in a diversified mix of debt securities,
which primarily include government bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities.
The Fund may invest in a broad array of securities, including: securities issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; municipal securities; foreign
securities, including emerging markets; securities issued by supranational entities (e.g., World Bank, IMF); corporate bonds;
mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities; collateralized debt obligations, including collateralized loan obligations; inflation-linked debt securities; and commercial paper. Securities in which the Fund may invest may be issued by domestic and foreign governments,
corporate entities and trusts and may be structured as fixed rate debt, floating rate debt, and debt that may not pay
interest from the time of issuance. The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced
(“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities), which involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase securities that will be issued
or settled at a later date. The Fund may enter into a TBA agreement and “roll over” such agreement prior to the settlement date by
selling the obligation to purchase the securities set forth in the agreement and entering into a new TBA agreement for future
delivery of pools of mortgage-backed securities.
The debt securities in which the Fund invests primarily are investment grade. The
Fund considers debt securities to be investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated within the four highest categories
by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable
quality.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward foreign
currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.
The Fund normally will not invest more than 15% of its total assets in non-U.S. dollar
denominated securities and, through hedging strategies, will attempt to limit its exposure to currencies other than the
U.S. dollar to 5% of its total assets.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in preferred securities. The Fund may also invest
a significant amount of its assets in U.S. Treasury securities or other money market instruments depending on market conditions.
The Fund normally seeks to maintain its target average duration within one year of
the average duration of the bonds in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. However, depending on market conditions, the
Fund may generally seek to maintain its target average duration within a maximum of two years of the average duration of the
bonds in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in bonds and other debt securities
and other investment companies that provide investment exposure to such debt securities. The Fund will not alter this
policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage
changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
Investment Philosophy and Process
The Portfolio Management Team’s investment philosophy is rooted in the belief that
positive results can be achieved through a consistently applied, risk-managed approach to portfolio management that leverages
the strengths of its fundamental research capabilities, decision-making frameworks, and quantitative risk management tools.
The Portfolio Management Team employs an integrated investment process in managing the Fund.
■
Portfolio Strategy: The Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, which
it monitors on an ongoing basis, including exposures to sectors (such as government, structured debt,
credit, etc.) and duration/yield curve positioning, utilizing internally generated views that are produced by specialty sector
investment teams in conjunction with asset allocation tools.
■
Strategy Implementation: Once the Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund,
the specialty sector investment teams and the Portfolio Management Team determine industry/sub-sector
weightings and make securities selections within the types of securities that the Fund can purchase, such as investment
grade securities and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.
When assessing the value of a particular security, the teams utilize internally generated
research and proprietary quantitatively driven tools and frameworks (including an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal
and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning) to a) establish an internal outlook, b) evaluate the market’s
outlook as it is reflected in asset prices, and c) contrast the two. As part of their fundamental investment analysis, the Portfolio
Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments,
where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party
metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors,
alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the
Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending
on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments,
such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration
of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment
strategy.
The teams will generally purchase securities if their internal outlook suggests a
security is undervalued by the market and sell securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is overvalued by the market.
The goal is to identify and evaluate investment opportunities that others may have missed.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk. CDOs, which include collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), issue classes or “tranches” of securities that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due to interest rate fluctuations, actual defaults, collateral defaults, disappearance of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to CDO securities as a class. The risks of investing in CDOs depend largely on the quality and type of the underlying debt, which may include loans, bonds and mortgages, and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. In addition, CDOs that obtain their exposure through derivative instruments entail the additional risks associated with such instruments. CDOs can be difficult to value, may at times be illiquid, may be highly leveraged (which could make them highly volatile), and may produce unexpected investment results due to their complex structure. In addition, CDOs involve many of the same risks of investing in debt securities and asset-backed securities including, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer. Issuers generally do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured, which increases its credit risk.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in
trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of other portfolio investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful and the Fund may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it
was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its debt securities. For this reason, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being
adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the
prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.
Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Class A Return Before Taxes | | | |
Class C Return Before Taxes | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Thanos Bardas (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment
Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), David M. Brown, CFA (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment
Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), Nathan Kush (Managing Director of the Manager), and Olumide Owolabi (Managing Director of the Manager). Messrs. Bardas and Brown have managed the Fund since February 2008, Mr. Kush has managed the Fund since December 2017, and Olumide Owolabi has managed the Fund since February 2023.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form,
subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such
as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized
to sell the Fund's shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases
of Institutional Class shares.
For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for
instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for
direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional
investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum
may be waived in certain cases.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with
Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale
of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider
or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider
or visit its website for more information.
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Class A Shares (NERAX), Class C Shares (NERCX), Institutional Class Shares (NERIX)
The Fund seeks high total return consisting of income and capital appreciation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 151 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
| | | |
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price) | | | |
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of the lower of original purchase price or current market | | | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | | | |
| | | |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | | | |
| | | |
Total annual operating expenses | | | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement2 | | | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
| | | | |
| | | | |
Class C (assuming redemption) | | | | |
Class C (assuming no redemption) | | | | |
| | | | |
13 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 60% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in debt
and other instruments of issuers that are tied economically to emerging market countries and other investments that provide investment
exposure to such debt instruments. These include debt instruments of issuers that are based in emerging markets or that
receive the majority of revenue from emerging markets, in debt or derivative instruments where the underlying risk or ultimate
risk is on such an emerging market issuer, or in debt or derivative instruments where the currency of risk is an emerging
market currency. In determining where an issuer of a security is based, the Portfolio Managers may consider such factors as
where the company is legally organized, maintains its principal corporate offices and/or conducts its principal operations. The Fund
considers emerging market countries to be countries included in the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index - Global Diversified,
the JPMorgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index - Diversified, the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Index or the
JPMorgan Government Bond Index - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, as well as those countries which are not defined
as High Income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries by the World Bank.
The Fund may invest in sovereign, supranational, quasi-sovereign (i.e., securities
of issuers that are directly or indirectly wholly-owned by the government or that are explicitly guaranteed by the government) and corporate
issuers. These investments may be of any maturity, duration and credit rating (including, without limit, investments in
below investment grade securities commonly known as “junk bonds”) and may be denominated in any currency including the local
currency of the issuer. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings
or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default or that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest
or repayment of principal, depending on the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of the investment opportunity. The Fund also may invest
a large percentage of its net assets in issuers in a single country or geographic region.
The Portfolio Managers implement a systematic and disciplined framework for analyzing
sovereign and corporate debt securities denominated in either local currency or globally traded currencies of industrialized
countries. The investment decisions made by the Portfolio Managers rely on fundamental analysis and total return expectations
in an effort to identify undervalued and overvalued securities and exploit investment opportunities.
The Portfolio Managers seek to anticipate yield, spread and currency movements in
response to:
■
Region, country and sector fundamentals;
■
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors; and
■
Issuer specific financial performance and other issuer specific factors.
The Portfolio Managers seek to identify investment opportunities in emerging market
countries by comparing their analysis of each country’s macroeconomic data and qualitative fundamentals (such as political
stability) against market expectations for that country measured by credit spreads, local interest rate levels and exchange rate valuations.
The Portfolio Managers invest in individual issuers based on their relative financial performance and other issuer-specific
factors as well as the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of inefficiencies in the markets where the issuer is located that the Portfolio
Managers believe result in attractive valuations. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers
consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments,
where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party
metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors,
alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the
Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending
on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments,
such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration
of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment
strategy.
In an effort to manage risk, the Portfolio Managers periodically review the allocation
of the Fund’s investments among the different asset classes, countries or regions. They may determine to reallocate the
Fund’s investments based on a top-down analysis
14 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
of the global market environment, the economic environment of emerging markets, and
their evaluation of the attractiveness of an asset class. This evaluation includes an analysis of the relative attractiveness of
the sub-asset classes of emerging markets sovereign credit, corporate credit, currency exchange and local rates. The Portfolio Managers
also monitor the Fund’s performance relative to the indices listed above and the total exposure to individual countries, issuers,
and currencies.
The Fund may invest in debt instruments of all types. These may include, without limitation,
bonds, debentures, notes, convertible securities, loans and related assignments and participations, restricted
securities, and money market instruments, including money market funds, denominated in U.S. dollars or other currencies. The
Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), if the investment companies invest
principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.
The Fund may utilize derivatives of all types, without limitation, including futures
and forward contracts (including contracts related to currencies), swap agreements (including total return, interest rate, and
credit default swaps), options, and other related or synthetic instruments with respect to individual bonds and other instruments, indices
and baskets of securities, interest rates and currencies, and structured notes as part of its principal investment strategies.
The Fund may use derivatives for hedging or efficient portfolio management purposes, as well as to increase the Fund’s investment
exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing directly in more conventional securities, a practice that may introduce
leverage into the Fund. The Portfolio Managers may choose not to hedge the Fund's positions. The Fund may also invest directly
in foreign currencies for hedging risk and/or investment purposes.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes, in debt and other instruments of issuers that are tied economically to emerging market countries
and other investments that provide investment exposure to such debt instruments. The Fund will not alter this policy
without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes
caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the international debt and currency markets and the markets for the debt of any particular countries in which the Fund may be concentrated, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The markets' behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Risks of Investments in the PRC through Bond Connect Programs. There are significant risks inherent in investing through People's Republic of China (“PRC”) Bond Connect Programs (“Bond Connect”), which, from a non-PRC perspective, allows eligible foreign investors to purchase certain PRC onshore debt securities available from PRC’s interbank bond market. The PRC
15 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
investment and banking systems are materially different in nature from many developed markets, which exposes investors to risks that are different from those in the U.S. Bond Connect uses the market infrastructure of both Hong Kong and mainland PRC. If either one or both markets involved are closed on a day the Fund is open, the Fund may not be able to add to or exit a position on such a day, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Securities offered through Bond Connect may lose their eligibility for trading through Bond Connect at any time, and if such an event occurs, the Fund could sell, but could no longer purchase, such securities through Bond Connect. Investing through Bond Connect also includes the risk that the Fund may have a limited ability to enforce rights as a bondholder as well as the risks of settlement delays and counterparty default related to the sub-custodian. Securities purchased through Bond Connect generally may not be sold, purchased, or otherwise transferred other than through Bond Connect in accordance with applicable rules.
Further regulations, restrictions, interpretation or guidance, such as limitations on redemptions and availability of securities, may adversely impact Bond Connect. There can be no assurance that Bond Connect will not be restricted, suspended, or abolished.
With respect to tax treatment, investments via Bond Connect could result in unexpected tax liabilities for a Fund, and there is also some uncertainty around the tax treatment of payments such as interest payable to U.S. investors. Although the PRC government announced that interest income received by eligible foreign investors in the PRC financial instruments held by them through Bond Connect would be exempt from enterprise income tax and value-added tax until December 31, 2025, it is currently unknown if the PRC government will extend the exemption beyond December 31, 2025. Although it is currently anticipated that such an extension is likely to occur, if an extension did not occur, it could result in tax liabilities for a Fund.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole and there may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund is exposed directly or indirectly to foreign currencies, including through its investments, or invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That
16 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by the performance of the issuer of the underlying instrument, by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic events. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk, meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific factors. By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
17 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in one country or geographic region. If the Fund does so, there is a greater risk that economic, political, regulatory, diplomatic, social and environmental conditions in that particular country or geographic region may have a significant impact on the Fund’s performance and that the Fund’s performance will be more volatile than the performance of more geographically diversified funds.
Frontier Markets Risk. Frontier markets, which are foreign countries in the earliest stages of development, involve risks in addition to and greater than foreign and emerging markets. Investing in frontier markets involves unique risks, such as exposure to economies less diverse and mature than those of more developed foreign markets. Frontier markets are subject to economic, political, and socioeconomic instability that may cause larger price movements in frontier market securities than in securities of issuers based in more developed foreign markets, including securities of issuers in emerging markets. Frontier markets generally receive less investor attention than more developed markets, including those in emerging markets, and may have a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of companies representing a limited number of industries. Frontier market securities are subject to extreme volatility and extended periods of illiquidity. In addition, the currencies of frontier market countries may exhibit erratic movements.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the
18 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of other portfolio investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful and the Fund may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be
19 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
20 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially
21 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
Structured Note Risk. Structured notes are notes where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, financial instrument, market or interest rate. Generally, investments in such notes are used as a substitute for positions in underlying indicators and involve many of the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying indicator the notes seek to replicate. Structured notes may be exchange traded or traded over-the-counter and privately negotiated. Structured notes can have risks of both fixed income securities and derivatives transactions, including leverage risk. The interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured note may vary widely, depending on a variety of factors, including changes in the value of one or more specified reference instruments. The performance of structured notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the underlying indicator that the notes seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Structured notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the structured note will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Investments in structured notes, including credit-linked notes, involve risks including interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk. Structured notes may be illiquid and may have a limited trading market, making it difficult to value them or sell them at an acceptable price.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its
22 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.
Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
23 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
Emerging Markets Debt Fund | | | |
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Class A Return Before Taxes | | | |
Class C Return Before Taxes | | | |
J.P. Morgan Emerging Market Blend Hard Currency / Local Currency 50-50 Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
50% J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index (GBI)—Emerging Markets Global Diversified, 25% J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI®)—Global Diversified, and 25% J.P. Morgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index (CEMBI)—Diversified (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
Neuberger Berman Europe Limited (“NBEL”) is the Fund's sub-adviser.
The Fund is managed by Rob Drijkoningen (Managing Director of NBEL), Gorky Urquieta
(Managing Director of the Manager), Bart Van der Made, CFA (Managing Director of NBEL), Raoul Luttik (Managing
Director of NBEL), Jennifer Gorgoll, CFA (Managing Director of the Manager), Vera Kartseva, CFA (Senior Vice President
of NBEL) and Nish Popat
24 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
(Managing Director of NBEL). Mr. Drijkoningen, Mr. Urquieta, Mr. Van der Made, Mr.
Luttik, Ms. Gorgoll, Ms. Kartseva and Mr. Popat have co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2013.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form,
subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such
as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized
to sell the Fund's shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases
of Institutional Class shares.
For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for
instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for
direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional
investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum
may be waived in certain cases.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with
Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale
of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider
or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider
or visit its website for more information.
25 Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund
Class A Shares (NFIAX), Class C Shares (NFICX), Institutional Class Shares (NFIIX)
The Fund seeks high current income.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 151 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
| | | |
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price) | | | |
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of the lower of original purchase price or current market | | | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | | | |
| | | |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | | | |
| | | |
Acquired fund fees and expenses | | | |
Total annual operating expenses | | | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement2 | | | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
| | | | |
| | | | |
Class C (assuming redemption) | | | | |
Class C (assuming no redemption) | | | | |
| | | | |
26 Floating Rate Income Fund
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 76% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund invests mainly in floating rate senior secured loans
issued in U.S. dollars by U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships and other business entities (borrowers). These loans are
often at the time of investment below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk” or “junk bonds”). The Fund considers
debt securities to be below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest
categories by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable
quality. Floating interest rates vary with and adjust to reflect changes in a generally recognized base interest rate or
the prime rate. The Fund generally seeks to focus on loans of companies that the Portfolio Managers believe have the ability to generate
cash flow through a full business cycle, maintain adequate liquidity and have access to both debt and equity capital, but may
invest in loans of distressed companies.
The Fund may also purchase fixed-rate loans, second lien loans, unsecured loans, investment
grade and below investment grade fixed income securities, including investment grade short term debt obligations, convertible
securities, money market instruments, repurchase agreements, and restricted securities.
The Portfolio Managers will seek positive returns through in-depth credit research
utilizing proprietary analytics processes to assess the strength of a company’s credit profile, examples of which include but are not
limited to: their ability to pay principal and interest, their cash flow and balance sheet composition, and their market position
relative to competitors. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social
and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information,
the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial
metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process.
As part of this analysis, the Portfolio Managers also regularly engage with the management teams of issuers on issues that the Portfolio
Managers believe are material to the credit risk of an issuer. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of
integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply
to certain instruments, to the extent applicable, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies,
cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that
the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.
In addition, the Portfolio Managers adjust portfolio weightings based on their analysis
of general and sector-specific economic and market conditions, while seeking to diversify across industries, companies and investment
size.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in floating rate securities
(including loans) and other investment companies that provide investment exposure to such floating rate securities. The Fund
will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days' notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests;
later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to
dispose of a holding.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the markets for loan and fixed income instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The markets' behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
27 Floating Rate Income Fund
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole and there may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.
Foreign Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets, or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. market. The effect of economic instability on specific foreign markets or issuers may be difficult to predict or evaluate. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
28 Floating Rate Income Fund
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk” or “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted
29 Floating Rate Income Fund
may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
30 Floating Rate Income Fund
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Repurchase Agreement Risk. Repurchase agreements generally are for a short period of time and involve the risk that the counterparty may default on its obligation to repurchase the underlying instruments collateralizing the repurchase agreement, which may result in costs, delays, and/or losses to the Fund.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and
31 Floating Rate Income Fund
communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.
Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
32 Floating Rate Income Fund
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
Floating Rate Income Fund | | | |
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Class A Return Before Taxes | | | |
Class C Return Before Taxes | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Joseph P. Lynch (Managing Director of the Manager) and Stephen
J. Casey (Managing Director of the Manager). Mr. Lynch has managed the Fund since 2009 and Mr. Casey has managed the
Fund since 2010.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form,
subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such
as banks, brokerage firms, workplace
33 Floating Rate Income Fund
retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized
to sell the Fund's shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases
of Institutional Class shares.
For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for
instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for
direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional
investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum
may be waived in certain cases.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with
Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale
of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider
or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider
or visit its website for more information.
34 Floating Rate Income Fund
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
Class A Shares (NHIAX), Class C Shares (NHICX), Institutional Class Shares (NHILX)
The Fund seeks high total return consistent with capital preservation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 151 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
| | | |
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price) | | | |
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of the lower of original purchase price or current market | | | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | | | |
| | | |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | | | |
| | | |
Total annual operating expenses | | | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
| | | | |
| | | | |
Class C (assuming redemption) | | | | |
Class C (assuming no redemption) | | | | |
| | | | |
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 102% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests mainly in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. dollar-denominated, High-Yield Bonds (as defined below), with an emphasis on debt securities rated below investment grade (commonly
called “junk bonds”). For purposes
of this Fund, High-Yield Bonds are generally defined as those debt securities that,
at the time of investment, are rated in the lowest investment grade category (BBB by S&P Global Ratings, Baa by Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or comparably rated by at least one independent credit rating agency) or lower or, if
unrated, determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in floating rate senior secured loans
issued in U.S. dollars by U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. The Fund considers floating
rate senior secured loans to be High-Yield Bonds. The Fund may invest a significant amount of its assets in loans, including
in participation interests in loans.
The Fund normally expects to have a weighted averaged maturity between five and ten
years. The Fund endeavors to manage credit risk through disciplined credit analysis and diversification of credit quality.
The Fund intends to opportunistically rotate quality and sector exposures throughout the credit cycle, maintaining a higher quality
bias in High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic downturn is underway and increasing lower quality
holdings of High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic expansion is underway. With regard to interest
rate risk, the Portfolio Managers are sensitive to the overall duration of the portfolio in relation to its benchmark and
evaluate the duration of potential new portfolio acquisitions in conjunction with their credit analysis. The Fund invests its assets
in a broad range of issuers and industries.
The Portfolio Managers will seek positive returns through in-depth credit research
utilizing proprietary analytics processes to assess the strength of a company’s credit profile, examples of which include but are not
limited to: their ability to pay principal and interest, their cash flow and balance sheet composition, and their market position
relative to competitors. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social
and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information,
the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial
metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process.
As part of this analysis, the Portfolio Managers also regularly engage with the management teams of issuers on issues that the Portfolio
Managers believe are material to the credit risk of an issuer. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of
integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply
to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents.
The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact”
or “sustainable” investment strategy.
In addition, the Portfolio Managers analyze and adjust weightings based on general
and sector-specific economic and market conditions, while seeking to diversify across industries, companies and investment
size.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors, industries and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward
foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds
(“ETFs”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.
The Fund does not normally invest in or continue to hold securities that are in default
or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, but may do so depending on market,
company-specific or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe
have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments. The Fund may also invest in
restricted securities.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including obligations of issuers in emerging market countries, denominated in any
currency, but the Fund normally will not invest more than 20% of its net assets at the time of investment in non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes, in High-Yield Bonds (as defined above) and other investment companies that provide investment exposure
to such bonds. The Fund will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This
test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances
will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for high-yield debt and loan instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the
Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be
called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially
sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability
to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.
Returns would have been lower/higher if Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Class A Return Before Taxes | | | |
Class C Return Before Taxes | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Joseph Lind (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield
of the Manager), and Christopher Kocinski (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield of the Manager). Mr. Lind
has co-managed the Fund since July 2018, and Mr. Kocinski has co-managed the Fund since May 2019.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form,
subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such
as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized
to sell the Fund's shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases
of Institutional Class shares.
For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for
instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for
direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional
investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum
may be waived in certain cases.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with
Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale
of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider
or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider
or visit its website for more information.
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund
Class A Shares (NMHAX), Class C Shares (NMHCX), Institutional Class Shares (NMHIX)
The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income tax.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 151 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
| | | |
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price) | | | |
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of the lower of original purchase price or current market | | | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | | | |
| | | |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | | | |
| | | |
Total annual operating expenses | | | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement2 | | | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
| | | | |
| | | | |
Class C (assuming redemption) | | | | |
Class C (assuming no redemption) | | | | |
| | | | |
45 Municipal High Income Fund
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 116% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests primarily in high-yielding municipal
securities, which may include securities of any credit quality that the Portfolio Managers believe have the potential for high yield.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of municipal issuers that provide interest income that is
exempt from federal income tax and other investments that provide investment exposure to such securities; however, the Fund
may invest without limit in municipal securities the interest on which may be an item of tax preference for purposes of
the federal alternative minimum tax (“Tax Preference Item”). The Fund’s dividends are generally exempt from federal income tax,
although shareholders may have to pay an alternative minimum tax on income deemed to be a Tax Preference Item. A portion of
the dividends you receive may also be exempt from state and local income taxes, depending on where you live.
Municipal securities include securities issued by U.S. states, any of their political
subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or by U.S. territories and possessions, such as Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto
Rico, and their political subdivisions and public corporations.
The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity or duration and does not have
a target maturity or duration. The Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including investment grade
securities, below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), and unrated securities, and has no limit on the
percentage of its assets that it may invest in securities of a particular credit quality. The Fund considers debt securities to be
below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent
credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest
in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk
of default or that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, depending
on the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of the investment opportunity.
The Fund seeks to reduce its exposure to credit risk by diversifying its assets among
many municipal issuers and among the different types and maturities of municipal securities available. The Portfolio Managers
monitor national trends in the municipal securities market, as well as a range of economic, financial and political factors.
As part of the investment process, the Portfolio Managers analyze individual issues and look for securities that they believe offer
compelling risk-adjusted return potential (based on some or all of the following, among other things, an analysis of cash flows, ability
to pay principal and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning), with a secondary emphasis on duration control
(i.e., monitoring and managing interest rate risk) and yield curve positioning (i.e., seeking attractive maturities on the yield
curve). As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers
believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit
analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered
and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration
of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment
companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that
the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.
The Fund may sell securities if the Portfolio Managers find an opportunity they believe
is more compelling or if the Portfolio Managers’ outlook on the investment or the market changes.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters
created as part of tender option bond transactions), zero coupon municipal securities, inflation-linked debt securities,
restricted securities, mortgage-related securities (e.g., single and multi-family housing bonds), and fixed, variable, and floating rate
municipal securities. The Fund may also invest in other investment companies, including funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family
and unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”, and collectively, “Underlying Funds”), if
the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.
46 Municipal High Income Fund
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to interest rates,
sectors and individual issuers and increasing the Fund’s investment exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing
directly in more conventional securities. These derivative instruments may include options, futures (including Treasury
futures), inverse floating rate securities and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.
The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling transactions, which involve buying or selling securities with payment
and delivery taking place at a future date. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes, in securities of municipal issuers that provide interest income that is exempt from federal income
tax and other investments that provide investment exposure to such securities; however, the Fund may invest without limit
in municipal securities the interest on which may be a Tax Preference Item. The Fund may not change this fundamental policy without
shareholder approval. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change
in Fund assets or market values will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
The Fund is not an appropriate investment for tax-advantaged retirement accounts,
such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts, or for investors subject to the federal alternative minimum tax,
and may not be beneficial for investors in low tax brackets.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for municipal debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. In addition, the Fund may also realize a taxable gain or loss on such securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the
47 Municipal High Income Fund
derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by the performance of the issuer of the underlying instrument, by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic events. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk, meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific factors. By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in
48 Municipal High Income Fund
trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of other portfolio investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful and the Fund may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period.
49 Municipal High Income Fund
To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility. To the extent that the Fund earns interest income on private activity bonds, a part of its dividends will be a Tax Preference Item.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
50 Municipal High Income Fund
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.
The Fund is also exposed to the affiliated Underlying Funds’ expenses, which could result in the duplication of certain fees, including the administration fees that are paid to Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”). NBIA is the investment manager for both the Fund and the affiliated Underlying Funds and may be deemed to have a conflict of interest in determining the allocation of the Fund to the affiliated Underlying Funds. This conflict of interest is reduced, however, because the Manager has undertaken to waive a portion of the Fund's advisory fee equal to the advisory fee it receives from affiliated Underlying Funds on the Fund’s assets invested in those affiliated Underlying Funds.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being
51 Municipal High Income Fund
adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing, and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs and services.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund's use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund's return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.
Tobacco Related Bonds Risk. In 1998, the largest U.S. tobacco manufacturers reached an agreement, known as the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”), to settle claims against them by 46 states and six other U.S. jurisdictions. The tobacco
52 Municipal High Income Fund
manufacturers agreed to make annual payments to the government entities in exchange for the release of all litigation claims. A number of the states have sold bonds that are backed by those future payments. The payments are based on factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, cigarette consumption, inflation and the financial capability of participating tobacco companies. Payments could be reduced if consumption decreases, if market share is lost to non-MSA manufacturers, or if there is a negative outcome in litigation regarding the MSA, including challenges by participating tobacco manufacturers regarding the amount of annual payments owed under the MSA.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.
Zero Coupon Bond Risk. Zero coupon bonds do not make periodic interest payments. Instead, they are sold at a discount from their face value and can be redeemed at face value when they mature. The market value of zero coupon bonds may respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree (i.e., they are generally more volatile) than other fixed income securities with similar maturities and credit quality.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more
53 Municipal High Income Fund
swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.
Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
54 Municipal High Income Fund
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
Municipal High Income Fund | | | Since Inception (06/22/2015) |
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Class A Return Before Taxes | | | |
Class C Return Before Taxes | | | |
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
65% Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index and 35% Bloomberg Municipal High Yield Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by James L. Iselin (Managing Director of the Manager), S. Blake
Miller, CFA (Managing Director of the Manager), and Eric J. Pelio (Senior Vice President of the Manager). Messrs. Iselin,
Miller and Pelio have managed the Fund since its inception in June 2015.
55 Municipal High Income Fund
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form,
subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such
as banks, brokerage firms, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares. See
“Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.
For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for
instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for
direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional
investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum
may be waived in certain cases.
The part of the Fund’s dividends that it reports as “exempt-interest dividends” will
be excludable from your gross income for federal income tax purposes. (Accordingly, investment in the Fund’s shares is not
appropriate for tax-exempt investors, including retirement plans and accounts, which will not benefit from that exclusion.) Distributions
of the Fund’s taxable net investment income and net capital gains, if any, will be taxable to you. Exempt-interest dividends
the Fund pays may be subject to state and local income taxes. In addition, a portion of those dividends is expected to be attributable
to interest on private activity bonds that you must treat as a Tax Preference Item for purposes of calculating your liability,
if any, for the federal alternative minimum tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund
and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services.
These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and
its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.
56 Municipal High Income Fund
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund
Class A Shares (NIMAX), Class C Shares (NIMCX), Institutional Class Shares (NMIIX)
The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income tax by investing in municipal securities that fund projects that support positive social and environmental outcomes with a bias to underserved communities; total return is a secondary goal.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 151 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
| | | |
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price) | | | |
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of the lower of original purchase price or current market | | | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | | | |
| | | |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | | | |
| | | |
Total annual operating expenses | | | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement2 | | | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
| | | | |
| | | | |
Class C (assuming redemption) | | | | |
Class C (assuming no redemption) | | | | |
| | | | |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 69% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goals, the Fund mainly invests in municipal debt securities across the
credit spectrum that finance projects that support beneficial environmental and social outcomes in U.S. communities, targeting
positive impact alongside a financial return. The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of municipal
issuers that provide interest income that is exempt from federal income tax and other investments that provide investment exposure
to such securities; however, the Fund may invest without limit in municipal securities the interest on which may be an item
of tax preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“Tax Preference Item”). The Fund’s dividends are generally
exempt from federal income tax, although shareholders may have to pay alternative minimum tax on income deemed to be a Tax
Preference Item. A portion of the dividends you receive may also be exempt from state and local income taxes, depending on where
you live.
Municipal securities include securities issued by U.S. states, any of their political
subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or by U.S. territories and possessions, such as Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto
Rico, and their political subdivisions and public corporations.
The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity or duration and does not have
a target maturity or duration. The Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including investment grade
securities, below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), and unrated securities, and has no limit on the
percentage of its assets that it may invest in securities of a particular credit quality. The Fund considers debt securities to be
below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent
credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest
in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk
of default or that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, depending
on the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of the investment opportunity.
The Fund seeks to reduce its exposure to credit risk by diversifying its assets among
many municipal issuers and among the different types and maturities of municipal securities available.
The Portfolio Managers employ a research driven investment approach that proactively
targets municipal securities that they believe fund projects that support positive social and environmental outcomes (“Impact”)
in line with one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”), which are a collection of goals set by the
UN Development Program that calls for integration of economic development, social equity, and environmental protection (e.g.,
poverty eradication, food security, health, education, gender equality, access to water, sanitation, clean energy, decent jobs,
key infrastructure, strong institutions, inequality reduction, sustainable urbanization, responsible production and consumption patterns,
climate change mitigation and adaptation, and ecosystem conservation). The Portfolio Managers’ impact investing framework, as described in the previous sentence, is part of the credit analysis and bond selection process. As part of this process, the Portfolio
Managers analyze individual issues and look for securities that they believe offer compelling risk-adjusted return potential (based
on some or all of the following, among other things, an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal and interest, balance
sheet composition, and market positioning), with a secondary emphasis on duration control (i.e., monitoring and managing interest rate
risk) and yield curve positioning (i.e., seeking attractive maturities on the yield curve).
As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental,
Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by both internally generated and third-party metrics, data and
other information including proactive engagement on ESG issues, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of
financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve security selection and enhance the Fund’s
overall investment process. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments,
other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents.
The Fund may sell securities if the Portfolio Managers find an opportunity they believe
is more compelling or if the Portfolio Managers’ outlook on the investment, including the compatibility of the investment
with the Fund’s impact objectives or the market, changes.
In pursuing its goal, the Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse
floaters created as part of tender option bond transactions), zero coupon municipal securities, inflation-linked debt securities,
restricted securities (e.g., Rule 144A securities), mortgage-related securities (e.g., single and multi-family housing bonds)
and other asset-backed securities, and fixed, variable, and floating rate municipal securities. The Fund may also invest in other
investment companies, including funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family and unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded
funds (“ETFs”, and collectively, “Underlying Funds”), if the investment companies invest principally
in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to interest rates,
sectors and individual issuers and increasing the Fund’s investment exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing
directly in more conventional securities. These derivative instruments may include options, futures (including U.S. Treasury futures), inverse floating rate securities and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest
rate swaps. The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling transactions, which involve buying or selling securities with
payment and delivery taking place at a future date. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent
trading.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes, in securities of municipal issuers that provide interest income that is exempt from federal income
tax and other investments that provide investment exposure to such securities; however, the Fund may invest without limit
in municipal securities the interest on which may be a Tax Preference Item. The Fund may not change this fundamental policy without
shareholder approval. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change
in Fund assets or market values will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
The Fund is not an appropriate investment for tax-advantaged retirement accounts,
such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts, or for investors subject to the federal alternative minimum tax,
and may not be beneficial for investors in low tax brackets.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for municipal debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. In addition, the Fund may also realize a taxable gain or loss on such securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by the performance of the issuer of the underlying instrument, by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic events. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk, meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific factors. By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Impact and ESG Criteria Risk. The Fund’s application of Impact and ESG criteria could cause it to sell or avoid instruments that in hindsight could have performed well or enhanced the Fund’s risk profile. As with the use of any investment criteria in selecting the Fund’s investments, there is no guarantee that the criteria used by the Fund will result in the selection of issuers that will outperform other issuers, or help reduce risk in the Fund and it may differ from the beliefs of particular investors on what constitutes positive or negative ESG criteria. The Fund may underperform funds that do not follow Impact and ESG criteria. Changes in the priorities or policies of the federal government may cause it to reduce or suspend its support for certain types of projects in which the Fund has invested or change laws or regulations from which the projects might benefit, causing such projects to be less viable financially or lessening their positive social or environmental impact.
The Portfolio Manager’s judgment as to the potential social or environmental impact of a project is based partially on information from external sources which may change or may not be readily available, complete, or accurate, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance. In addition, there is a risk that the companies identified by the Impact and ESG criteria do not operate as expected when addressing Impact and ESG issues.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives, short positions, and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of other portfolio investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful and the Fund may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general
business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility. To the extent that the Fund earns interest income on private activity bonds, a part of its dividends will be a Tax Preference Item.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.
The Fund is also exposed to the affiliated Underlying Funds’ expenses, which could result in the duplication of certain fees, including the administration fees that are paid to Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”). NBIA is the investment manager for both the Fund and the affiliated Underlying Funds and may be deemed to have a conflict of interest in determining the allocation of the Fund to the affiliated Underlying Funds. This conflict of interest is reduced, however, because the Manager has undertaken to waive a portion of the Fund's advisory fee equal to the advisory fee it receives from affiliated Underlying Funds on the Fund’s assets invested in those affiliated Underlying Funds.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central
banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing, and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs and services.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund's use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund's return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive
tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.
Zero Coupon Bond Risk. Zero coupon bonds do not make periodic interest payments. Instead, they are sold at a discount from their face value and can be redeemed at face value when they mature. The market value of zero coupon bonds may respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree (i.e., they are generally more volatile) than other fixed income securities with similar maturities and credit quality.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data
inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.
Prior to June 16, 2018, the Fund had a different goal and principal investment strategies, which included a policy to invest 80% of its net assets in securities of municipal issuers that provide interest income that is exempt from New York State and New York City personal income taxes and invest in only investment grade securities. Its performance prior to that date might have been different if the current goal and principal investment strategies had been in effect.
For Class A and Class C, the performance prior to June 16, 2018, is that of the Fund's Institutional Class. Because Institutional Class has lower expenses than Class A and Class C, its performance typically would have been better than that of Class A and Class C.
Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Class A Return Before Taxes | | | |
Class C Return Before Taxes | | | |
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by James L. Iselin (Managing Director of the Manager), S. Blake
Miller, CFA (Managing Director of the Manager), and Jeffrey Hunn (Senior Vice President of the Manager). Mr. Iselin and
Mr. Miller have managed the Fund since March 2013. Mr. Hunn has managed the Fund since June 2018.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form,
subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such
as banks, brokerage firms, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares. See
“Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.
For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or
certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for
instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for
direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional
investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum
may be waived in certain cases.
The part of the Fund’s dividends that it reports as “exempt-interest dividends” will
be excludable from your gross income for federal income tax purposes. (Accordingly, investment in the Fund’s shares is not
appropriate for tax-exempt investors, including retirement plans and accounts, which will not benefit from that exclusion.) Distributions
of the Fund’s taxable net investment income and net capital gains, if any, will be taxable to you. Exempt-interest dividends
the Fund pays may be subject to state and local income taxes. In addition, a portion of those dividends is expected to be attributable
to interest on private activity bonds that you must treat as a Tax Preference Item for purposes of calculating your liability,
if any, for the federal alternative minimum tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund
and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services.
These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and
its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Class A Shares (NMNAX), Class C Shares (NMNCX), Institutional Class Shares (NMNLX)
The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income tax that is consistent with low risk to principal and liquidity; total return is a secondary goal.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 151 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
| | | |
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price) | | | |
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of the lower of original purchase price or current market | | | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | | | |
| | | |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | | | |
| | | |
Total annual operating expenses | | | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement2 | | | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
| | | | |
| | | | |
Class C (assuming redemption) | | | | |
Class C (assuming no redemption) | | | | |
| | | | |
69 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 89% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goals, the Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in
securities of municipal issuers within the U.S. and its territories; however, the Fund may invest without limit in municipal securities
the interest on which may be an item of tax preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“Tax Preference Item”).
The Fund’s dividends are generally exempt from federal income tax, although shareholders may have to pay an alternative
minimum tax on income deemed to be a Tax Preference Item. A portion of the dividends you receive may also be exempt from
state and local income taxes, depending on where you live.
Municipal securities include securities issued by U.S. states, any of their political
subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or by U.S. territories and possessions, such as Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto
Rico, and their political subdivisions and public corporations.
The Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including investment
grade securities, below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), and unrated securities. The Fund normally
will not invest more than 15% of its total assets in below investment grade securities. The Fund considers debt securities
to be below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent
credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest
in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk
of default or that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, depending
on the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of the investment opportunity.
The Fund seeks to minimize its exposure to credit risk by diversifying its assets
among many municipal issuers and among the different types and maturities of municipal securities available. The Portfolio Managers
monitor national trends in the municipal securities market, as well as a range of economic, financial and political factors.
As part of the investment process, the Portfolio Managers analyze individual issues and look for securities that they believe offer
compelling risk-adjusted return potential (based on some or all of the following, among other things, an analysis of cash flows, ability
to pay principal and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning), with a secondary emphasis on duration control
(i.e., monitoring and managing interest rate risk) and yield curve positioning (i.e., seeking attractive maturities on the yield
curve). As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers
believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit
analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered
and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration
of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment
companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that
the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.
The Fund may sell securities if the Portfolio Managers find an opportunity they believe
is more compelling or if the Portfolio Managers’ outlook on the investment or the market changes.
The Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters created
as part of tender option bond transactions). The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to interest rates,
sectors and individual issuers and increasing the Fund’s investment exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing
directly in more conventional securities. These derivative instruments may include options, futures (including U.S. Treasury futures), inverse floating rate securities and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest
rate swaps. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
Although it may invest in securities of any maturity, the Fund normally seeks to maintain
an average weighted portfolio duration of between three and seven years.
70 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
The Fund may not change its fundamental policy of normally investing at least 80%
of its total assets in securities of municipal issuers without shareholder approval. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests;
later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets or market values will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
The Fund is not an appropriate investment for tax-advantaged retirement accounts,
such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts or for investors subject to the federal alternative minimum tax,
and may not be beneficial for investors in low tax brackets.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for municipal debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. In addition, the Fund may also realize a taxable gain or loss on such securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using
71 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by the performance of the issuer of the underlying instrument, by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic events. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk, meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific factors. By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.
72 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic
73 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility. To the extent that the Fund earns interest income on private activity bonds, a part of its dividends will be a Tax Preference Item.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
74 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing, and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs and services.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund's use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund's return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
75 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.
Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
76 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund | | | |
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Class A Return Before Taxes | | | |
Class C Return Before Taxes | | | |
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
Bloomberg 7-Year G.O. Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by James L. Iselin (Managing Director of the Manager) and S. Blake
Miller, CFA (Managing Director of the Manager). Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since 2007, and Mr. Miller has managed
the Fund since 2010.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form,
subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such
as banks, brokerage firms, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares. See
“Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.
77 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for
instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for
direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional
investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum
may be waived in certain cases.
The part of the Fund’s dividends that it reports as “exempt-interest dividends” will
be excludable from your gross income for federal income tax purposes. (Accordingly, investment in the Fund’s shares is not
appropriate for tax-exempt investors, including retirement plans and accounts, which will not benefit from that exclusion.) Distributions
of the Fund’s taxable net investment income and net capital gains, if any, will be taxable to you. Exempt-interest dividends
the Fund pays may be subject to state and local income taxes. In addition, a portion of those dividends is expected to be attributable
to interest on private activity bonds that you must treat as a Tax Preference Item for purposes of calculating your liability,
if any, for the federal alternative minimum tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund
and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services.
These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and
its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.
78 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
Class A Shares (NSTAX), Class C Shares (NSTCX), Institutional Class Shares (NSTLX)
The Fund seeks high current income with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 151 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
| | | |
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | | | |
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price) | | | |
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of the lower of original purchase price or current market | | | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | | | |
| | | |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | | | |
| | | |
Total annual operating expenses | | | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement2 | | | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.
| | | | |
| | | | |
Class C (assuming redemption) | | | | |
Class C (assuming no redemption) | | | | |
| | | | |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 71% of the average value of its portfolio. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate including to-be-announced (“TBA”) roll transactions was 206%.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund invests primarily in a diversified mix of debt securities.
The Fund may invest in a broad array of securities, including: securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest
by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; inflation-linked debt securities; municipal securities; foreign
securities, including emerging markets; corporate bonds; commercial paper; mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities; and loans.
Securities in which the Fund may invest may be issued by domestic and foreign governments, supranational entities (e.g. World
Bank, IMF), corporate entities and trusts and may be structured as fixed rate debt; floating rate debt; and debt that may not
pay interest from the time of issuance.
While the Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including
investment grade securities, below investment grade securities and unrated securities, and may invest without limit in below investment
grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), under normal market conditions, the Portfolio Managers anticipate that
the Fund's average credit quality will be investment grade. The Fund considers debt securities to be below investment grade
if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency
or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund does not normally invest in or continue
to hold securities that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal,
but may do so depending on market or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio
Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forwards, including
forward foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps, options
on futures and options on interest rate swaps, otherwise known as swaptions.
While the fund may invest without limit in foreign securities, the Fund will invest
primarily in debt securities issued by U.S. corporations or by the U.S. government and any of its agencies. The Fund normally
will not invest more than 30% of its total assets at the time of investment in obligations of issuers in emerging market countries.
The Fund considers emerging market countries to be countries included in the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index - Global
Diversified, the JPMorgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index - Diversified, the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Index
or the JPMorgan Government Bond Index - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, as well as those countries which are
not defined as a High Income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member country by the World Bank.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters
created as part of tender option bond transactions), convertible securities, restricted securities and preferred securities.
The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities),
which involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase securities that will be issued or settled at a later date. The Fund
may enter into a TBA agreement and “roll over” such agreement prior to the settlement date by selling the obligation to purchase
the securities set forth in the agreement and entering into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage-backed
securities. The Fund may also hold cash and short-term securities, including cash equivalents and other debt obligations.
The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity and while the Fund does not
have a target average duration, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio Managers anticipate that the Fund's average duration
will be between two and eight years. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
Investment Philosophy and Process
The Portfolio Management Team’s investment philosophy is rooted in the belief that
positive results can be achieved through a consistently applied, risk-managed approach to portfolio management that leverages
the strengths of its fundamental research capabilities, decision-making frameworks, and quantitative risk management tools.
The Portfolio Management Team employs an integrated investment process in managing the Fund.
■
Portfolio Strategy: The Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, which
it monitors on an ongoing basis, including exposures to sectors (such as government, structured debt,
credit, etc.) and duration/yield curve positioning, utilizing internally generated views that are produced by specialty sector
investment teams in conjunction with asset allocation tools.
■
Strategy Implementation: Once the Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund,
the specialty sector investment teams and the Portfolio Management Team determine industry/sub-sector
weightings and make securities selections within the types of securities that the Fund can purchase, such as investment
grade securities, below investment grade securities, emerging market securities and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.
When assessing the worth of a particular security, the teams utilize internally generated
research and proprietary quantitatively driven tools and frameworks (including an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal
and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning) to a) establish an internal outlook, b) evaluate the market’s
outlook as it is reflected in asset prices, and c) contrast the two. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers
consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments,
where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party
metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors,
alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the
Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending
on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments,
such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration
of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment
strategy.
The teams will generally purchase securities if their internal outlook suggests a
security is undervalued by the market and sell securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is overvalued by the market.
The goal is to identify and evaluate investment opportunities that others may have missed.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer. Issuers generally do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the
ratings of commercial paper issuers have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured, which increases its credit risk.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole and there may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of other portfolio investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful and the Fund may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any
resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the
market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its debt securities. For this reason, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central
banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting
sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund's use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund's return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.
Returns would have been lower/higher if the Manager had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Class A Return Before Taxes | | | |
Class C Return Before Taxes | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Thanos Bardas (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment
Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), Ashok Bhatia, CFA (Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income of the Manager), David M. Brown, CFA (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income
of the Manager), Robert Dishner (Managing Director of the Manager) and Thomas Sobanski (Senior Vice President of the Manager). Messrs. Bardas and Brown have managed the Fund since April 2009. Mr. Bhatia has managed the Fund since December 2017. Messrs. Dishner and Sobanski have managed the Fund since December 2024.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form,
subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such
as banks, brokerage firms, workplace
retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized
to sell the Fund's shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases
of Institutional Class shares.
For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for
instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for
direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional
investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum
may be waived in certain cases.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with
Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale
of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider
or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider
or visit its website for more information.
Descriptions of Certain Practices and Security Types
Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks and other securities
that pay interest or dividends and are convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks. Convertible
securities generally have some features of common stocks and some features of debt securities. In general, a convertible security
performs more like a stock when the underlying stock's price is high relative to the conversion price (because it is assumed
that it will be converted into the stock) and performs more like a debt security when the underlying stock's price is low relative
to the conversion price (because it is assumed that it will mature without being converted). Convertible securities typically pay
an income yield that is higher than the dividend yield of the issuer's common stock, but lower than the yield of the issuer's debt
securities.
Derivatives. A derivative is generally a financial contract the value of which depends on, or
is derived from, changes in the value of one or more “reference instruments,” such as underlying assets (including securities),
reference rates, indices or events. Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, credit, interest rates, commodities, currencies
or currency exchange rates, or related indices. A derivative may also contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the reference
instrument. Derivatives may be traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations, or in private transactions
with other parties in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market with a single dealer or a prime broker acting as an intermediary with
respect to an executing dealer. Derivatives may be used for hedging purposes and non-hedging (or speculative) purposes. Some derivatives
require one or more parties to post “margin,” which means that a party must deposit assets with, or for the benefit of,
a third party, such as a futures commission merchant, in order to initiate and maintain the derivatives position. Margin is typically
adjusted daily, and adverse market movements may require a party to post additional margin.
Call Options. A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy an underlying asset or other reference
instrument at a specified price, regardless of the instrument’s market price at the time. Writing
(selling) a call option obligates the writer (seller) to sell the underlying asset or other reference instrument to the purchaser
at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. A call option is “covered” if the writer (seller)
simultaneously holds an equivalent position in the security underlying the option. The writer (seller) receives a premium when
it writes a call option. Purchasing a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the underlying asset or other reference
instrument from the writer (seller) at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The purchaser
pays a premium when it purchases a call option.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts (“Forward Contracts”). A forward contract is a contract for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a future date at a fixed price. Forward contracts
are not required to be traded on organized exchanges or cleared through regulated clearing organizations.
Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying asset at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a securities index
or other reference instrument at a future date.
Put Options. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell an underlying asset or other reference
instrument at a specified price, regardless of the instrument’s market price at the time. Writing
(selling) a put option obligates the writer (seller) to buy the underlying asset or other reference instrument from the purchaser
at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The writer (seller) receives a premium when it writes
a put option. Purchasing a put option gives the purchaser the right to sell the underlying asset or other reference
instrument to the writer (seller) at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The purchaser pays
a premium when it purchases a put option.
Swaps. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange one or more payments
based, for example, on the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined
reference instruments. Swap transactions generally may be used to obtain exposure to a reference instrument without
owning or taking physical custody of the reference instrument and generally do not involve delivery of the notional
amount of the agreement. Swaps have historically been OTC instruments; however, recent legislation requires
many swaps to be executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing
organization.
There are various types of swaps including, but not limited to, the following: interest
rate swaps (exchanging a floating interest rate for a fixed interest rate); total return swaps (exchanging a floating
interest rate for the total return of a reference instrument); credit default swaps (buying or selling protection against
certain designated credit events); and options on swaps (“swaptions”) (options to enter into a swap agreement).
Emerging Market Countries. Emerging market countries are generally considered to be those countries whose economies
are less developed than the economies of countries such as the United States or most nations
in Western Europe.
Fixed Income Securities. Debt securities may consist of fixed and floating rate obligations of various credit
quality and duration and may be issued by: corporate entities; trusts; domestic issuers, including securities
issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; foreign
issuers, including in emerging markets, and including foreign governments and supranational entities; and municipal issuers, including
within the U.S. and its territories. Such obligations may include: bonds, loans, inflation-linked debt securities, when-issued
and forward-settling securities, commercial paper, mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities, and
hybrid securities (including convertible securities).
Foreign Markets. There are many promising opportunities for investment outside the United States.
Foreign markets can respond to different factors and therefore may follow cycles that are different from
each other. For this reason, many investors put a portion of their portfolios in foreign investments as a way of gaining further diversification.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities. Inflation-linked debt securities are debt securities whose principal value is periodically
adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal
value of inflation-linked debt securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated
with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced.
Loans. Loans are a type of debt security that may be made in connection with, among other
things, recapitalizations, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, dividend issuances and refinancings. The loans in which a Fund
typically invests are structured and administered by a third party that acts as agent for a group of lenders that make
or hold interests in the loan. A Fund may acquire interests in such loans by taking an assignment of all or a portion of a direct interest
in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a participation in an interest in a loan that continues
to be held by another institution.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk” or “junk bonds”) typically
offer investors higher yields than other fixed income securities. The higher yields are usually justified
by the weaker credit profiles of these issuers as compared to investment grade issuers. Lower-rated debt securities may include debt
obligations of all types issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporate and governmental entities, including bonds, debentures and notes,
loan interests and preferred stocks that have priority over any other class of stock of the entity as to the distribution of
assets or the payment of dividends.
Municipal Securities. Municipal securities include, among other types of instruments, general obligation
bonds, revenue bonds, private activity bonds, anticipation notes and tax-exempt commercial paper. General
obligation bonds are backed by the full taxing power of the issuing governmental entity. Revenue bonds are backed only by
the income from a specific project, facility, or tax. Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance
various privately operated facilities, and are generally supported only by revenue from those facilities, if any. They are not backed
by the credit of any governmental or public authority. Anticipation notes are issued by municipalities in expectation of future
proceeds from the issuance of bonds or from taxes or other revenues and are payable from those bond proceeds, taxes, or revenues.
Tax-exempt commercial paper is issued by municipalities to help finance short-term capital or operating requirements.
Additional Information about Principal Investment Risks
This section provides additional information about a Fund’s principal investment risks
described in its Fund Summary section. The following risks are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed
importance or potential exposure.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a
security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, with a higher risk of default, or other less favorable characteristics. This may reduce the amount of the Fund’s
distributions. In addition, the Fund may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. The likelihood of a call also may impact the price of a security. In addition, the Fund may also realize a taxable gain or loss on such securities.
Risks of Investments in the PRC through Bond Connect Programs. There are significant risks inherent in investing through the People's Republic of China (“PRC”) Bond Connect Programs (“Bond Connect”), which
allow eligible foreign investors to purchase certain PRC onshore debt securities available from PRC’s interbank bond market.
The PRC investment and banking systems are materially different in nature from many developed markets, which exposes
investors to risks that are different from those in the U.S. Bond Connect uses the market infrastructure of both Hong Kong and
mainland PRC. If either one or both markets involved are closed on a day the Fund is open, the Fund may not be able to
add to or exit a position on such a day, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Securities offered through Bond Connect
may lose their eligibility for trading through Bond Connect at any time, and if such an event occurs, the Fund could sell,
but could no longer purchase, such securities
through Bond Connect. Securities purchased through Bond Connect generally may not
be sold, purchased, or otherwise transferred other than through Bond Connect in accordance with applicable rules.
The Hong Kong investor compensation funds, which are set up to protect against defaults
related to trades of exchange-traded products in Hong Kong, do not apply to trades made through the Bond Connect programs.
The Fund may not be able to participate in corporate actions for securities purchased through Bond Connect as
a result of time zone differences and operational constraints, which could cause delays in the Fund’s receipt of distribution payments.
Bond Connect trades are settled in onshore Renminbi (“CNY”) although it is possible to engage certain eligible banks to use other
currencies to convert currency into offshore Renminbi for settlement. The Fund must therefore have timely access to a supply of
offshore Renminbi in Hong Kong, which cannot be guaranteed, or opt for settlement in other currencies followed by conversion
into CNY, which may require additional time. The unavailability of a ready supply of accepted settlement currencies could
subject the Fund to losses. Further, the foreign exchange conversion and hedging transactions must comply with certain requirements
that may result in additional risks along with additional costs.
Bond Connect has not been in operation for a sufficient amount of time to accurately
determine, and the actual effect on the market for trading fixed-income investments available from PRC’s interbank bond market
with the introduction of large numbers of foreign investors is unknown. In the event of systems malfunctions, trading via
Bond Connect could be disrupted. In particular, since aspects of the settlement process for one of the principal PRC bond clearinghouses,
China Central Depository & Clearing Co, Ltd. (“CDCC”), are not automated, there may be an increased risk of settlement
delays, errors and counterparty default. Investments made through Bond Connect are subject to order, clearance and settlement
procedures that are new and untested. Further, securities purchased via Bond Connect will be held in the name of the Central
Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on behalf of ultimate investors via a book entry omnibus account
in the books of a PRC-based custodian (typically, either the CDCC or the Shanghai Clearing House (“SCH”)). The Fund’s interest
in securities purchased through Bond Connect will not be reflected directly in a book entry with CDCC or SCH and will instead
only be reflected on the books of its Hong Kong sub-custodian, and the Fund will be a beneficial owner, a concept that is
relatively undeveloped in PRC law. This recordkeeping system subjects the Fund to various additional risks, including the
risk that the Fund may have a limited ability to enforce its rights as a bondholder as well as the risks of settlement delays and counterparty
default related to the sub-custodian.
Further regulations, restrictions, interpretation or guidance, such as limitations
on redemptions and availability of securities, may adversely impact Bond Connect. There can be no assurance that Bond Connect will not
be restricted, suspended, or abolished. There can be no assurance that further regulations will not affect the availability
of securities in the program, the frequency of redemptions or other limitations. In addition, the application and interpretation
of the laws and regulations of Hong Kong and PRC, and the rules, policies or guidelines published or applied by relevant regulators
and exchanges with respect to the Bond Connect program, including tax rules governing investments via Bond Connect, are uncertain
or untested, and they may have a detrimental effect on a Fund’s investments and returns. With respect to tax treatment,
investments via Bond Connect could result in unexpected tax liabilities for a Fund, and there is also some uncertainty around
the tax treatment of payments such as interest payable to U.S. investors. Although the PRC government announced that interest income
received by eligible foreign investors in the PRC financial instruments held by them through Bond Connect would be exempt from
enterprise income tax and value-added tax until December 31, 2025, it is currently unknown if the PRC government will extend
the exemption beyond December 31, 2025. Although it is currently anticipated that such an extension is likely to
occur, if an extension did not occur, it could result in tax liabilities for a Fund.
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk. CDOs, which include collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), issue classes or “tranches”
of securities that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due
to interest rate fluctuations, actual defaults, collateral defaults, disappearance of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of
defaults, and investor aversion to CDO securities as a class. CDOs carry risks including, but not limited to, (i) the possibility that
distributions from the underlying debt securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments, (ii) the quality of the underlying
debt securities may decline in value or default, particularly during periods of economic downturn, or be downgraded, if rated
by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (iii) the Fund may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes
of securities, (iv) the investment return could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models, (v) the risk
of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures, (vi) the manager of the CDO may perform poorly,
(vii) the complex structure may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results, and (viii) the lack of
a readily available secondary market for CDOs. Interest on certain tranches of a CDO may be paid in kind or deferred and capitalized
(paid in the form of obligations of the same type rather than cash), which involves continued exposure to the risk of default with
respect to such payments. The risks of investing in CDOs depend largely on the quality and type of the underlying debt, which
may include loans, bonds and mortgages, and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. In addition, CDOs that obtain
their exposure through derivative instruments entail the additional risks associated with such instruments. CDOs can
be difficult to value, may at times be illiquid, may be highly leveraged (which could make them highly volatile), and may produce unexpected
investment results due to their
complex structure. CDOs may also charge fees and expenses, which are in addition to
those of the Fund. In addition, CDOs involve many of the same risks of investing in debt securities and asset-backed securities
including, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality,
or other issuer, usually for purposes such as financing current operations. Issuers generally
do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. A Fund may invest in commercial paper that cannot be resold to the public without
an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected by
changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. Commercial paper is subject to the risk
that the issuer will be unable to issue sufficient new commercial paper to meet the repayment obligations under its outstanding commercial
paper (commonly referred to as rollover risk). While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid, the Manager
may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have
been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured, which
increases its credit risk, and is usually issued at a discount from their value at maturity.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a
security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the
underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks, and its price may be
as volatile as that of the underlying stock, when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price, and a convertible
security is subject to the market risks of debt securities, and is particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, when the underlying
stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible
securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Because their value can be influenced by many
different factors, convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than the underlying common stocks. Securities
that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities
that are convertible only at the option of the holder.
Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and
are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). Lower-rated debt securities involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Lower-rated debt securities may fluctuate more widely
in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. The credit rating of a company’s convertible securities is generally lower than that of its non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities
are normally considered “junior” securities—that is, the company usually must pay interest on its non-convertible debt securities
before it can make payments on its convertible securities. If the issuer stops paying interest or principal, convertible
securities may become worthless and the Fund could lose its entire investment. To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities
issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small-
and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole. There may also be less trading in small-
or mid-cap securities, which means that buy and sell transactions in those securities could have a larger impact on a security’s
price than is the case with large-cap securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become
less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of
an issuer, factors affecting an issuer directly (such as management changes, labor relations, collapse of key suppliers or customers,
or material changes in overhead costs), factors affecting the industry in which a particular issuer operates (such as competition
or technological advances) and changes in general social, economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default
by an issuer, which may affect a security’s credit quality or value. A downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could
affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities.
Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security,
the more sensitive it is to credit risk. In addition, lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and
may negatively affect a security’s liquidity. Ratings represent a rating agency’s opinion regarding the quality of a security and are not
a guarantee of quality, and do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. In addition, rating agencies may fail
to make timely changes to credit ratings in response to subsequent events and a rating may become stale in that it fails to reflect
changes in an issuer’s financial condition. The credit quality of a security or instrument can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly,
which may negatively impact its liquidity and value. The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement
(for example, guarantees, letters of credit, or bond insurance). Entities providing credit or liquidity support also may be affected
by credit risk. Credit enhancement is designed to help assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against
losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative
to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund is exposed directly or indirectly to foreign currencies, including through
its investments, or invests in securities or other
instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange
rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Domestic issuers that hold substantial
foreign assets may be similarly affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to factors external to a country’s
economy, which makes the forecasting of currency market movements extremely difficult. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception
of a country’s economy and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central
banks, or supranational entities, such as the International Monetary Fund; or by currency controls or political developments in
the U.S. or abroad. To the extent the Fund invests or hedges based on the perceived relationship between two currencies, there
is a risk that the correlation between those currencies may not behave as anticipated.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing
in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in
unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, which can magnify the impact of a decline in the value of the reference
instrument underlying the derivative, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives can have the potential
for unlimited losses, for example, where the Fund may be called upon to deliver a security it does not own. Derivatives may at
times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated
price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative
instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There
may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative,
and the reference instrument may not perform as anticipated. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could
render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated
with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no
assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives may
involve fees, commissions, or other costs that may reduce the Fund’s gains or exacerbate losses from the derivatives. In addition,
the Fund’s use of derivatives may have different tax consequences for the Fund than an investment in the reference instruments,
and those differences may increase the amount and affect the timing of income recognition and character of taxable distributions
payable to shareholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy
its distribution requirements. Certain aspects of the regulatory treatment of derivative instruments, including federal income tax,
are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. In October
2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act which regulates the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under
the Investment Company Act (‘‘Rule 18f-4’’). The Funds have adopted a Rule 18f-4 Policy which provides, among other things, that unless the Fund
qualifies as a ‘‘limited derivatives user’’ as defined in Rule 18f-4, the Fund is subject to a comprehensive
derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, and to provide additional
disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. If the Fund qualifies as a limited derivatives user, Rule 18f-4 requires the Fund to have
policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk.
Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the
derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. Counterparty risk may arise because
of market activities and developments, the counterparty’s financial condition (including financial difficulties, bankruptcy,
or insolvency), or other reasons. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund
to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. Counterparty risk is generally thought to be greater with OTC derivatives
than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. However, derivatives that are traded on organized exchanges
and/or through clearing organizations involve the possibility that the futures commission merchant or clearing organization
will default in the performance of its obligations. In addition, during periods of market volatility, such exchanges or clearing organizations
may suspend or limit trading in a derivative, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to
price.
When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral;
these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund
from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other
opportunities as they arise. Derivatives that have margin requirements involve the risk that if the Fund has insufficient cash or eligible
margin securities to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities or other instruments from its
portfolio at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. A relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in substantial losses
to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. The Fund normally will remain obligated to meet margin requirements until a derivatives
position is closed.
Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential
changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.
New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Although the Fund may use derivatives to attempt to hedge against certain risks, the
hedging instruments may not perform as expected and could produce losses.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in
foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward
contracts on currencies. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote
prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which
the counterparty is prepared to buy and the price at which it is prepared to sell).
Futures. There can be no assurance that, at all times, a liquid market will exist for offsetting
a futures contract that the Fund has previously bought or sold and this may result in the inability to close a
futures position when desired. This could be the case if, for example, a futures price has increased or decreased by the
maximum allowable daily limit and there is no buyer (or seller) willing to purchase (or sell) the futures contract that
the Fund needs to sell (or buy) at that limit price. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends
on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund
enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund
to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those
associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time
or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee
that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation
between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be
a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option
worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes
in the value of the underlying instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility
of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by the performance of the
issuer of the underlying instrument, by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic
events. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk,
meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views
based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific
factors.
By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the
underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without
the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the
Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price
that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able
to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may
be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered
call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the
strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from
the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price
of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient
to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be
offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund
has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those
funds.
Swaps. Swap transactions generally do not involve delivery of reference instruments or payment
of the notional amount of the contract. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is
limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to
a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit
default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and
cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions
may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an
organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this
may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities are securities of companies that are in financial distress
and that may be in or about to enter bankruptcy or some other legal proceeding. The Fund may not receive
interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs
to protect its investment. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities
involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. The Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment in distressed
securities or may be required to accept cash, securities or other property with a value less than its original investment. The Fund
may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest
on its portfolio holdings. Distressed securities include loans, bonds and notes, many of which are not publicly traded, and may involve
a substantial degree of risk. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities
meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such
securities may be subject to restrictions on resale. In addition, the prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and
erratic market movements and above-average price volatility. It may be difficult to obtain information regarding the financial
condition of a borrower or issuer, and its financial condition may change rapidly. Also, it may be difficult to value such securities and
the spread between the bid-ask prices of such securities may be greater than expected.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks
in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure
to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and
other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries,
organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure;
fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization
or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or
other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. The Fund may have
limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities. In addition, key information about
the issuer, the markets or the local government or economy may be unavailable, incomplete, or inaccurate. As a result,
foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets,
or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, securities
issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory
conditions in foreign countries, as well as currency exchange rates. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is
traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it
conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than
those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may
be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on
foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or
impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars,
there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition,
the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible
to local and global changes, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Emerging market countries may
also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently
than U.S. law would. Shareholder claims and legal remedies that are common in the United States may be difficult or
impossible to pursue in many emerging market countries. In addition, due to jurisdictional limitations, matters of comity
and various other factors, U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-U.S. companies
and non-U.S. persons in certain emerging market countries. Most foreign and emerging market companies are not subject to the
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States, which may impact
the availability and quality of information about foreign and emerging market issuers. Securities markets in emerging market countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Additionally, in times of market stress, regulatory
authorities of different emerging market countries may apply varying techniques and degrees of intervention, which can have
an effect on prices. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of
issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings
in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the
issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities
of issuers in emerging or less-developed
market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions
may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied
broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods
of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments,
may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s
ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. market. Over a
given period of time, foreign securities may underperform U.S. securities—sometimes for years. Further, from time to time, based on market or economic conditions,
the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in one country or geographic region.
If the Fund does so, there is a greater risk that economic, political, regulatory, diplomatic, social and environmental conditions
in that particular country or geographic region may have a significant impact on the Fund’s performance and that the Fund’s
performance will be more volatile than the performance of more geographically diversified funds. The economies and financial
markets of certain regions can be highly interdependent and may decline all at the same time. In addition, certain areas are
prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, droughts or tsunamis and are economically sensitive to
environmental events.
The effect of economic instability on specific foreign markets or issuers may be difficult
to predict or evaluate. Some national economies continue to show profound instability, which may in turn affect their international
trading and financial partners or other members of their currency bloc.
Frontier Markets Risk. Frontier markets, which are foreign countries in the earliest stages of development,
involve risks in addition to and greater than foreign and emerging markets. Investing in frontier markets
involves unique risks, such as exposure to economies less diverse and mature than those of more developed foreign markets. Frontier
markets are subject to economic, political, and socioeconomic instability that may cause larger price movements in
frontier market securities than in securities of issuers based in more developed foreign markets, including securities of issuers in
emerging markets. Frontier markets generally receive less investor attention than more developed markets, including those in emerging
markets, and may have a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of companies
representing a limited number of industries. Frontier market securities are subject to extreme volatility and extended
periods of illiquidity. In addition, the currencies of frontier market countries may exhibit erratic movements.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio
turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s
performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio
turnover rate.
Impact and ESG Criteria Risk. The Fund’s application of Impact and ESG criteria could cause it to sell or avoid
instruments that in hindsight could have performed well or enhanced the Fund’s risk profile. As
with the use of any investment criteria in selecting the Fund’s investments, there is no guarantee that the criteria used by
the Fund will result in the selection of issuers that will outperform other issuers, or help reduce risk in the Fund and it may differ from
the beliefs of particular investors on what constitutes positive or negative ESG criteria. The Fund may underperform funds that
do not follow Impact and ESG criteria. Investing based on Impact and ESG criteria is qualitative and subjective by nature
and there is no guarantee that the criteria used by the Fund will reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. Changes
in the priorities or policies of the federal government may cause it to reduce or suspend its support for certain types of projects
in which the Fund has invested or change laws or regulations from which the projects might benefit, causing such projects to
be less viable financially or lessening their positive social or environmental impact. The Portfolio Manager’s judgment as to the
potential social or environmental impact of a project is based partially on information from external sources; such information,
like other information used to identify securities in which to invest, may change or may not be readily available, complete, or accurate,
which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance. In addition, there is a risk that the companies identified by the Impact
and ESG criteria do not operate as expected when addressing Impact and ESG issues.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation.
The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security
is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation index used will accurately
measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities
may lose value in the event that the actual rate of inflation is different than the rate of the inflation measure. In addition,
any inflation measure used could be discontinued, substituted or changed in a manner that could adversely impact such securities.
Repayment of the original principal upon maturity (as adjusted upward for inflation,
as needed) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed debt securities. For inflation-linked debt securities that
do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the securities repaid at maturity may be less than the original
principal value. The value of inflation-linked debt
securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real
interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked
debt security falls when real interest rates rise, (i.e., when nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation),
and rises when real interest rates fall (i.e., when inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates). Interest payments on
inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods
of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
Any increase in the principal value of an inflation-linked debt security is taxable
in the year the increase occurs, even though the security’s holders do not receive cash representing the increase until the security
matures. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed
by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities,
will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such
securities may decline. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable and may be made in response to the supply and demand for credit, changes to government monetary policy and other initiatives, inflation rates, perceptions of risk and other factors. A changing interest rate environment increases certain risks, including the potential for periods of volatility. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration
(i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated
with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price.
For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, a debt security with a duration of two years will decrease in value by approximately 2%.
Thus, the Fund’s sensitivity to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the Fund’s overall duration. Short-term securities
tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates, and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates.
Short-term and long-term interest rates, and interest rates in different countries, do not necessarily move in the same direction
or by the same amount. The link between interest rates and debt security prices tends to be weaker with lower-rated debt securities
than with investment grade debt securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term
interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value
when market rates rise, and produces more income and may increase in value when market rates fall. Whereas ordinary fixed income
securities suffer a decline in value when market rates rise, this phenomenon is exacerbated in the case of inverse floaters,
because when market rates rise, the rate paid by the inverse floater declines, producing greater price and income volatility than a
conventional fixed-rate bond with comparable credit quality and maturity. An investment in an inverse floater involves the risk
of loss of principal and may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform
the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may
make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses. Accordingly, the holder
of an inverse floater could lose more than its principal investment.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the
market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s securities may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including
disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against
the issuer, perceived poor management performance, changes in economic or political conditions or in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. Certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, may have a significant
adverse effect on the value of an issuer’s securities.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more
volatile. Derivatives, short positions, and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and
can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks
of other portfolio investments. For certain instruments or transactions that create leverage, or have embedded leverage, relatively
small market fluctuations may result in large changes in the value of such investments. In addition, the interest and other costs
that the Fund pays to engage in these practices are additional costs borne by the Fund and could reduce or eliminate any net investment
profits. Unless the profits from engaging in these practices exceed the costs of engaging in these practices, the use of leverage
will diminish the investment performance of the Fund compared with what it would have been had the Fund not used leverage. There
can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its
net assets, sometimes by a significant amount. When the Fund uses leverage or utilizes certain of these practices, it may need to
dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy regulatory or other requirements.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment or type of investment
in which the Fund invests is or may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently
can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time. An illiquid investment means any investment that the Fund
reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the
sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Judgment plays a greater role in pricing these investments
than it does in pricing investments having more active markets, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not
be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. The Fund may receive illiquid securities as a result of its investment
in securities involved in restructurings. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes
abruptly, particularly during periods of increased market volatility, adverse investor perception, economic uncertainty
or changes in interest rates. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of
securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time, which can be extensive.
An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage
of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. Market participants
attempting to sell the same or a similar investment at the same time as the Fund could decrease the liquidity of such investments,
especially during times of market volatility. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even
an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors,
instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption
proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced
to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may
be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to
sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests
may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established
uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds
7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available
to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow
money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer
or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower,
limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance
highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse
changes in economic or market conditions.
Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive
covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets, although many covenants may be waived or modified with
the consent of a certain percentage of the holders of the loans even if the Fund does not consent. There is a risk that the value
of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to
cover the amount owed on the loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In the
event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further,
in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value
of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral
may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. In addition, if a secured loan
is foreclosed, the Fund may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral
may be difficult to sell and the Fund would bear the risk that the collateral may decline in value while the Fund is holding it. Further,
there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may
need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation, which may increase
the Fund’s operating expenses. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose
the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining
an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee
or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and
obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired
by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor.
When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over
the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct
rights against the borrower. As a participant, the Fund also would be subject to the risk that the lending bank or other party selling
the participation interest would not remit
the Fund’s pro rata share of loan payments to the Fund. It may be difficult for the
Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank’s financial condition. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or
may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which
it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
The liquidity of floating rate loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary
market trading in such loans, may vary, sometimes significantly, over time and among individual floating rate loans and loans
may be subject to wide bid/ask spreads. During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult;
and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.
Courts have held in some situations that loan interests are not “securities,” and
purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not have the benefit of the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Also,
if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer (which is not uncommon in the loan market), the Fund
may, as a result, be unable to sell the issuer’s securities.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk” or “junk bonds”) and unrated
debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment
grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly,
due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating
or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid and also may require a greater degree of judgment
to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, and may carry higher transaction costs. In particular,
these securities may be issued by smaller companies or by highly indebted companies, which are generally less able than more
financially stable companies to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. Lower-rated debt securities are considered
by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal
and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and
interest. Such securities are susceptible to such a default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and business
developments relating to the issuer, the industry in general, market interest rates and market liquidity. Such securities may
be unsecured or have insufficient collateral and may be subordinated to other creditors, which increases the risk of loss on these
securities. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case
the Fund may lose its entire investment. Where it deems it appropriate and in the best interests of Fund shareholders, the Fund may
incur additional expenses to seek recovery on a defaulted security and/or to pursue litigation to protect the Fund’s investment.
The credit rating of a security may not accurately reflect the actual credit risk
associated with such a security. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers
of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, such as a high profile default, whether
or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of such securities, especially in a thinly traded
or illiquid market. To the extent the Fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted lower-rated debt securities or unrated debt securities
of comparable quality, these securities may involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities, costs, and liquidity and
valuation difficulties.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments,
including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political,
regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning
these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Changes in the financial condition of a single issuer
may impact a market as a whole. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods and may not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may
miss out on opportunities for better performance. Geopolitical risks, including terrorism, tensions or open conflict between
nations, or political or economic dysfunction within some nations that are major players on the world stage or major
producers of oil, may lead to overall instability in world economies and markets generally and have led, and may in the future lead,
to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects. Similarly, environmental and public health risks, such
as natural disasters or epidemics, or widespread fear that such events may occur, may impact markets and economies adversely and cause
market volatility in both the short- and long-term.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market
or the assets underlying the securities. These securities differ from more traditional debt securities because the principal is paid
back over the life of the security rather than at the security’s maturity; however, principal may be repaid early if a decline in interest
rates causes many borrowers to refinance (known as prepayment risk), or repaid more slowly if a rise in rates causes refinancings
to slow down (known as extension risk).
Thus, they tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types
of debt securities and as a result, these securities may exhibit additional volatility during periods of interest rate turmoil. Asset-backed
securities also may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
may be “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool and a holder of those “subordinated” securities would receive payments only
after any obligations to other more “senior” investors have been satisfied. In addition, investments in mortgage- and
asset-backed securities may be subject to call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree
than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages
or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will
adversely affect the security’s value. Further, such securities may have credit support, the utility of which could be negatively
affected by such conditions as well.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political
and legislative changes or litigation at the federal or state level, as well as uncertainties related
to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality may hinder its ability
to pay interest and principal. Under some circumstances, municipal securities might not pay interest unless the state legislature
or municipality authorizes money for that purpose. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal
securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic
or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The amount of
public information available about municipal securities is generally less than that available about corporate securities.
In the case of insured municipal securities, insurance supports the commitment that
interest payments will be made on time and the principal will be repaid at maturity. Insurance does not, however, protect the
Fund or its shareholders against losses caused by declines in a municipal security’s market value. The Portfolio Managers generally
look to the credit quality of the issuer of a municipal security to determine whether the security meets the Fund’s quality restrictions,
even if the security is covered by insurance. However, a downgrade in the claims-paying ability of an insurer of a municipal
security could have an adverse effect on the market value of the security.
Municipal issuers may be adversely affected by high labor costs and increasing unfunded
pension liabilities, and by the phasing out of federal programs providing financial support. In addition, changes in the financial
condition of one or more individual municipal issuers or insurers of municipal issuers can affect the overall municipal
securities market. At times, the secondary market for municipal securities may not be liquid, which could limit the Fund’s ability to
sell securities it is holding. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and
local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Financial difficulties of municipal issuers may continue or get worse. Further, the application of state law to municipal
issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state.
Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer
restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting
other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when
it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as
their fair market value.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects,
especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the
overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project
or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the
issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest
and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
To the extent that the Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, or Neuberger Berman
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund invests in private activity bonds, a part of its dividends will be a Tax Preference
Item. Consult your tax adviser for more information.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate
change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s
financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which
would adversely impact the Fund.
Generally, the Fund purchases municipal securities the interest on which, in the opinion
of counsel to the issuer, is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. There is no guarantee that such
an opinion will be correct, and there is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with such an opinion. Municipal
securities generally must meet certain regulatory and statutory requirements to distribute interest that is excludable from
gross income for federal income tax. If any municipal security held by Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund, or
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund fails to meet such requirements,
the interest received by the Fund from such security and distributed to shareholders would be taxable. Proposals also may
be introduced before state legislatures that would affect the state tax treatment of a municipal fund's distributions. If such
proposals were enacted, the availability of municipal securities and the value of a municipal fund's holdings would be affected.
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may
be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems,
human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to
gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the
securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks (e.g., malicious software coding, ransomware,
or “hacking”) or unintentional events (e.g., inadvertent release of confidential information). A cybersecurity incident
could, among other things, result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, customers or employees being unable to access electronic
systems (“denial of services”), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer
or network system, or remediation costs associated with system repairs. A cybersecurity incident may not permit the Fund and
its service providers to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and calculating net
asset value. Any cybersecurity incident could have a substantial adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders.
The occurrence of any of these problems could result in a loss of information, regulatory
scrutiny, reputational damage and other consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund or its
shareholders. The Manager, through its monitoring and oversight of Fund service providers, endeavors to determine that service
providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to such problems. While the Manager has established
business continuity plans and risk management systems seeking to address these problems, there are inherent limitations
in such plans and systems, and it is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the
cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate
their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations,
and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect
issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial
intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational
efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their
business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or
services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal
liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with
or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of
data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's
effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized
and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and
competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise
significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale,
and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may
lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates
traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory
frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes
could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including affiliated
Underlying Funds, money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance
will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies and to the allocation of its assets among those
other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’
investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses. If the Fund invests in other investment companies,
the Fund may receive distributions of taxable gains from portfolio transactions by that investment company and may recognize taxable
gains from transactions in shares of that investment company, which could be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders when distributed
to them.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying
portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect
its adviser’s ability to make investment
decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively
managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track because of, for example, the temporary
unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the
weighting of securities or the number of stocks held. A passively managed ETF may not be permitted to sell poorly performing
stocks that are included in its index. Investing in ETFs could incur brokerage and other trading costs for the Fund.
A Fund is also exposed to the affiliated Underlying Funds’ expenses, which could result
in the duplication of certain fees, including the administration fees that are paid to Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers
LLC (“NBIA”). NBIA is the investment manager for both the Fund and the affiliated Underlying Funds and may be deemed to
have a conflict of interest in determining the allocation of the Fund to the affiliated Underlying Funds. This conflict of interest
is reduced, however, because the Manager has undertaken to waive a portion of the Fund's advisory fee equal to the advisory
fee it receives from affiliated Underlying Funds on the Fund’s assets invested in those affiliated Underlying Funds.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with
both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities
are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation
in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Preferred securities generally are subordinated to debt securities in an issuer’s
capital structure, subjecting them to a greater risk of non-payment than those more senior securities. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of
the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders
of its debt securities. For these reasons, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk
than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived
changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to
adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks, and
there is a risk an issuer of preferred securities may call or redeem prior to any stated maturity.
Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion,
to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Preferred shareholders may have certain
rights if distributions are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer, may suffer a loss of value if
distributions are not paid, and may be required to report the deferred distribution on its tax returns, even though it may not have received
any cash. Generally, preferred shareholders have no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless distributions
to preferred shareholders have not been paid for a stated period, at which time the preferred shareholders may elect a number of directors
to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the distributions have been paid to preferred shareholders, the preferred shareholders
no longer have voting rights.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain
debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after
(extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates
or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity
(i.e., a prepayment). As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a
lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may
lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Prepayments could also create capital gains tax liability in some instances.
Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration
of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines. If
the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the Fund may be unable to capitalize on
securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that
are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless
certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. These securities may not be listed
on an exchange and may have no active trading market. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these
securities may be more volatile and more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened
risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities
may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the
Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. A security that was
liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for private placements
and other restricted securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for sale and there may be
substantial delays in effecting the registration. If, during such a delay, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain
a less favorable price than prevailed at the time it decided to seek registration of the securities. In addition, the Fund may
get only limited information about the issuer of a
private placement or other restricted security, so it may be less able to anticipate
a loss. Also, if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may, as a result, be legally prohibited
from selling the securities.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent
years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies
are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or
region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets
may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this
time.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad,
in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation.
The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their
approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in
interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating
economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market
value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce
liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets. Also, regulators have expressed concern that changes in
interest rates may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility.
Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility,
disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between
countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the
U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen
at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may
decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Regulators in the U.S. adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some
of which implicate a Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known.
Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit a Fund’s ability to pursue its
investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact its performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty
on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation
of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely,
the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen
and could adversely impact performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine,
in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of
ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and
risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of a Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely
affect the global economy. The impact of epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future could negatively affect the
economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity,
in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time and could last for an extended period of time.
An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue
and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing,
and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs
and services.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market
risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling;
a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and
substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political,
regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact
financial markets and the broader economy.
China’s economy, which had been sustained through debt-financed spending on housing
and infrastructure, appears to be experiencing a significant slowdown and growing at a lower rate than prior years.
While the Chinese government appears to be taking measures to address these issues, due to the size of China’s economy, the resolution of these issues could impact a number of other countries.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen.
The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
A rise in sea levels, a change in weather patterns, including an increase in powerful
storms and large wildfires, and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause properties to lose value or become unmarketable
altogether. Unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected zones may not ever recover their value.
Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain
land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.
Losses related to climate change could adversely affect corporate issuers and mortgage
lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities that depend on tax or other revenues and tourist
dollars generated by affected properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate, municipal or mortgage-backed securities.
Since property and security values are driven largely by buyers’ perceptions, it is difficult to know the time period over
which these market effects might unfold.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause
the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity,
or at a loss or depressed value. The sale of assets to meet redemption requests may cause the Fund to realize capital gains, which
would result in the Fund having to distribute such gains. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries
control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable
cash flow needs. In addition, the risk is heightened if redemption requests are unusually large or frequent or occur
during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs and
create adverse tax consequences.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out
of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with
a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors
to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Repurchase Agreement Risk. Repurchase agreements generally are for a short period of time and involve the risk
that the counterparty may default on its obligation to repurchase the underlying instruments
collateralizing the repurchase agreement, which may result in costs, delays, and/or losses to the Fund. In such a case, the
Fund may incur expenses in enforcing its rights under the repurchase agreement. Repurchase agreements also involve the risk that a
Fund could lose money if (a) the underlying instruments used as collateral lose their value before they can be sold, (b) a Fund
is required to return collateral to a borrower at a time when it may realize a loss on the investment of that collateral, or (c) a Fund
is unable to access collateral and unable to enforce its rights.
Risk Management. Management undertakes certain analyses with the intention of identifying particular
types of risks and reducing the Fund’s exposure to them. However, risk is an essential part of investing,
and the degree of return an investor might expect is often tied to the degree of risk the investor is willing to accept. By its
very nature, risk involves exposure to the possibility of adverse events. Accordingly, no risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s
exposure to such events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by adverse events, and
especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. While the prospectus describes material risk factors associated
with the Fund’s investment program, there is no assurance that as a particular situation unfolds in the markets, management
will identify all of the risks that might affect the Fund, rate their probability or potential magnitude correctly, or be able
to take appropriate measures to reduce the Fund’s exposure to them. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk
prove to be incorrect. Measures taken with the intention of decreasing exposure to identified risks might have the unintended
effect of increasing exposure to other risks.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant
positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector,
industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect
those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An
individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market may be more volatile, and
may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic,
political or regulatory events. The Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors, industries, or sub-sectors
do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or industries may adversely affect performance.
For information about the risks of investing in particular sectors, see the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may
delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example,
to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s
debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required
by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There
may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings
through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk
is increased for emerging market issuers. Certain emerging market or developing countries are among the largest debtors to commercial
banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of
principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign
debt on a timely basis that led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued by supranational entities, such as
the World Bank. A supranational entity is financially supported by the governments of one or more countries, has no taxing authority,
and is dependent on its members for payments of interest and principal. There is no guarantee that the members will continue
to make capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal
on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
Structured Note Risk. Structured notes are notes where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference
to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, financial instrument, market or
interest rate. Generally, investments in such notes are used as a substitute for positions in underlying indicators and involve
many of the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying indicator the notes seek to replicate. Structured notes
may be exchange traded or traded over-the-counter and privately negotiated. Structured notes can have risks of both fixed income securities
and derivatives transactions, including leverage risk. The interest and/or principal payments that may be made on
a structured note may vary widely, depending on a variety of factors, including changes in the value of one or more specified
reference instruments. The performance of structured notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the underlying indicator
that the notes seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Structured notes are subject to counterparty
risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the structured note will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction
with the Fund. Investments in structured notes, including credit-linked notes, involve risks including interest rate risk,
credit risk and market risk. Structured notes may be leveraged, increasing the volatility of each structured note’s value relative to the
change in the reference instrument. Structured notes may also be less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex
securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities. The secondary market for structured notes could be illiquid making
them difficult to sell when the Fund determines to sell them. The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for structured
notes and the resulting inability of the Fund to sell a structured note could expose the Fund to losses.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund’s use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are
deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests.
Holders of the first class of interests, or floating rate certificates, receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates
and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. A remarketing agent for the trust is required to attempt to resell any tendered
floating rate certificates and if the remarketing agent is unsuccessful, the trust’s liquidity provider must contribute cash to ensure
that the tendering holders receive the purchase price of their securities on the repurchase date. Holders of the second class of interests,
or residual income certificates (commonly referred to as “inverse floaters”), receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on
the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and
bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially
eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage
risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender
option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss
of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. In certain instances, a trust may be terminated if, for example, the
issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments, the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded,
or tendered floating rate certificates cannot be resold.
Tobacco Related Bonds Risk. In 1998, the largest U.S. tobacco manufacturers reached an out of court agreement,
known as the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”), to settle claims against them by 46 states and
six other U.S. jurisdictions. The tobacco manufacturers agreed to make annual payments to the government entities in exchange
for the release of all litigation claims. A number of the states have sold bonds that are backed by those future payments. The
Fund may invest in two types of those bonds: (i) bonds that make payments only from a state’s interest in the MSA and (ii) bonds
that make payments from both the MSA revenue and from an “appropriation pledge” by the state. An “appropriation pledge”
requires the state to pass a specific periodic appropriation to make the payments and is generally not an unconditional guarantee
of payment by a state. The settlement payments are based on factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette
shipments, cigarette consumption, inflation and the financial capability of participating tobacco companies. Payments
could be reduced if consumption decreases, if market share is lost to non-MSA manufacturers, or if there is a negative outcome in
litigation regarding the MSA, including challenges by participating tobacco manufacturers regarding the amount of annual payments
owed under the MSA.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these
guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market
prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government
and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Some are backed by the issuer’s
right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality.
These securities carry at least some risk of non-payment or default by the issuer. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some
U.S. government securities may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S.
Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. There is no assurance
that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by
law to do so.
In recent periods, the values of U.S. government securities have been affected substantially
by increased demand for them around the world. Increases or decreases in the demand for U.S. government securities may
occur at any time and may result in increased volatility in the values of those securities. In recent years, credit rating agencies
have shown some concern about whether the U.S. government has the political will necessary to service all of its outstanding and
expected future debt, and some have adjusted their ratings or outlook for U.S. government debt accordingly. These developments, and the
factors underlying them, could cause an increase in interest rates and borrowing costs, which may negatively impact both the
perception of credit risk associated with the debt securities issued by the U.S. and the government's ability to access the debt
markets on favorable terms. In addition, these developments could create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which could increase
volatility in both stock and bond markets. These events could result in significant adverse impacts on issuers of securities
held by the Fund.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has
valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities
that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult
to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value
methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an
investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. Investors who purchase or
redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher
redemption proceeds, than they would have received if the Fund had not held fair-valued securities or had used a different methodology.
The value of foreign securities, certain futures, fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected
by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded but before the Fund determines its net asset value. The Fund uses
pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment
at the price established by such pricing services. Different pricing services use different valuation methodologies, potentially resulting
in different values for the same investments. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if a pricing service
were to change its valuation methodology, the value of the Fund’s investments could be impacted. The Fund’s ability to value its investments
in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers,
such as pricing services or accounting agents.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments
with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest
rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments will not generally rise
in value if market interest rates decline. Thus, investing in variable and floating rate instruments generally allows less opportunity
for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in instruments with a fixed interest rate. Certain types of floating rate
instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions
on resale and may lack an active market, which may make them more difficult to value or sell.
Certain variable and floating rate instruments have an interest rate floor feature,
which prevents the interest rate payable by the instrument from dropping below a specified level as compared to a reference interest
rate (the “reference rate”), such as SOFR. Such a floor is designed to protect the Fund from a decrease in the reference rate below the specified level. However, if the reference rate is below the floor, there will be a lag between a rise in the reference
rate and a rise in the interest rate payable by the instrument, and the Fund may not benefit from increasing interest rates for a significant
period of time. Rates on certain variable rate instruments typically only reset periodically.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (TBA) mortgage-backed securities) involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or
deliver securities at a later date. Because the Fund is committed to buying them at a certain price, any change in the value of these
securities, even prior to their issuance, affects the Fund’s share value. Accordingly, the purchase of such securities involves
a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. When-issued and forward-settling securities
can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price. When-issued and forward-settling
securities may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy
its purchase obligations. When-issued and forward-settling securities also are subject to the risk that the security will not
be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security. If this occurs, the Fund may lose the opportunity
to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and may forgo any gain in the security’s price. The Fund may sell securities
it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In addition, the purchase
of mortgage-backed securities on a TBA basis may result in a Fund incurring increased prepayment risks because the underlying mortgages
may be less favorable than anticipated by the Fund.
Zero Coupon Bond Risk. Zero coupon bonds do not make periodic interest payments. Instead, they are sold
at a discount from their face value and can be redeemed at face value when they mature. Even though zero
coupon bonds do not pay current interest in cash, the Fund is required to accrue interest income on such investments, which
the Fund is required to distribute to shareholders annually. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other
investments in order to generate cash to satisfy its distribution requirements. The market value of zero coupon bonds may respond to
changes in interest rates to a greater degree (i.e., they are generally more volatile) than other fixed income securities with similar
maturities and credit quality.
Information about Additional Risks and Other Practices
As discussed in the Statement of Additional Information, a Fund may engage in certain
practices and invest in certain securities in addition to those described as its “principal investment strategies” in its Fund Summary
section. For example, should a Fund engage in borrowing or securities lending, or should a Fund use derivatives or invest
in foreign securities, it will be subject to the additional risks associated with these practices and securities, some or all of which
may already be included in its “principal investment strategies.”
Borrowing money, securities lending, or using derivatives would create investment
leverage, meaning that certain gains or losses would be amplified, increasing share price movements. A Fund that does not utilize
derivatives as a part of its principal investment strategy may, to a limited extent, use certain derivatives as a means of hedging risk
and/or for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes. A derivative instrument, whether used for hedging or for speculation,
could fail to perform as expected, causing a loss for a Fund.
Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in
addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities, and can fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid,
than comparable U.S. securities. Securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating
to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries.
As part of its liquidity management practices, including for cash management purposes
or to facilitate short-term liquidity, a Fund may invest in reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a
Fund sells portfolio securities to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase the securities
at an agreed-upon price and date, which reflects an interest payment to that party. Reverse repurchase agreements involve
the risk that the other party will fail to return the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to a Fund. A
Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the cash collateral held by the Fund is less than the
value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to a Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve
the risk that the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which a Fund is obligated to repurchase
them. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing by a Fund. When a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase
agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party or the securities in which
the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During the term of the agreement, a Fund may also
be obligated to pledge additional cash
and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair value of the transferred security.
The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements.
In addition, a Fund may be an investment option for a Neuberger Berman mutual fund
that is managed as a “fund of funds.” As a result, from time to time, a Fund may experience relatively large redemptions or investments
and could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it is not advantageous to do so.
In anticipation of adverse or uncertain market, economic, political, or other temporary
conditions, including during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, a Fund may temporarily depart from its goal and use
a different investment strategy (including leaving a significant portion of its assets uninvested) for defensive purposes. Doing
so could help a Fund avoid losses, but may mean lost opportunities. In addition, in doing so different factors could affect a
Fund’s performance and a Fund may not achieve its goal. Furthermore, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman
Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund could earn income that is not exempt
from federal income tax. In addition, to the extent a Fund is new or is undergoing a transition (such as a change
in strategy, rebalancing, reorganization, liquidation or experiencing large inflows or outflows) or takes a temporary defensive
position, it may deviate from its principal investment strategies during such period.
A Fund may change its goal without shareholder approval.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information.
The Bloomberg 7-Year General Obligation (G.O.) Index is the 7-year (6-8 years to maturity) component of the Bloomberg G.O. Index. The Bloomberg G.O. Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated,
long-term, tax-exempt state and local general obligation bond market.
The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, taxable bond
market and includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed
securities (MBS) (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) pass-throughs), asset-backed securities
(ABS), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) (agency and nonagency).
The 65% Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index and 35% Bloomberg Municipal High Yield Index blended index is composed of 65% Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (described below) and 35% Bloomberg Municipal High
Yield Index (described below), and is rebalanced monthly.
The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is a rules-based, market-value-weighted index engineered for the long-term tax-exempt
bond market. To be included in the index, bonds must be rated investment-grade (Baa3/BBB-
or higher) by at least two of the following ratings agencies: Moody’s, S&P, Fitch. If only two of the three agencies
rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the three agencies rates a security, the
rating must be investment-grade. They must have an outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction
of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate, have a dated-date after December 31, 1990, and must be at least one year
from their maturity date. Remarketed issues, taxable municipal bonds, bonds with floating rates, and derivatives, are excluded
from the benchmark.
The Bloomberg Municipal High Yield Index measures the performance of the high yield municipal bond market. To be included in the index, bonds must be rated non-investment-grade (Ba1/BB+ or lower)
by at least two of the following ratings agencies: Moody’s, S&P, Fitch. If only two of the three agencies rate the security,
the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the three agencies rates a security, the rating must be
non-investment-grade. They must have an outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction
of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate, have a dated-date after December 31, 1990, and must be at least one year from
their maturity date. Remarketed issues, taxable municipal bonds, bonds with floating rates, and derivatives, are excluded
from the benchmark.
The 50% J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index (GBI) - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, 25% J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI®) - Global Diversified, and 25% J.P. Morgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index (CEMBI) - Diversified blended index is composed of 50% J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index (GBI) - Emerging
Markets Global Diversified (described below), 25% J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index
(EMBI®) - Global Diversified (described below), and 25% J.P. Morgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index (CEMBI) - Diversified
(described below), and is rebalanced monthly. Effective March 31, 2022, Russia and Belarus were excluded from
the J.P. Morgan fixed income indices. The index market value for all Russian and Belarus debt was set to zero, reflecting a
total return loss due to market disruption.
The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated below investment grade corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. In addition to meeting
other criteria, qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch ratings),
and have risk exposure to countries that are members of the FX-G10, Western Europe or territories of the U.S. and Western Europe.
Securities in legal default are excluded from the index. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, provided
the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. Transaction costs will be incorporated into the calculation of total
return for ICE fixed income indices beginning in July 2022.
The J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Blended Hard Currency / Local Currency 50-50 Index tracks the performance of a blend of US dollar emerging market (EM) sovereign and quasi-sovereign bonds (25% allocation),
US dollar EM corporate bonds (25% allocation) and local currency denominated EM sovereign bonds (the remaining 50% of
the allocation).
The J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index (GBI) - Emerging Markets Global Diversified tracks the performance of local currency denominated bonds issued by emerging market governments, including emerging
market countries from Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East/Africa. The Global version of the index includes
only countries that are accessible by most of the international investor base, while countries with explicit capital controls are
excluded. The Diversified version of the index is market capitalization-weighted, with a maximum weight to a country capped at 10%.
Effective March 31, 2022, Russia and Belarus were excluded from the J.P. Morgan fixed income indices. The index market
value for all Russian and Belarus debt was set to zero, reflecting a total return loss due to market disruption.
The J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI®) - Global Diversified tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued by emerging market sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities
(Brady bonds, loans and Eurobonds), including emerging market countries from Asia, Europe, Latin America and
the Middle East/Africa. The Global version of the index captures a broad, comprehensive universe of emerging market issues.
The Diversified version of the index is market capitalization-weighted and limits the weights of those index countries with
larger debt stocks by including only specified portions of those countries’ eligible current face amounts of debt outstanding. Effective
March 31, 2022, Russia and Belarus were excluded from the J.P. Morgan fixed income indices. The index market value for all
Russian and Belarus debt was set to zero, reflecting a total return loss due to market disruption.
The J.P. Morgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index (CEMBI) - Diversified tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated corporate emerging market bonds, including emerging market countries from Asia, Europe,
Latin America and the Middle East/Africa. The Diversified version of the index is market capitalization-weighted
and limits the weights of those index countries with larger corporate debt stocks by including only specified portions of
those countries’ eligible current face amounts of debt outstanding. Effective March 31, 2022, Russia and Belarus were excluded from
the J.P. Morgan fixed income indices. The index market value for all Russian and Belarus debt was set to zero, reflecting a
total return loss due to market disruption.
The Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan Index is a market-value weighted index designed to measure the performance of the US leveraged loan market. The starting universe consists of senior secured, USD denominated
syndicated term leveraged loans with a minimum initial term of one year, a minimum initial spread of base rate (an average of the rolling 1-month and 3-month; prior to December 2024, LIBOR was also used) plus 125 basis points, and a minimum initial issue size of $50 million. The index
is rebalanced on a weekly basis every Friday.
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”), located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is each Fund’s investment manager and administrator. Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“Distributor”),
located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is each Fund’s distributor. Pursuant to an investment
advisory agreement, the Manager is responsible for choosing a Fund’s investments and handling its day-to-day business.
The services provided by the Manager as the investment manager and administrator include, among others, overall responsibility
for providing all supervisory, management, and administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Funds, which
may include, among others, compliance monitoring, operational and investment risk management, legal and administrative services
and portfolio accounting services. The Manager carries out its duties subject to the policies established by the Board of
Trustees. The investment advisory agreement establishes the fees a Fund pays to the Manager for its services as the Fund’s investment
manager and the expenses paid directly by the Fund. For Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, the Manager engages Neuberger
Berman Europe Limited (“NBEL”), located at Lansdowne House, 57 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6ER, as sub-adviser
to choose the Fund’s investments and handle its day-to-day investment business for the portion of the Fund’s assets
allocated to it by the Fund’s Manager. As
investment manager, the Manager is responsible for overseeing the activities of NBEL.
Together, the Neuberger Berman affiliates manage approximately $508 billion in total assets (as of 12/31/2024) and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.
NBIA may engage one or more of foreign affiliates that are not registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“participating affiliates”) in accordance with applicable SEC no-action letters.
As participating affiliates, whether or not registered with the SEC, the affiliates may provide designated investment personnel to associate
with NBIA as “associated persons” of NBIA and perform specific services for NBIA, including services for the Funds, which may involve, among other
services, advisory services and portfolio management, research and/or placing orders for securities and other instruments. The designated employees
of a participating affiliate act for NBIA and are subject to certain NBIA policies
and procedures as well as supervision and periodic monitoring by NBIA. The Funds will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result
of any such arrangements. NBEL, Neuberger Berman Singapore Pte. Limited and Neuberger Berman Asset Management Ireland Limited
are considered participating affiliates of NBIA that provide advisory services and portfolio management pursuant to applicable regulatory guidance.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Funds'
investment advisory agreements and, as applicable, sub-advisory agreements is available in the Funds' Form N-CSR for the period ending October 31, 2024.
Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended to
give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state
securities laws that have not been waived. The Funds enter into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others,
the Manager, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third party beneficiaries
of, those contractual arrangements. Where shareholders are not third party beneficiaries of contractual arrangements, those
contractual arrangements cannot be enforced by shareholders acting on their own behalf.
The Manager has obtained “manager of managers” exemptive relief from the SEC that
permits the Manager, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change
the terms of a subadvisory agreement with an unaffiliated subadviser for Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund and Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The exemptive order permits a Fund
to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to such subadvisers from time to time without
the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. Under this order, the Manager has ultimate
responsibility (subject to oversight by the Board) to oversee the subadvisers and recommend their hiring, termination, and
replacement. It is not expected that the Manager would normally recommend replacement of an affiliated subadviser as part of
its oversight responsibilities. A Fund will notify shareholders of any change in the identity of a subadviser or the addition
of a subadviser to a Fund.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.45%, 0.45% and 0.33%,
respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.82%, 0.82% and 0.70%,
respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.67%, 0.67% and 0.55%,
respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.75%, 0.75% and 0.63%,
respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.67%, 0.67% and 0.55%,
respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.52%, 0.52% and 0.40%,
respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.41%, 0.41%
and 0.29%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.67%, 0.67% and 0.55%,
respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about
each Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager, and each Portfolio Manager’s ownership
of shares in the Fund(s) that he or she manages.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund
Thanos Bardas is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 1998 and is the Co-Head
of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. In addition, he is a member of the Asset Allocation Committee.
Mr. Bardas has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2008.
David M. Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He re-joined the firm in January 2003 and
is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. Mr. Brown has been a Portfolio Manager of the
Fund since February 2008.
Nathan Kush is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2001. He is a member
of the portfolio management team for the firm’s Global Investment Grade strategies. Additionally, he is involved
in investment grade credit research and, previously, covered the banking, brokerage, finance, insurance and REIT sectors. Mr.
Kush has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2017.
Olumide Owolabi is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2003. He is the Head
of the U.S. Rates team and has investment and research responsibilities across global interest rate and inflation
markets. Mr. Owolabi has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2023.
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Rob Drijkoningen is a Managing Director of NBEL. Mr. Drijkoningen joined the firm in 2013 and is a
portfolio manager and co-head of the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was
at another firm from 1995 to 2013 where he was most recently global co-head of the emerging markets debt team, responsible for
emerging markets debt and currency strategies. He has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.
Gorky Urquieta is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Urquieta joined the firm in 2013 and is
a portfolio manager and co-head of the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was
at another firm from 1997 to 2013 where he was most recently global co-head of the emerging markets debt team, responsible for
emerging markets debt and currency strategies. He has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.
Bart Van der Made, CFA, is a Managing Director of NBEL. Mr. Van der Made joined the firm in 2013 and is
a portfolio manager for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was
at another firm from 1997 to 2013 where he was most recently a senior portfolio manager, responsible for emerging markets
hard currency strategies. He has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.
Raoul Luttik is a Managing Director of NBEL. Mr. Luttik joined the firm in 2013 and is a portfolio
manager for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was at another firm from
1998 to 2013 where he was a lead portfolio manager, responsible for emerging markets local currency strategies. He has co-managed
the Fund since September 2013.
Jennifer Gorgoll, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Ms. Gorgoll joined the firm in 2013 and is
a portfolio manager for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, she was at another
firm from 2002 to 2013 where she was a lead portfolio manager, responsible for emerging markets corporate debt strategies.
She has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.
Vera Kartseva, CFA, is a Senior Vice President of NBEL. Ms. Kartseva joined the firm in 2013 and is a
portfolio manager and strategist focusing on tactical asset allocation for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt
team. Prior to joining the firm, she was at another firm from 2007 to 2013 where she managed a hard and local currency fund and
concentrated on emerging markets debt tactical asset allocation. She has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.
Nish Popat is a Managing Director of NBEL. Mr. Popat joined the firm in 2013 and is a portfolio
manager for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was at another firm from
2008 to 2013 where he was a senior portfolio manager, responsible for emerging corporate debt strategies. He has co-managed
the Fund since September 2013.
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund
Joseph P. Lynch is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Lynch is a senior portfolio manager for
non-investment grade credit focusing on loan portfolios for the Manager and also serves on the firm’s credit
committee for non-investment grade credit and the investment risk committee. He has co-managed the Fund since 2009. Prior to
joining the firm, Mr. Lynch was responsible for portfolio management, trading and credit research of leveraged assets
for another firm from 2002 to 2007.
Stephen J. Casey, CFA is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Casey is a senior portfolio manager for
non-investment grade credit portfolios for the Manager and also serves on the firm’s investment risk committee
for high yield bonds and senior floating rate loans. He has co-managed the Fund since 2010. Prior to joining the firm, Mr.
Casey was responsible for portfolio management, trading and credit research of leveraged assets for another firm from
2002 to 2007.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
Joseph Lind, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He has co-managed the Fund since July 2018
and is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he served as a high yield strategy
portfolio manager at another asset manager from 2012 to 2018.
Christopher Kocinski, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Kocinski joined the firm in 2006 and
is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Before being named co-portfolio manager to the Fund in 2019, Mr.
Kocinski was co-director of non-investment grade credit research and a senior research analyst for the Manager.
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund
James L. Iselin is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since its
inception in June 2015. Mr. Iselin joined the firm in 2006. Previously, Mr. Iselin was a portfolio manager for
another investment adviser working in its Municipal Fixed Income group since 1993.
S. Blake Miller, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Miller has managed the Fund since its
inception in June 2015. Mr. Miller joined the firm in 2008. Prior to this, he was the head of Municipal
Fixed Income investing at another firm where he worked since 1986.
Eric J. Pelio is a Senior Vice President of the Manager. Mr. Pelio has managed the Fund since its
inception in June 2015. Mr. Pelio joined the firm in 2008. Prior to this, he was an associate portfolio manager
working in Municipal Securities at another firm where he worked since 2004.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund
James L. Iselin is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since March
2013. Mr. Iselin joined the firm in 2006. Previously, Mr. Iselin was a portfolio manager for another investment
adviser working in its Municipal Fixed Income group since 1993.
S. Blake Miller, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Miller has managed the Fund since March
2013. Mr. Miller joined the firm in 2008. Prior to this, he was the head of Municipal Fixed Income
investing at another firm where he worked since 1986.
Jeffrey Hunn is a Senior Vice President of the Manager. Mr. Hunn has managed the Fund since June
2018. Mr. Hunn joined the firm in June 2003 and has had various roles throughout the firm.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
James L. Iselin is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since 2007. Mr. Iselin joined the
firm in 2006. Previously, Mr. Iselin was a portfolio manager for another investment adviser
working in the Municipal Fixed Income group since 1993.
S. Blake Miller, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Miller has managed the Fund since 2010.
Mr. Miller joined the firm in 2008. Prior to this, he was the head of Municipal Fixed Income investing
at another firm where he worked since 1986.
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
Thanos Bardas is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 1998 and is the Co-Head
of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. In addition, he is a member of the Asset Allocation Committee.
Mr. Bardas has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since April 2009.
Ashok Bhatia, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in July 2017 and is the
Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bhatia was a senior portfolio manager
and co-leader of the customized fixed income team at another asset manager. He has over 24 years’ experience in the investment
industry. Mr. Bhatia has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2017.
David M. Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He re-joined the firm in January 2003 and
is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. Mr. Brown has been a Portfolio Manager of the
Fund since April 2009.
Robert Dishner is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Dishner joined the firm in 2019 and is a member of the portfolio management team for the firm’s multi-sector fixed income strategies. Mr. Dishner has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2024.
Tom Sobanski, CFA, is a Senior Vice President of the Manager. Mr. Sobanski joined the firm in 2015 and is a member of the portfolio management team for the firm’s multi-sector fixed income strategies. Mr. Sobanski has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2024.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class A shares for
the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along
with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund—Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 156%, 185%, 226%, 243% and 186% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(5)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class C shares for
the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along
with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund—Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 156%, 185%, 226%, 243% and 186% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(5)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class
shares for the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived
from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting
firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October 31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund—Institutional Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 156%,185%, 226%, 243% and 186% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class A shares for
the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund—Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout the period indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over the period,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of period (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during the fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class C shares for
the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund—Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout the period indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over the period,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of period (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during the fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class
shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the
Fund's most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund—Institutional Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout the period indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over the period,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of period (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during the fiscal period.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class A shares for
the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along
with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund—Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how they
would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class C shares for
the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along
with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund—Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how they
would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all distributions
were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold
securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class
shares for the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived
from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting
firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October 31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund—Institutional Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class A shares for
the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund—Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense offset arrangements had not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement/recoupment.
(2)
Would have been lower/higher if the Manager had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class C shares for
the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund—Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense offset arrangements had not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(2)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class
shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the
Fund's most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund—Institutional Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost),
what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as
how they would have been if certain expense offset arrangements had not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class A shares for
the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along
with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund—Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class C shares for
the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along
with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund—Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class
shares for the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived
from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting
firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October 31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund—Institutional Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class A shares for
the fiscal period indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with
full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund—Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gains (losses)—unrealized and realized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class C shares for
the fiscal period indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with
full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund—Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gains (losses)—unrealized and realized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class
shares for the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived
from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting
firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October 31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund—Institutional Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gains (losses)—unrealized and realized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(2)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class A shares for
the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund—Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class C shares for
the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund—Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class
shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the
Fund's most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund—Institutional Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class A shares for
the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund—Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement/recoupment
and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower/higher if the Manager had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses
and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 206%, 298%, 308%, 308% and 344% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(5)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class C shares for
the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund—Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 206%, 298%, 308%, 308% and 344% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(5)
Does not include the effect of sales charges.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Institutional Class
shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the
Fund's most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund—Institutional Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or
lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund's expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well
as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements
had not
been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold
securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement/recoupment and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower/higher if the Manager had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions 206%, 298%, 308%, 308% and 344% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Your Investment
Shares of the Funds generally are available only through financial intermediaries.
For certain investors, shares of a Fund may also be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the Funds' Distributor. See “Maintaining
Your Account”.
The Funds offer different classes of shares through this prospectus. Each share class
is available through various investment programs or accounts, including certain types of retirement plans and accounts (see
limitations below). The services or share classes available to you may vary depending upon how you wish to purchase shares of
a Fund.
Each share class represents investment in the same portfolio of securities, but each
class has its own sales charge and expense structure, allowing you to choose the class that best fits your situation. When you
purchase shares of a Fund, you should choose a share class. If none is chosen, your investment will be made in Class A shares.
Factors you should consider in choosing a class of shares include:
■
how long you expect to own the shares
■
how much you intend to invest
■
total expenses associated with owning shares of each class
■
whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges (for example, Class
A shares may be a less expensive option than Class C shares over time, particularly if you qualify for a sales charge reduction
or waiver)
■
whether you plan to take any distributions in the near future
■
availability of (and eligibility for) share classes.
Each investor’s financial considerations are different. You should speak with your
financial intermediary to help you decide which share class is best for you.
Summary of Primary Differences Among Share Classes
|
|
|
For all Funds, except Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, up to 4.25% (reduced
for purchases of $50,000 or
more and eliminated for purchases of $1 million or more)
For Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, up to 2.50% (reduced for purchases of
$50,000 or more and
eliminated for purchases of $250,000 or more)
|
Contingent deferred sales charge
|
None (except that for all Funds other than Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund,
a charge of 1.00% applies to
certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more
without an initial sales
charge, and for Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, a charge of 0.75% applies
to certain redemptions made
within 18 months following purchases of $250,000 or more without an initial sales
charge)
|
|
|
|
Generally higher than Class C due to lower annual expenses and lower than Institutional
Class due to higher
annual expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent deferred sales charge
|
1.00% if shares are sold within one year after purchase
|
|
|
|
Generally lower than Class A and Institutional Class due to higher annual expenses
|
|
See the discussion regarding purchase minimums and maximums in “Maintaining Your Account”
|
|
Automatic conversion into Class A shares of the same Fund at the end of the month
following the eighth
anniversary of the purchase date of Class C shares. Class C shares held through a
financial intermediary may be
converted pursuant to the conversion schedule or eligibility requirements of such
financial intermediary. It is the
financial intermediary’s (and not the Fund’s) responsibility to keep records and to
ensure that the shareholder is
credited with the proper holding period as the Fund and its agents may not have transparency
into how long a
shareholder has held Class C shares for purposes of determining whether such Class
C shares are eligible to
automatically convert pursuant to the conversion feature. Please see the Statement
of Additional Information for
more information regarding the conversion privileges of Class C shares.
|
Institutional Class Shares
|
|
|
|
Contingent deferred sales charge
|
|
|
|
|
Generally higher than Class A and Class C due to lower annual expenses
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of Class A and Class C shares—To open an account and purchase Class A and Class C shares of a Fund, contact any
financial intermediary authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. Financial intermediaries
may have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge waivers or contingent
deferred sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those discussed herein; any such differences are
described in Appendix A to this prospectus. All variations described in Appendix A are applied by, and are the responsibility of,
the identified financial intermediary. Such variations may apply to purchases, sales, exchanges and reinvestments of Fund shares.
In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Distributor or the purchaser’s financial intermediary
at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers
and discounts not available through a particular financial intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares
directly from the Distributor, if eligible, or through another financial intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. See
“Financial Intermediaries” if you are buying shares through a financial intermediary.
For Grandfathered Investors (as defined below), instructions for buying shares directly
from Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the Funds' Distributor, are under “Buying Shares.”
Purchase of Institutional Class shares—To open an account and purchase Institutional Class shares of a Fund, contact any
financial intermediary authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Financial Intermediaries”
if you are buying shares through a financial intermediary.
Institutional Class shares are available for purchase (i) primarily through omnibus
accounts (either at the plan level or at the level of the financial intermediary) by certain qualified retirement plans (including 401(k)
plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans), profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and
non-qualified deferred compensation plans, (ii) primarily through omnibus accounts by financial intermediaries (including, but
not limited to registered investment advisors and financial planners) that have entered into an agreement with the Distributor or
an affiliate, (iii) by institutional investors, if approved by the Distributor, or (iv) by accounts or funds managed by the Manager or
an affiliate (including the funds in the Neuberger Berman family of funds).
For shareholders who are eligible to buy Institutional Class shares directly from
the Distributor (“Eligible Investors”) and Predecessor Investors (as defined below), instructions for buying shares directly
from the Distributor are under “Buying Shares.”
If you transact in Institutional Class shares, you may be required to pay a commission
to a financial intermediary acting as your broker. You may be eligible to transact in the other share classes that are offered
by the Fund that have different fees and expenses.
When you buy shares—Investment checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank. We cannot accept cash, money orders,
starter checks, travelers checks, or other cash equivalents. We do accept Bank Checks and
Cashier’s Checks from U.S. Financial Institutions.
When you buy shares, you will receive the next share price to be calculated after
your order has been received in proper form. Purchase orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Funds' transfer agent
has received payment for the shares. In the case of certain institutional investors and financial intermediaries, the Distributor
will process purchase orders when received, on the basis of a pre-existing arrangement to make payment by the following morning.
In addition, if you have established a systematic investment program (SIP) with one or more of the Funds, your order is deemed
received in proper form on the date you pre-selected on your SIP application for the systematic investments to occur.
Dividends normally are first earned the business day after your purchase order is received in proper form. If you use a financial intermediary,
you should check with that provider to find out by what time your purchase order must be received so that it can be processed
the same day. Depending on when it accepts orders, it is possible that a Fund’s share price could change on days when
you are unable to buy shares.
Whenever you make an initial investment in a Fund or add to your existing account
(except with an automatic investment), you will be sent a statement confirming your transaction if you bought shares directly.
Investors who bought shares through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary for information regarding
transaction statements.
Purchase minimums—The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional
investments in Class A or Class C shares can be as little as $100. The minimum initial investment in Institutional
Class shares is $1 million. These minimums may be waived in certain cases. If you purchase shares of the Fund through
an investment provider or other financial intermediary, you may be subject to different investment minimums. Please contact
your financial intermediary for further information regarding investment minimums.
Purchase maximums—For Class C shares, a purchase transaction may not (1) be $1 million or above or (2)
increase an investor’s aggregate holdings in Class C shares to $1 million or above.
In addition, if you have significant holdings in the fund family, you may not be eligible
to invest in Class C shares. Specifically, you may not purchase Class C shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares
at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e., at net asset value). See “Sales Charges” and the Statement of Additional
Information for more information regarding sales charge discounts.
When you sell shares—To sell shares you bought through a financial intermediary, contact your financial
intermediary. See “Financial Intermediaries” if you are selling shares through a financial intermediary.
If you bought your shares directly from the Distributor, instructions for selling shares are under “Selling Shares.”
When you sell shares, you will receive the next share price to be calculated after
your order has been received in proper form, minus any applicable contingent deferred sales charge. Redemption orders are deemed
“received in proper form” when a Fund’s transfer agent has received your order to sell. Dividends are earned through the business
day on which your redemption order is received in proper form. Investors redeeming in full will receive earned dividends
on the day they sell their shares; investors redeeming a portion of their shares will receive earned dividends on the next applicable
monthly distribution date.
If you use a financial intermediary, you should check with that provider to find out
by what time your redemption order must be received so that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when it accepts orders,
it is possible that a Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to sell shares.
In some cases, you will have to place your order to sell shares in writing, and you
will need a Medallion signature guarantee (see “Medallion Signature Guarantees”).
When selling Class A or Class C shares in an account that you do not intend to close,
remember to leave at least $1,000 worth of shares in the account. When selling Institutional Class shares in an account that
you do not intend to close, remember to leave at least $1 million (for Predecessor Investors, at least $2,000) worth of shares in the
account. Otherwise, a Fund has the right to request that you bring the balance back up to the minimum level. If you have not done
so within 60 days, we may close your account and redeem the proceeds. Institutional Class shareholders of a Fund as of
the opening of regular trading on the Exchange on July 1, 2009, may continue to hold and buy Institutional Class shares of the Fund
as long as they continuously maintain an account of at least $1 million in Institutional Class shares of the Fund; however,
this minimum may be waived by the Distributor in certain cases. Predecessor Investors may continue to hold and buy Institutional
Class shares of the Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund as long as they continuously maintain an account in Institutional
Class shares of the Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund. Shareholders who held Institutional Class shares of the Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund
through an investment provider as of the opening of regular trading on the Exchange
on March 11, 2013, may continue to hold and buy Institutional Class shares of the Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund as
long as they continuously maintain their account in Institutional Class shares of the Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund
with the same investment provider.
The Funds reserve the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Funds do not redeem
in kind under normal circumstances, but would do so when the Manager or the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the
best interests of a Fund’s shareholders as a whole or the transaction is otherwise effected in accordance with procedures adopted
by the Board of Trustees. Institutional Class shareholders are urged to call 800-366-6264 before effecting any large redemption.
Class A and Class C only—You may reinvest proceeds from a redemption, dividend payment or capital gain distribution
without a sales charge in a Fund or another fund in the fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the reinvestment is made into the same account from which you
redeemed the shares or received the distribution, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales
charge. Financial intermediaries may have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales
charge waivers or contingent deferred sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ; any such differences are
described in Appendix A to this prospectus. If the account has been closed, reinvestment can be made without a sales charge if the new
receiving account has the same registration as the closed account. Proceeds from a redemption and all dividend payments and capital
gain distributions will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption or distribution was made. Upon
an eligible reinvestment, any contingent deferred sales charge on Class A or Class C shares will be credited to your account.
Proceeds will be reinvested at the next calculated net asset value after your request is received in proper form. Redemption
proceeds from a systematic withdrawal plan are not eligible for reinvestment without a sales charge.
Uncashed checks—We do not pay interest on uncashed checks from Fund distributions or the sale of Fund
shares. We are not responsible for checks after they are sent to you. After allowing a reasonable time
for delivery, please call us if you have not received an expected check. While we cannot track a check, we may make arrangements
for a replacement. We may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state government under the state’s
unclaimed or abandoned property law.
When you exchange Class A and Class C shares—Generally, you can move an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in the fund family (or to an eligible money market fund outside the
fund family) through an exchange of shares or by electing to use your cash distributions from one fund to purchase shares of the
other fund, both without a sales charge. Financial intermediaries may have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding
the availability of front-end sales charge waivers or contingent deferred sales charge waivers applicable to their customers
that differ; any such differences are described in Appendix A to this prospectus. Exchanges from eligible money market funds outside
the fund family will be subject to applicable sales charges on the fund being purchased, unless the eligible money market fund shares
were acquired through an exchange from a fund in the fund family having a sales charge or by reinvestment or cross-reinvestment
of dividends or capital gain distributions from a fund in the fund family having a sales charge. Currently, most, but not all,
funds in the fund family offer Class A and Class C shares.
When you exchange Institutional Class shares—Generally, you can move an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in the fund family (or to an eligible money market fund outside the
fund family) through an exchange of shares or by electing to use your cash distributions from one fund to purchase shares of the
other fund.
When you exchange shares—There are three things to remember when making an exchange:
■
both accounts must have the same registration
■
you will need to observe any eligibility requirements, including minimum investment
and minimum account balance requirements for the fund accounts involved
■
because an exchange is treated as a sale (redemption) of the exchanged shares for
federal income tax purposes, consider any tax consequences before placing your order.
The exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor that we believe is trying
to “time the market” or is otherwise making exchanges that we judge to be excessive. Frequent exchanges can interfere with Fund
management and affect costs and performance for other shareholders. Contact your financial intermediary to see if
it allows you to take advantage of the fund exchange program and for its policies to effect an exchange.
Grandfathered Investors generally are also eligible to take advantage of the exchange
privilege assuming that they meet the requirements set forth above.
Predecessor Investors may exchange into Class A shares of another fund in the fund
family (except Neuberger Berman International Select Fund, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Fund and Neuberger Berman
Strategic Income Fund) without paying a sales charge. Predecessor Investors may only exchange into Trust Class shares of Neuberger
Berman International Select Fund,
Neuberger Berman Real Estate Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Currently,
most, but not all, funds in the fund family offer Class A shares. If a fund in the fund family does not offer Class
A shares, Predecessor Investors may exchange into Investor Class shares of that fund, if available.
See “Additional Exchange Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for
information regarding eligible money market funds outside the fund family.
Placing orders by telephone—If you use a financial intermediary, contact your financial intermediary for its policies
regarding telephone orders.
If you bought your shares directly from the Distributor, you have the option of placing
telephone orders, subject to certain restrictions. This option is available to you unless you indicate on your account
application (or in a subsequent letter to us or to SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.) that you do not want it.
Whenever we receive a telephone order, we take steps to make sure the order is legitimate.
These may include asking for identifying information and recording the call. As long as a Fund and its representatives
take reasonable measures to verify the authenticity of calls, investors may be responsible for any losses caused by unauthorized
telephone orders.
In unusual circumstances, it may be difficult to place an order by phone. In these
cases, consider sending your order by express delivery.
Proceeds from the sale of shares—For Class A and Class C shares, the proceeds from the shares you sell are typically
sent out within two business days after your order is executed, and nearly always within seven
days regardless of payment type. For Institutional Class shares, the proceeds from the shares you sell are typically sent
out the next business day after your order is executed, and nearly always within seven days regardless of payment type. When you
sell shares through your financial intermediary, contact your provider to find out when proceeds will be sent to you.
There are two cases in which proceeds may be delayed beyond this time:
■
in unusual circumstances where the law allows additional time if needed
■
if a check you wrote to buy shares has not cleared by the time you sell those shares;
clearance may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.
If you think you may need to sell shares soon after buying them, you can avoid the
check clearing time by investing by wire.
The Funds do not issue certificates for shares.
The Funds typically expect to meet redemption requests, under both normal and stressed
market conditions, by redeeming cash and cash equivalent portfolio holdings and/or selling portfolio securities or other
instruments. As described further above and in the Funds' Statement of Additional Information, the Funds also reserve the right to
redeem an investor’s shares in kind (i.e., providing investors with portfolio securities instead of cash), in whole or in part
to meet redemption requests in stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
The Funds reserve the right to pay in kind for redemptions. A Fund also may elect
to honor a shareholder’s request for the Fund to pay in kind for redemptions in an attempt to manage any liquidity needs, to manage
and optimize its portfolio composition, to offset transaction costs associated with portfolio transactions, and/or to more efficiently
manage its portfolio. The securities provided to investors in an in-kind redemption may be a pro-rata portion of the Fund’s
portfolio or a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio selected by the Manager based upon various circumstances and subject
to the Fund’s policies and procedures and any applicable laws or regulations. If the securities provided to investors in an
in-kind redemption are a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio, it will only include securities that have been disclosed in
the Fund's most recent public portfolio holdings disclosure.
Redemptions in kind may cause you to incur transaction costs to the extent you dispose
of the securities redeemed in kind and the value of the securities redeemed in kind may decrease between the time of redemption
and the time of such sale. The Funds may also borrow under any available line of credit and other available methods to meet
redemption requests in both normal and stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
Other policies— Under certain circumstances, which may include normal and stressed market conditions,
the Funds reserve the right to:
■
suspend the offering of shares
■
reject any exchange or purchase order
■
suspend or reject future purchase orders from any investor who has not provided timely
payment to settle a purchase order
■
change, suspend, or revoke the exchange privilege
■
suspend the telephone order privilege
■
satisfy an order to sell Fund shares with securities rather than cash
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”) is restricted, or as
otherwise permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange or the bond market is closed
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange, the Federal Reserve or the bond market closes early (e.g.,
on the eve of a major holiday or because of a local emergency, such as a blizzard)
■
change investment minimums or other requirements for buying and selling, or waive
any minimums or requirements for certain investors
■
remain open and process orders to purchase or sell Fund shares when the Exchange is
closed.
Important information regarding unclaimed/abandoned property — If your financial intermediary (or, if you bought your shares directly, the Distributor) is unable to locate you, then it is required by
law to determine whether your account(s) must be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned.” Your financial intermediary (or the Distributor)
is required to transfer (or escheat) unclaimed or abandoned property to the appropriate state government in accordance
with state law. Your account(s) may also be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned” and subsequently transferred to the appropriate
state government if no activity (as defined by that state) occurs within the account(s) during the period of time specified by
state law or if checks related to the account(s) remain uncashed. Your last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your financial intermediary (or the Distributor)
maintains a correct address for your account(s). An incorrect address may cause your account statements and other mailings
to be returned as undeliverable. Neither the Distributor nor a Fund nor its transfer agent will be liable to investors or their
representatives for good faith compliance with state unclaimed or abandoned property (escheatment) laws. If you use a financial intermediary,
contact that provider regarding applicable state escheatment laws.
Medallion Signature Guarantees
You may need a Medallion signature guarantee when you sell shares directly or through
a financial intermediary. A Medallion signature guarantee is a guarantee that your signature is authentic.
Medallion signature guarantees are required for a variety of transactions including
requests for changes to your account or to the instructions for distribution of proceeds. We reserve the right
to require a Medallion signature guarantee on any transaction at our discretion.
Most banks, brokers, and other financial institutions can provide you with one. Some
may charge a fee; others may not, particularly if you are a customer of theirs.
A notarized signature from a notary public is not a Medallion signature guarantee.
The shares available in this prospectus can be purchased through certain financial
intermediaries such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers.
The minimum aggregate size for each financial intermediary’s account with a Fund is
$1 million for Institutional Class shares. This minimum does not apply to your individual account; however, your financial
intermediary may establish a minimum size for individual accounts. The Distributor can waive this $1 million minimum
for financial intermediaries in appropriate cases.
The fees and policies outlined in this prospectus are set by the Funds and by the
Distributor. However, if you use a financial intermediary, most of the information you will need for managing your investment
will come from that provider. This includes information on how to buy and sell shares, investor services,
and additional policies.
If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider to buy or sell shares of
the Funds described in this prospectus.
Most financial intermediaries allow you to take advantage of the fund exchange program,
which is designed for moving an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in the fund family
if made available by that financial intermediary through an exchange of shares. Currently, most, but not all,
funds in the fund family offer Class A and Class C shares.
In exchange for the services it offers, your financial intermediary may charge fees
that are in addition to those described in this prospectus.
Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries
The Distributor and/or its affiliates pay additional compensation, out of their own
resources and not as an expense of the Funds, to certain financial intermediaries, including affiliates, in connection
with the sale, distribution, retention and/or servicing of Fund shares. The amount of these payments may be substantial and
may differ among financial intermediaries based on, for example, the level or type of services provided by a
financial intermediary. These payments are in addition to any fees paid to compensate financial intermediaries for providing
distribution related services to the Funds and/or administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders, as well
as any commissions paid to financial intermediaries out of sales charges paid by investors. These arrangements are separately
negotiated between the Distributor and/or its affiliates, and the recipients of these payments or their affiliates.
If your financial intermediary receives such payments, these payments may provide an incentive for the financial
intermediary to make the Funds' shares available to you or recommend the Funds. If you have purchased shares of a
Fund through a financial intermediary, please speak with your financial intermediary to learn more about any
payments it receives from the Distributor and/or its affiliates, as well as fees and/or commissions the financial
intermediary charges. You should also consult disclosures made by your financial intermediary at the time of purchase. Any
such payments by the Distributor or its affiliates will not change the net asset value or the price of a Fund's shares.
For more information, please see the Funds' Statement of Additional Information.
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees
The Funds have adopted plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940. Under the plans, each of Class A and Class C pays the Distributor a fee at an annual rate of 0.25%
and 1.00%, respectively, of its average net assets to compensate financial intermediaries for providing distribution related
services to a Fund and/or administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The Distributor may also
retain part of this fee as compensation for providing these services. These fees increase the cost of investment.
Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over the long term they could result in higher
overall costs than other types of sales charges.
Information Required from New Accounts
To help the U.S. government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities,
federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each
person who opens an account.
When you open an account, we (which may include your financial intermediary acting
on our behalf) will require your name, address, date of birth, and social security number or other taxpayer identification
number. We may also require other identifying documents. If we cannot verify the information you supply to us
or if it is incomplete, we may be required to return your funds or redeem your account.
Retirement Plans and Accounts
If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider for information on retirement
plans or accounts it may make available for investment in Fund shares.
If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider about the services and
information it provides on the Internet.
Because Class A shares of the Funds have an initial sales charge, the price you pay
for each Class A share of a Fund is the Fund's offering price, which is the Fund’s net asset value per share plus any applicable
sales charge. The initial sales charge for Class A shares of a Fund may be eliminated in certain circumstances. Because Class C shares
of the Funds do not have an initial sales
charge, the price you pay for each Class C share of a Fund is the Fund’s net asset
value per share. Unless a contingent deferred sales charge is applied, a Fund pays you the full share price when you sell Class
A or Class C shares (see “Sales Charges” for more information).
Because Institutional Class shares of the Funds do not have a sales charge, the price
you pay for each Institutional Class share of a Fund is the Fund’s net asset value per share. Similarly, because the Funds do not
charge fees for selling Institutional Class shares, a Fund pays you the full share price when you sell Institutional Class shares.
If you use a financial intermediary, that provider may charge fees that are in addition
to those described in this prospectus.
The Funds are generally open for business every day the Exchange is open. The Exchange
is generally closed on all national holidays and Good Friday; Fund shares will not be priced on those days or other days
on which the Exchange is scheduled to be closed. When the Exchange is closed for unusual reasons, Fund shares will generally
not be priced although a Fund may decide to remain open and price Fund shares and in such a case, the Fund would post a notice
on www.nb.com.
Each Fund normally calculates its share price on each day the Exchange is open once
daily as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In the event of an emergency or other disruption in trading on the Exchange, a Fund’s share
price would still normally be determined as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In general, every buy or sell order you place will go
through at the next share price calculated after your order has been received in proper form (see “Maintaining Your Account” for information
on placing orders). If you use a financial intermediary, you should check with that provider to find out by what time
your order must be received so that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when your financial intermediary accepts orders,
it is possible that a Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to buy or sell shares.
Because foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed, the value
of foreign securities owned by a Fund could change on days when you cannot buy or sell Fund shares. Remember, though, any purchase
or sale takes place at the next share price calculated after your order is received in proper form.
The net asset value per share of each class of a Fund is the total value of Fund assets
attributable to shares of that class minus the liabilities attributable to that class, divided by the total number of shares
outstanding for that class. Because the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities changes every business day, its share price
usually changes as well.
A Fund generally values its investments based upon their last reported sale prices,
market quotations, or estimates of value provided by an independent pricing service as of the time as of which the Fund’s
share price is calculated. Debt securities and certain derivative instruments that do not trade on an exchange generally
are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager on the basis of market quotations
and in the case of derivatives, market data about the underlying investments. Short-term securities held
by a Fund may be valued on the basis of amortized cost, unless other factors indicate that amortized cost is not
an accurate estimate of the security’s value. Equity securities (including securities issued by ETFs) and exchange-traded
derivative instruments held by a Fund generally are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager
at the last reported sale price or official closing price or, if there is no reported sale quoted on a principal
exchange or market for that security or official closing price, on the basis of market quotations.
Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective
fund’s daily calculated net asset value per share. The prospectuses for these funds explain the circumstances
under which the funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
If a valuation for a security is not available from an independent pricing service
or if the Manager believes in good faith that the valuation does not reflect the amount a Fund would receive on a current sale
of that security, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available,
the Fund may use a fair value estimate made according to methods approved by the Manager. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Board of Trustees designated the Manager as the Fund’s
valuation designee. As the Fund’s valuation designee, the Manager is responsible for determining fair value in good
faith for any and all Fund investments. A Fund may also use these methods to value certain types of illiquid
securities. Fair value pricing generally will be used if the market in which a portfolio security trades closes early or if
trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time as of which a Fund’s share
price is calculated.
A Fund may also fair value securities that trade in a foreign market if significant
events that appear likely to affect the value of those securities occur between the time the foreign market closes and the
time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. Significant events may include (1) corporate actions or announcements
that affect a single issuer, (2)
governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3)
natural disasters or armed conflicts that affect a country or region, or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations.
For certain foreign assets, after the relevant foreign markets have closed, a third-party
vendor supplies evaluated, systematic fair value pricing based upon analysis of historical correlation of multiple
factors. In the case of both foreign equity and foreign income securities, in the absence of precise information about
the market values of these foreign securities as of the time as of which a Fund's share price is calculated, the Manager
has determined on the basis of available data that prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer
to the prices a Fund could realize on a current sale than are the prices of those securities established at the close of
the foreign markets in which the securities primarily trade. Please see the Funds' Statement of Additional Information
for additional detail about the Funds' fair valuation practices.
The effect of using fair value pricing is that a portfolio security will be priced
based on the subjective judgment of the Manager, operating under procedures approved by the Manager, instead of being priced
using valuations from an independent pricing service. Fair value pricing can help to protect a Fund by reducing
arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing will completely
prevent dilution of a Fund’s net asset value by such traders.
Trading in securities on many foreign exchanges is normally completed before the Fund
calculates its net asset value. In addition, foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed. As a result,
the value of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change at times or on days when the Fund’s net asset value
is not calculated, when Fund shares do not trade, and when sales and redemptions of Fund shares do not occur.
If you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, consult your financial intermediary
for information about privileges and services. If you purchase shares directly from the Distributor, see “Direct Investors”
for information about privileges and services.
To obtain information regarding sales charges and the reduction, and elimination or
waiver of sales charges on shares of a Fund, see below, visit www.nb.com or call 1-877-628-2583. If you purchased shares of a Fund
through a Financial Intermediary you may contact your Financial Intermediary about the reduction, elimination or waiver
of sales charges.
Class A sales charges—The initial sales charge you pay each time you buy Class A shares differs depending
upon the amount you invest and may be reduced or eliminated for larger purchases as indicated below.
The “offering price,” the price you pay to buy shares, includes any applicable sales charge, which will be deducted directly
from your investment. Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to an initial
sales charge.
For all Funds, except Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
|
Sales charges as a percentage of:
|
|
|
|
|
Dealer commission
as a percentage
of offering price
|
|
|
|
|
$50,000 or more but less than $100,000
|
|
|
|
$100,000 or more but less than $250,000
|
|
|
|
$250,000 or more but less than $500,000
|
|
|
|
$500,000 or more but less than $1 million
|
|
|
|
$1 million or more and certain other investments described below
|
|
|
|
For Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
|
Sales charges as a percentage of:
|
|
|
|
|
Dealer commission
as a percentage
of offering price
|
|
|
|
|
$50,000 or more but less than $100,000
|
|
|
|
$100,000 or more but less than $250,000
|
|
|
|
$250,000 or more and certain other investments described below
|
|
|
|
For all Funds, except Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
The sales charge, expressed as a percentage of the offering price or the net amount
invested, may be higher or lower than the percentages described in the table above due to rounding. This is because the dollar
amount of the sales charge is determined by subtracting the net asset value of the shares purchased from the offering price, which
is calculated to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria. The impact of rounding will vary with the size of the
investment and the net asset value of the shares. Similarly, any contingent deferred sales charge paid by you on investments in Class
A shares may be higher or lower than the 1% charge described below due to rounding.
Except as provided below, investments in Class A shares of $1 million or more may
be subject to a 1% contingent deferred sales charge if the shares are sold within 18 months of purchase. The contingent deferred
sales charge is a percentage of the original purchase price or the current market value of the shares being sold, whichever is
less.
For Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
The sales charge, expressed as a percentage of the offering price or the net amount
invested, may be higher or lower than the percentages described in the table above due to rounding. This is because the dollar
amount of the sales charge is determined by subtracting the net asset value of the shares purchased from the offering price, which
is calculated to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria. The impact of rounding will vary with the size of the
investment and the net asset value of the shares. Similarly, any contingent deferred sales charge paid by you on investments in Class
A shares may be higher or lower than the 0.75% charge for Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund described below due to rounding.
Except as provided below, for Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, investments
in Class A shares of $250,000 or more may be subject to a 0.75% contingent deferred sales charge if the shares are sold within
18 months of purchase. The contingent deferred sales charge is a percentage of the original purchase price or the current
market value of the shares being sold, whichever is less.
Class A purchases not subject to sales charges–Sales charge waivers are available for investments in Class A shares by Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors (see “Direct Investors” for more
information) provided that such investors have properly notified the Manager or the Distributor of such status in advance of such
purchases, except that in the case of accounts of Grandfathered Investors who have a documented relationship with a financial intermediary,
the availability of the sales charge waiver may depend on the financial intermediary’s policies and procedures and eligibility
requirements regarding such waivers.
When purchasing through a financial intermediary, you may not benefit from certain
policies and procedures of the Fund as your eligibility may be dependent upon the policies and procedures of your financial intermediary,
including those regarding sales charge waivers and reductions of sales charges through reinstatement, rights of accumulation,
letters of intent, and share class exchanges and/or conversions. In some cases, due to financial intermediary policies
and procedures, customers may receive waivers in circumstances that are not expressly provided for herein. In all instances, it
is the investor’s responsibility to notify its financial intermediary of any relationship or other facts qualifying the investor for sales
charge waivers or reductions. (Please see “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” below for additional information).
The Distributor may pay financial intermediaries up to 1% on investments made in Class
A shares with no initial sales charge. See “Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees” for additional information regarding
each Fund’s plans of distribution.
Certain other investors may qualify to purchase shares without a sales charge, such
as employees of financial intermediaries authorized to sell funds in the fund family, employees of Neuberger Berman and members
of the Funds' Board of Trustees. See “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” below for more information.
Class C sales charges—Class C shares are sold without any initial sales charge. For Class C shares, a contingent
deferred sales charge of 1% applies if shares are sold within one year of purchase.
Any contingent deferred sales charge paid by you on investments in Class C shares,
expressed as a percentage of the applicable redemption amount, may be higher or lower than the percentages described above due
to rounding.
Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are
not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. In addition, the contingent deferred sales charge may be waived in certain
circumstances. See “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” below for more information. The contingent deferred sales charge is a
percentage of the original purchase price or the current market value of the shares being sold, whichever is less. For purposes
of determining the contingent deferred sales charge, if you sell only some of your shares, shares that are not subject to any contingent
deferred sales charge will be sold first, followed by shares that you have owned the longest. The Distributor pays a fee equal
to 1% of the amount invested to financial intermediaries who sell Class C shares. All or a portion of these payments may be
made from amounts that each Fund pays the Distributor through its plans of distribution. See “Distribution and Shareholder Servicing
Fees” for information regarding each Fund’s plans of distribution.
Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers
Sales charge waivers are available for investments in Class A shares by Grandfathered
Investors and Predecessor Investors (see “Direct Investors” for more information) provided that such investors have properly
notified NB Group and any affiliates of such status in advance of purchase.
Financial intermediaries may have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding
the availability of front-end sales charge waivers or contingent deferred sales charge waivers applicable to their customers
that differ from those discussed herein; any such differences are described in Appendix A to this prospectus and it
is the responsibility of the intermediary to monitor for and implement such policies and procedures. To receive a reduction
in your Class A initial sales charge, you or your financial intermediary must let the Distributor know at the time you purchase
shares that you qualify for such a reduction. If you or your financial intermediary does not let the Distributor know
that you are eligible for a reduction, you may not receive a sales charge discount to which you are otherwise entitled. In order to determine your eligibility to receive a sales charge discount, it may be necessary for you or your financial intermediary
to provide the Distributor with information and records (including account statements) of all relevant accounts invested in the fund
family. To have your Class A or Class C contingent deferred sales charge waived, you or your financial intermediary must let
the Distributor know at the time you redeem shares that you qualify for such a waiver.
Class A shares of a Fund may be sold at net asset value to the following types of
investors, provided that such investors have properly notified their financial intermediary, NB Group (and/or any affiliates),
as appropriate, of their eligibility in advance of purchase:
1.
current or retired directors, trustees, and officers of the Neuberger Berman Funds,
current or retired employees and partners of NB Group and any affiliates, or of any entity controlling, controlled
by or under common control with a Neuberger Berman Fund, NB Group and any affiliates;
2.
current employees of firms, including wholesalers, that have entered into selling
agreements to distribute shares of the Neuberger Berman Funds;
3.
current employees of registered investment advisers that invest in the Neuberger Berman
Funds either for proprietary accounts or on behalf of clients;
4.
immediate family members of persons listed in (1) through (3) above (as “immediate
family” is defined below);
5.
companies exchanging securities with a Fund through a merger, acquisition or exchange
offer;
6.
insurance company separate accounts;
7.
NB Group and its affiliated companies;
8.
an individual or entity with a substantial client relationship with NB Group and its
affiliated companies, or an individual or entity related or relating to such individual or entity that holds its
shares directly with a Fund;
9.
financial intermediaries (including but not limited to registered investment advisors
and financial planners) that have entered into an agreement with the Distributor or one of its affiliates, purchasing
shares on behalf of clients participating in a fund supermarket or in a wrap program, asset allocation program
or other program in which the clients pay an asset-based fee;
10.
Employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans,
group 403(b) plans and individual 403(b) accounts, maintained at a financial intermediary that has an agreement with
the Distributor, the Manager or the
Administrator, profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans
and non-qualified deferred compensation plans; and individual retirement account (“IRA”) rollovers involving
retirement plan assets invested in the Funds and transferred in-kind to an IRA held at a financial intermediary that
has an agreement with the Distributor, the Manager or the Administrator to service such accounts;
11.
Employee benefit and retirement plans sponsored by NB Group and any affiliates and
any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with NB Group and any affiliates;
12.
Certain IRAs that are part of an IRA platform sponsored by or maintained at a financial
intermediary that has an agreement with the Distributor, the Manager or the Administrator which specifically
provides that the Funds' shares are offered at NAV on such IRA platform; and
13.
Qualified Tuition Programs under Section 529 of the Code.
Shares are offered at NAV to these persons and organizations due to anticipated economies
in sales effort and expense. Once an account is established under this net asset value privilege, additional investments
can be made at NAV for the life of the account.
Reducing your Class A initial sales charge—Consistent with the policies described in this prospectus, you and your “immediate family” (your spouse—or equivalent if recognized under local law—and your children under the age of 21) may combine all of your investments in the fund family to reduce your Class A sales charge.
Aggregating accounts to reduce Class A initial sales charge—To receive a reduced Class A sales charge, investments made by you and your immediate family (see above) may be aggregated if made for your own account(s)
and/or certain other accounts if all parties are purchasing shares for their own accounts and/or:
■
trust accounts established by you or your immediate family (for trusts with only one
primary beneficiary, upon the trustor’s death the trust account may be aggregated with such beneficiary’s own accounts; for
trusts with multiple primary beneficiaries, upon the trustor’s death the trustees of the trust may instruct the Fund’s transfer
agent to establish separate trust accounts for each primary beneficiary; each primary beneficiary’s separate trust account may then
be aggregated with such beneficiary’s own accounts);
■
business accounts solely controlled by you or your immediate family (for example,
you own the entire business);
■
individual retirement plans, such as an IRA, individual 403(b) plan (see exception
in “Purchases by certain 403(b) plans” under “Sales Charges”) or single-participant Keogh-type plan ;
■
endowments or foundations established and controlled by you or your immediate family;
or
■
529 accounts, which will be aggregated at the account owner level.
Individual purchases by a trustee(s) or other fiduciary(ies) may also be aggregated
if the investments are:
■
for a single trust estate or fiduciary account, including employee benefit plans other
than the individual-type employee benefit plans described above;
■
made for two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of affiliated
employers as defined in the 1940 Act, excluding the individual-type employee benefit plans described above;
■
for a diversified common trust fund or other diversified pooled account not specifically
formed for the purpose of accumulating Fund shares;
■
for nonprofit, charitable or educational organizations, or any endowments or foundations
established and controlled by such organizations, or any employer-sponsored retirement plans established for the benefit
of the employees of such organizations, their endowments, or their foundations; or
■
for individually established participant accounts of a 403(b) plan that is treated
similarly to an employer-sponsored plan for sales charge purposes (see “Purchases by certain 403(b) plans” under “Sales Charges”
above), or made for two or more such 403(b) plans that are treated similarly to employer-sponsored plans for sales charge
purposes, in each case of a single employer or affiliated employers as defined in the 1940 Act.
Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of
an investment dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with
those made for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified
as described above.
Concurrent purchases to reduce Class A initial sales charge—You may combine simultaneous purchases (including, upon your request, purchases for gifts) of any class of shares of two or more funds in
the fund family to qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge.
Rights of accumulation to reduce Class A initial sales charge—Subject to the limitations described in the aggregation policies above, you may take into account your accumulated holdings in all share classes of
the fund family to determine the initial sales charge you pay on each purchase of Class A shares. Subject to your financial intermediary’s
capabilities, your accumulated holdings will be calculated as the higher of (a) the current value of your existing
holdings (the “market value”) or (b) the amount you invested (including reinvested dividends and other distributions, but excluding
capital appreciation) less any withdrawals (the “cost value”). Depending on the entity on whose books your account is held, the value
of your holdings in that account may not be eligible for calculation at cost value. For example, accounts held in nominee or
street name may not be eligible for calculation at cost value and instead may be calculated at market value for purposes of rights
of accumulation. You should retain any records necessary to substantiate the historical amounts you have invested. You must contact
your financial adviser or the Distributor if you have additional information that is relevant to the calculation of the value of
your holdings. If you make a gift of shares, upon your request, you may purchase the shares at the sales charge discount allowed under
rights of accumulation of all of your accounts in the fund family. You may not purchase Class C shares if such combined
holdings cause you to be eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e. at NAV).
Letter of Intent to reduce Class A initial sales charge—You may reduce your Class A sales charge by establishing a letter of intent. By establishing a letter of intent (the “Letter”), you enter into a nonbinding
commitment to purchase shares of funds in the fund family over a 13-month period (the “Period”) and receive the same sales charge
(expressed as a percentage of your purchases) as if all shares had been purchased at once; however, purchases made under
a right of reinvestment, appreciation of your holdings, and reinvested dividends and other distributions do not count as purchases
made during the Period. The market value of your existing holdings eligible to be aggregated as of the day immediately
before the start of the Period may be credited toward satisfying the Letter. See “Sales Charges” for more information.
The Letter may be revised upward at any time during the Letter period, and such a
revision will be treated as a new Letter, except that the Letter period during which the purchases must be made will remain unchanged.
Purchases made from the date of revision will receive the reduced sales charge, if any, resulting from the revised Letter.
The Letter will be considered completed if the shareholder dies within the 13-month
Letter period. Commissions to dealers will not be adjusted or paid on the difference between the Letter amount and the amount
actually invested before the shareholder’s death.
A portion of your account may be held in escrow to cover additional Class A sales
charges that may be due if your total purchases over the Period do not qualify you for the applicable sales charge reduction. When
a shareholder elects to use a Letter, shares equal to 5% of the dollar amount specified in the Letter may be held in escrow in the shareholder’s
account out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases, if necessary) by the Fund’s transfer agent. All dividends
and any other distributions on shares held in escrow will be credited to the shareholder’s account in shares (or paid in cash, if
requested). If the intended investment is not completed within the specified Letter period, the purchaser may be required to remit
to the Distributor the difference between the sales charge actually paid and the sales charge which would have been paid if the
total of such purchases had been made at a single time. Any dealers assigned to the shareholder’s account at the time a purchase was
made during the Letter period will receive a corresponding commission adjustment if appropriate. If the difference is not paid
by the close of the Letter period, the appropriate number of shares held in escrow will be redeemed to pay such difference. If the proceeds
from this redemption are inadequate, the purchaser may be liable to the Distributor for the balance still outstanding.
Shareholders purchasing shares at a reduced sales charge under a Letter indicate their
acceptance of these terms and those in the Class A and Class C Prospectuses with their first purchase. Employer sponsored retirement
plans may be restricted from establishing a letter of intent.
Right of reinvestment—Please see “Maintaining Your Account—When you sell shares” for information on how to reinvest proceeds from a redemption, dividend payment or capital gain distribution without
a sales charge.
Contingent deferred sales charge waivers—The contingent deferred sales charge on Class A and Class C shares may be waived in the following cases:
■
permitted exchanges of shares, except if shares acquired by exchange are then redeemed
within the period during which contingent deferred sales charge would apply to the initial shares purchased
■
tax-free returns of excess contributions to IRAs
■
redemptions due to death or post-purchase disability of the shareholder (this generally
excludes accounts registered in the names of trusts and other entities). In the case of joint tenant accounts, if one joint
tenant dies, a surviving joint tenant, at the time he or she notifies the Fund’s transfer agent of the other joint tenant’s death and removes
the decedent’s name from the account, may redeem shares from the account without incurring a CDSC. Redemptions made after
the date of such notification will be subject to a CDSC.
■
distributions from an IRA upon the shareholder’s attainment of age 59½
■
the following types of transactions, if together they do not exceed 12% of the value
of an “account” (defined below) annually (the 12% limit):
(i) redemptions due to the shareholder receiving required minimum distributions from
retirement accounts upon reaching age 70½; and
(ii) redemptions through a systematic withdrawal plan (SWP) established directly with
a Fund. For each SWP payment, assets that are not subject to a CDSC, such as appreciation on shares and shares acquired
through reinvestment of income dividends and/or other distributions, will be redeemed first and will count
toward the 12% limit. If there is an insufficient amount of assets not subject to a CDSC to cover a particular SWP payment,
shares subject to the lowest CDSC will be redeemed next until the 12% limit is reached. Any income dividends and/or
other distributions taken in cash by a shareholder who receives payments through a SWP will also count toward the
12% limit. In the case of a SWP, the 12% limit is calculated at the time a systematic redemption is first made, and
is recalculated at the time each additional systematic redemption is made. Shareholders who establish a SWP should
be aware that the amount of a payment not subject to a CDSC may vary over time depending on fluctuations in the
value of their accounts. This privilege may be revised or terminated at any time.
For purposes of this paragraph, “account” means:
(a) in the case of Class A shares, your investment in Class A shares of all funds
in the fund family; and
(b) in the case of Class C shares, your investment in Class C shares of the particular
fund from which you are making the redemption.
■
purchases where no commission or transaction fee is paid by the Distributor to authorized
dealers at the time of purchase.
Exchanges of shares—Exchanges of shares are generally not subject to any applicable sales charges. However,
exchanges from eligible money market funds outside the fund family will be subject to applicable
sales charges on the fund shares being purchased, unless the eligible money market fund shares were acquired through an exchange from
a fund in the fund family having a sales charge or by reinvestment or cross-reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions
from a fund in the fund family having a sales charge.
Distributions—Each Fund pays out to its shareholders any net investment income and net realized
capital gains. Ordinarily, each Fund declares income dividends daily and pays them monthly and declares and makes
any capital gain distributions once a year (usually in December). Gains from foreign currency transactions, if any, are
normally distributed in December. A Fund may make additional distributions, if necessary, to avoid federal income or excise taxes.
Unless you designate otherwise, your distributions, if any, from a Fund will be reinvested
in additional shares of the distributing Class of the Fund. However, if you prefer, you may receive all distributions in cash
or reinvest capital gain distributions but receive income dividends in cash. Distributions taken in cash can be sent to you by
check or by electronic transfer to a designated bank account or invested in shares of the same Class of another fund in the fund family
with the same account registration. To take advantage of one of these options, please indicate your choice on your application
or contact a Fund in writing or by phone if you bought shares directly. If you use a financial intermediary, you must consult
it about whether your income dividends and capital gain distributions from a Fund will be reinvested in additional shares of
the distributing Class of the Fund or paid to you in cash.
How distributions are taxed—Except for tax-advantaged retirement plans and accounts and other tax-exempt investors
(collectively, “exempt investors”) and except as noted in the next sentence, all Fund distributions
you receive are generally taxable to you, regardless of whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in additional
Fund shares. The part of each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund's, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund's and
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund’s income dividends that it reports to its shareholders in writing
as “exempt-interest dividends” (essentially, the part of its dividends equal to the excess of its interest income
that is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes over certain amounts disallowed as deductions) is excludable from
its shareholders’ gross income for those purposes. Accordingly, shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund are not appropriate investments
for exempt investors.
Fund distributions to IRAs, Roth IRAs, and qualified retirement plans generally are
tax-free. Eventual withdrawals from a Roth IRA also may be tax-free, while withdrawals from other retirement plans and accounts
are subject to federal income tax.
Distributions of taxable income dividends and net realized capital gains, if any,
generally are taxable to shareholders other than exempt investors in the year they are received. In some cases, however, distributions
received in January are treated for federal income tax purposes as if they had been paid the previous December 31. Your tax statement
(see “Taxes and You”) will help clarify this for you.
Distributions of net investment income (other than exempt-interest dividends) and
the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss (“dividends”) are taxed as ordinary income. It is not expected
that any of the Funds’ distributions will be attributable to “qualified dividend income” (generally, dividends a Fund receives
on stock of most U.S. and certain foreign corporations), which are subject to maximum federal income tax rates for individual
and certain other non-corporate shareholders (each, an “individual shareholder”) that are lower than the maximum rates for ordinary
income (“lower maximum rates”).
Distributions of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain
over net short-term capital loss) are taxed as long-term capital gain and for individual shareholders are subject to the lower maximum rates.
The tax treatment of capital gain distributions from a Fund depends on how long the Fund held the securities it sold
that generated the gain, not on when you bought your shares of the Fund or whether you reinvested your distributions.
As noted above, exempt-interest dividends from each of Neuberger Berman Municipal
High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund are excludable
from federal gross income. However, part of each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund's, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund's and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund's exempt-interest dividends may
be a Tax Preference Item, which could have adverse tax consequences for a high-income individual who otherwise would owe
comparatively little in federal income tax. Each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact
Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund also may invest in securities or use techniques that
produce taxable income; your tax statement will identify any distributions of income of this type.
If, for any taxable year, a Fund distributes an amount that exceeds its current earnings
and profits (generally, the sum of its investment company taxable income plus net capital gain for that year)—which might result from, among other things, the difference between book and tax accounting treatment of certain derivatives and foreign
currency transactions—plus its accumulated earnings and profits, if any, that excess generally will be treated as
a return of capital, which will reduce your tax basis in your Fund shares. To the extent that excess is greater than your tax basis, it
will be treated as gain from a redemption of your shares (taxed as described below).
Shareholders should review any notice that accompanies a payment of dividends or other
distributions to determine whether any portion of the payment represents a return of capital rather than a distribution of
a Fund’s net income and/or gains.
How share transactions are taxed—When you sell (redeem) or exchange Fund shares, you generally will realize a taxable
gain or loss. An exception, once again, applies to exempt investors. For individual shareholders,
any capital gain recognized on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares that have been held for more than one year will
qualify for the lower maximum rates.
Additional tax—An individual shareholder’s distributions from a Fund (other than exempt-interest dividends) and net gains recognized on redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares are subject to a 3.8% federal
tax on the lesser of (1) the individual’s “net investment income” (which generally includes distributions from a Fund and net gains
from the disposition of Fund shares) or (2) the excess of the individual’s “modified adjusted gross income” over a specified threshold
amount. This tax is in addition to any other taxes due on that income. You should consult your own tax professional regarding
the effect, if any, this provision may have on your investment in Fund shares.
The taxes you actually owe on taxable Fund distributions and share transactions can
vary with many factors, such as your marginal tax bracket, how long you held your shares and whether you owe federal
alternative minimum tax.
How can you figure out your tax liability on Fund distributions and share transactions?
One helpful tool is the tax statement that we or your financial intermediary sends you after the end of each calendar
year. It details the distributions you received during the past year and shows their tax status. That statement,
or a separate statement from us or your financial intermediary, also covers your share transactions.
Most importantly, consult your tax professional. Everyone’s tax situation is different,
and your tax professional should be able to help you answer any questions you may have.
Backup Withholding
A Fund is required to withhold at the backup withholding rate from the money you are
otherwise entitled to receive from its taxable distributions and redemption proceeds (regardless of whether you
realized a gain or loss) if you are an individual shareholder who fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number
to the Fund. Withholding at that rate also is required from a Fund’s taxable distributions to which you are otherwise
entitled if you are an individual shareholder and the Internal Revenue Service tells us that you are subject to backup
withholding (1) for failing to properly report the receipt of interest or dividend income or (2) for any other reason.
If you use a financial intermediary, you must supply your signed taxpayer identification
number form (generally, Form W-9) to your financial intermediary, and it must supply its taxpayer identification
number to us, in order to avoid backup withholding.
Buying Shares Before a Distribution
The money a Fund earns, either as net investment income or as net realized capital
gains, is reflected in its share price until it distributes the money. At that time, the amount of the distribution is deducted
from the share price. Because of this, if you buy shares of a Fund just before it makes such a distribution of taxable
income, you will end up getting some of your investment back as a taxable distribution. You can avoid this situation by
waiting to invest until after the record date for the distribution.
Generally, if you are an exempt investor, there are no current tax consequences to
you from distributions.
Basis Determination and Reporting
Your basis in Fund shares (including for Predecessor Investors, Fund shares received
in exchange for Empire Builder Tax Free Bond Fund shares) that you acquired or acquire after December 31, 2011 (collectively,
“Covered Shares”), will be determined in accordance with the Funds' default basis determination method, which
is average cost basis, unless you affirmatively elect in writing (which may be electronic) to use a different basis
determination method acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service. The basis determination method may not be changed with respect
to a redemption (including a redemption that is part of an exchange) of Covered Shares after the settlement date
of the redemption. A Fund must report to the Internal Revenue Service and furnish to its shareholders the basis information
for Covered Shares. See “Additional Tax Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for more information
about the rules regarding basis determination and a Fund’s reporting obligation. You should consult with your
tax professional to determine the best basis determination method for your tax situation and to obtain more information
about how the basis determination and reporting rules apply to you.
Eligible Investors, Predecessor Investors, and Grandfathered Investors are collectively
referred to as “Direct Investors”.
“Grandfathered Investors” are investors in any fund in the Neuberger Berman family
of funds who hold their shares directly with Neuberger Berman, who established accounts in Investor Class or Trust Class shares
prior to March 1, 2008, and who have continuously maintained an account directly with Neuberger Berman since that date.
A Grandfathered Investor's “immediate family” (his or her spouse—or equivalent if recognized under local law—and his or her children under the age of 21) are also deemed “Grandfathered Investors.” A Grandfathered Investor's mother, father, sister,
or brother may open a custodial account for the Grandfathered Investor's minor children. Grandfathered Investors do not include
any financial intermediaries who have accounts with a fund or shareholders who invest through such financial intermediaries.
“Predecessor Investors” are investors who hold their shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal
Impact Fund directly with Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the Fund’s Distributor, who held Institutional Class shares of Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund as of the opening of regular trading on the Exchange on March 11, 2013, and who have continuously
maintained an account directly with Neuberger Berman BD LLC since that date. Predecessor Investors do not include
any investment providers who have accounts with the Fund or shareholders who invest through such investment providers.
A Predecessor Investor who fails to continuously maintain an account in Institutional Class shares of Neuberger Berman
Municipal Impact Fund will not be able to exchange shares of another fund in the fund family into Institutional Class shares
of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund.
Statements and Confirmations—Please review your account statements and confirmations carefully as soon as you receive
them. You must contact us within 30 days if you have any questions or notice any discrepancies.
Otherwise, you may adversely affect your right to make a claim about the transaction(s).
Systematic Investments—This plan lets you take advantage of dollar-cost averaging by establishing periodic
investments of $100 or more a month (for Institutional Class, once you make an initial minimum investment
of at least $1 million). You choose the schedule and amount. Your investment money may come from an eligible money market
fund outside the fund family or your bank account.
Systematic Withdrawals—This plan lets you arrange withdrawals of at least $100 from a fund in the fund family
on a periodic schedule. You can also set up payments to distribute the full value of an account
over a given time. While this service can be helpful to many investors, be aware that it could generate capital gains or losses.
Electronic Bank Transfers—When you sell Fund shares, you can have the money sent to your bank account electronically
rather than mailed to you as a check. Please note that your bank must be a member
of the Automated Clearing House, or ACH, system.
FUNDfone®—Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors only. Get up-to-date performance and account information through our 24-hour automated service by calling 800-335-9366.
Systematic investing allows you to take advantage of the principle of dollar-cost
averaging. When you make regular investments of a given amount—say, $100 a month—you will end up investing at different share prices over time. When the share price is high, your $100 buys fewer shares; when the share price is
low, your $100 buys more shares. Over time, this can help lower the average price you pay per share.
Dollar-cost averaging cannot guarantee you a profit or protect you from losses in
a declining market. But it can be beneficial over the long term.
Grandfathered Investors with Internet access can enjoy many valuable and time-saving
features by visiting us at www.nb.com.
The site offers more complete information on our funds, including current performance
data, portfolio manager interviews, tax information plus educational articles, news and analysis. You can
tailor the site so it serves up information that is most relevant to you. As a Fund shareholder, you can use the web site to access account information 24 hours
a day.
If you are a Direct Investor buying or selling shares, instructions are provided in
the following charts. Investors buying or selling shares through a financial intermediary should contact it for instructions.
Buying Shares—Direct Investors
|
|
|
|
Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor
Investors: Your first investment must be at least $1,000
Additional investments can be as little as $100
Eligible Investors: Your first investment must be at least
$1 million
Direct Investors: We cannot accept cash, money orders,
starter checks, travelers checks, or other cash equivalents
We do accept Bank Checks and Cashier’s Checks from U.S.
Financial Institutions
You will be responsible for any losses or fees resulting
from a bad check; if necessary, we may sell other shares
belonging to you in order to cover these losses
All checks must be made out to “Neuberger Berman
Funds”; we cannot accept checks made out to you or
other parties and signed over to us
|
Fill out the application and enclose your check
If regular first-class mail, send to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
P.O. Box 219189
Kansas City, MO 64121-9189
If express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail, send
to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
430 West 7th Street
Suite 219189
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407
|
|
Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor
Investors: All wires must be for at least $1,000
Eligible Investors: Your first investment must be at least
$1 million
|
Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor
Investors: Before wiring any money, call 800-877-9700
for an order confirmation
Eligible Investors: Before wiring any money, call
800-366-6264 for an order confirmation
Direct Investors: Have your financial institution send
your wire to SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions,
Inc.
Include your name, the Fund name, your account number
and other information as requested
|
Exchanging from another
fund
|
All exchanges must be for at least $1,000
Both accounts involved must be registered in the same
name, address and taxpayer identification number
An exchange order cannot be cancelled or changed once it
has been placed
|
If you are an individual retail investor, please call
800-877-9700 to place your order
If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please
call 800-366-6264 to place your order
|
|
We do not accept phone orders for a first investment
Additional shares will be purchased when your order is
received in proper form
Not available on retirement accounts
|
If you are an individual retail investor, please call
800-877-9700 to notify us of your purchase
If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please
call 800-366-6264 to notify us of your purchase
Immediately follow up with a wire or electronic transfer
|
Setting up systematic
investments
|
All investments must be at least $100 (and for
Institutional Class, in addition to an initial minimum
investment of at least $1 million)
|
If you are an individual retail investor, please call
800-877-9700 for instructions
If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please
call 800-366-6264 for instructions
|
Selling Shares—Direct Investors
|
|
|
|
Unless you instruct us otherwise, we will mail your
proceeds by check to the address of record, payable to the
registered owner(s)
If you have designated a bank account on your
application, you can request that we wire the proceeds to
this account; if the total balance of all of your Neuberger
Berman fund accounts is less than $100,000, you will be
charged an $8.00 wire fee
You can also request that we send the proceeds to your
designated bank account by electronic transfer (ACH)
without a fee
You may need a Medallion signature guarantee
Please also supply us with your e-mail address and
daytime telephone number when you write to us in the
event we need to reach you
|
Send us a letter requesting us to sell shares signed by all
registered owners; include your name, account number,
the Fund name, the dollar amount or number of shares
you want to sell, and any other instructions
If regular first-class mail, send to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
P.O. Box 219189
Kansas City, MO 64121-9189
If express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail, send
to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
430 West 7th Street
Suite 219189
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407
|
|
Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor
Investors: For amounts of up to $100,000
Eligible Investors: For amounts of up to $250,000
Direct Investors: Not available if you have changed the
address on the account in the past 15 days
|
Write a request to sell shares as described above
If you are an individual retail investor, please call
800-877-9700 to obtain the appropriate fax number
If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please
call 800-366-6264 to obtain the appropriate fax number
|
|
Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor
Investors: All phone orders to sell shares must be for at
least $1,000 unless you are closing out an account
Direct Investors: Not available if you have declined the
phone option or are selling shares in certain retirement
accounts (The only exception is for those retirement
shareholders who are at least 59½ or older and have their
birthdates on file)
Not available if you have changed the address on the
account in the past 15 days
|
If you are an individual retail investor, please call
800-877-9700 to place your order
If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please
call 800-366-6264 to place your order
Give your name, account number, the Fund name, the
dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell, and
any other instructions
|
Exchanging into another
fund
|
All exchanges must be for at least $1,000
Both accounts involved must be registered in the same
name, address and taxpayer identification number
An exchange order cannot be cancelled or changed once it
has been placed
|
If you are an individual retail investor, please call
800-877-9700 to place your order
If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please
call 800-366-6264 to place your order
|
Setting up systematic
withdrawals
|
Withdrawals must be at least $100
|
If you are an individual retail investor, please call
800-877-9700 for instructions
If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please
call 800-366-6264 for instructions
|
Frequent purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares (“market-timing activities”)
can interfere with effective Fund management and adversely affect Fund performance in various ways, including by requiring
a portfolio manager to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time or price, by increasing costs (such as
brokerage costs) to a Fund by requiring a portfolio manager to effect more frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
and possibly by requiring a portfolio manager to keep a larger portion of Fund assets in cash, all of which could adversely affect
the interests of long-term shareholders. To discourage market-timing activities by Fund shareholders, the Board of Trustees has
adopted market-timing policies and has approved the procedures of the principal underwriter for implementing those policies.
As described earlier in this prospectus,
pursuant to such policies, the exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor
that is believed to be “timing the market” or is otherwise making exchanges judged to be excessive. In furtherance of these policies,
under certain circumstances, the Funds reserve the right to reject any exchange or purchase order; change, suspend or revoke
the exchange privilege; or suspend the telephone order privilege.
The Manager applies the Funds' policies and procedures with respect to market-timing
activities by monitoring trading activity in the Funds, identifying excessive trading patterns, and warning or prohibiting shareholders
who trade excessively from making further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares. These policies and procedures are applied
consistently to all shareholders. Although the Funds make efforts to monitor for market-timing activities, the ability of the
Funds to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of omnibus accounts maintained by brokers, retirement plan
accounts and other approved financial intermediaries may be limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary
maintains the underlying shareholder accounts. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Funds will be able to eliminate
all market-timing activities.
Portfolio Holdings Policy
A description of the Funds' policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure
of the Funds' portfolio holdings is available in the Funds' Statement of Additional Information.
The complete portfolio holdings for each Fund are available at www.nb.com/holdings
(click on the tab with the name of the relevant Fund). The complete portfolio holdings for each Fund are generally posted
15-30 days after each month-end.
Each Fund’s complete portfolio holdings will remain available at this website until
the subsequent month-end holdings have been posted. Complete portfolio holdings for the Funds will also be available in reports
on Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR filed with the SEC. Historical portfolio holdings are available upon request.
Generally, no earlier than five business days after month-end, a Fund may publicly
disclose via various shareholder and public communications, such as portfolio manager commentaries, fact sheets or other marketing
materials, which will be publicly available at www.nb.com, certain portfolio characteristics and partial information
concerning portfolio holdings for the month as of month-end, including but not limited to: up to the top 10 holdings of the Fund
(if the Fund engages in short selling, it may also disclose up to the top 10 short positions); up to the top 10 holdings that contributed
to and/or detracted from performance or were the best and/or worst performers; sector breakdowns or changes to portfolio
composition (e.g., buys and sells). This information will typically remain available at this website until information for
the subsequent month has been posted; however, to comply with Rule 30e-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, quarter-end
information may be retained on this website for each Fund’s previous fiscal year. A Fund may also post intra-month
updates to holdings and certain portfolio characteristics to www.nb.com. Any such intra-month update would be in addition to
and not in lieu of the holdings disclosure policies described above.
Each Fund offers one or more classes of shares that have identical investment programs,
but may have different fee waivers and different arrangements for distribution and shareholder servicing and, consequently,
different expenses. Shares of a class to which a fee waiver applies may not be available to all investors in a Fund. Rather, they will
be made available to investors meeting eligibility criteria outlined in the Prospectuses for such share classes. This prospectus
relates solely to the Class A, Class C and Institutional Class shares of the Funds.
Financial Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts
The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether
you purchase your shares directly from the Distributor or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different
policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales
load (“CDSC”) waivers, which are discussed below, and it is the responsibility of the intermediary to monitor for and implement
such policies and procedures. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Distributor or the purchaser’s
financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts.
For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares
directly from the Distributor or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts.
Front-end sales charge reductions on Class A shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial
Shareholders purchasing Class A shares of the fund through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account are eligible only
for the following sales charge reductions, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI. Such shareholders can reduce their initial sales charge on the purchase of Class A shares as follows:
■
Transaction size breakpoints, as described in this prospectus or the SAI.
■
Rights of accumulation (ROA), as described in this prospectus or the SAI.
■
Letter of intent, as described in this prospectus or the SAI.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial
Shareholders purchasing Class A shares of the fund through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account are eligible only for the following sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI. Such shareholders may purchase Class A shares at NAV without payment of a sales charge as follows:
■
shares purchased by employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer- sponsored 403(b)
plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes
of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
■
shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).
■
shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the seven-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect
to such shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply to exchanges following such shorter period. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares for load waived shares, that
waiver will also apply to such exchanges.
■
shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their
immediate family members.
■
shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings
Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family
member, defined as an Ameriprise Financial advisor and/or the advisor's spouse, advisor's lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor's lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter,
great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who
is a lineal descendant.
■
shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided
(1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account,
and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement).
CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial
Fund shares purchased through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account are eligible
only for the following CDSC waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI:
■
redemptions due to death or disability of the shareholder
■
shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus
or the SAI
■
redemptions made in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account
■
shares purchased through a Right of Reinstatement (as defined above)
■
redemptions made as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement
accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code
Effective June 15, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Baird platform
or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and
discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus or the SAI.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Baird
■
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend
reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund
■
Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliate
and their family members as designated by Baird
■
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Fund within the fund
family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur
in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights
of reinstatement)
■
A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C Shares will have their shares converted at net
asset value to Class A shares of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the
policies and procedures of Baird
■
Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage
account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase
pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not
include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs
CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Baird
■
Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder
■
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus
■
Shares bought due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA Account
■
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts
due to the shareholder reaching age 72 as described in the Fund’s Prospectus
■
Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird
■
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of
Accumulations
■
Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus
■
Rights of accumulations which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be
automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household
at Baird. Eligible fund family assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only
if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
■
Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases
within a fund family through Baird, over a 13-month period of time
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (“Edward Jones”):
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:
Effective on or after December 18, 2024, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients
of Edward Jones (also referred to as “shareholders”) purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based
platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers,
which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in the mutual fund prospectus or statement of additional
information (“SAI”) or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder's responsibility to
inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase
of any relationship, holdings in the fund family, or other facts qualifying the purchaser
for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact
Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
■
Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described
in the prospectus.
Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”)
■
The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking
into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of the fund family
held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing
considerations (“pricing groups”). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward
Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent
on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only
if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a
sales charge.
■
The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish
or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including
all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.
■
ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value
(current shares x NAV).
■
Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts
for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined
by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value
that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts.
Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount
that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the
shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward
Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted
if LOI is not met.
■
If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish
or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the
plan-level and may only be established by the employer.
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
■
Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and other accounts in the same pricing
group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for
the remainder of the associate's life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing
pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures.
■
Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
■
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend
reinvestment. Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the same fund family so long as the following conditions
are met: the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, the sale and purchase are made from a share
class that charges a front load and one of the following (“Right of Reinstatement”):
■
The redemption and repurchase occur in the same account.
■
The redemption proceeds are used to process an: IRA contribution, excess contributions,
conversion, recharacterizing of contributions, or distribution, and the repurchase is done in an account within the
same Edward Jones grouping for ROA.
The Right of Reinstatement excludes systematic or automatic transactions including,
but not limited to, purchases made through payroll deductions, liquidations to cover account fees, and reinvestments
from non-mutual fund products.
■
Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange
is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC
due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the
prospectus.
■
Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the
84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones.
■
Purchases of Class 529-A shares through a rollover from either another education savings
plan or a security used for qualified distributions.
■
Purchases of Class 529-A shares made for recontribution of refunded amounts.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are
redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
■
The death or disability of the shareholder
■
Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value
■
Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
■
Shares redeemed as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the
redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations
■
Shares redeemed to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated
by Edward Jones
■
Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program
■
Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement
■
Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimums Balances, as described below.
******************************************************************************************************************************************
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
■
Initial purchase minimum: $250
■
Subsequent purchase minimum: none
■
Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance
of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy:
■
A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform
■
A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform
■
An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI
■
At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV
a shareholder's holdings in a fund to Class A shares of the same fund.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC:
If you purchase or hold fund shares through an applicable J.P. Morgan Securities LLC brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”), or back-end sales charge, waivers), share class conversion policy and discounts, which may differ
from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at J.P. Morgan Securities
LLC
■
Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject
to a CDSC and are exchanged into Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC’s share class exchange
policy.
■
Qualified employer-sponsored defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans,
nonqualified deferred compensation plans, other employee benefit plans and trusts used to fund those plans. For purposes
of this provision, such plans do not include SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SAR-SEPs or 501(c)(3) accounts.
■
Shares of funds purchased through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Self-Directed Investing
accounts.
■
Shares purchased through rights of reinstatement.
■
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend
reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
■
Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of J.P. Morgan Securities
LLC or its affiliates and their spouse or financial dependent as defined by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.
Class C to Class A share conversion
■
A shareholder in the fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted by J.P.
Morgan Securities LLC to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the same fund if the shares are no longer subject
to a CDSC and the conversion is consistent with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC’s policies and procedures.
CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
■
Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
■
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.
■
Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
■
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts
pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
■
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC: breakpoints, rights
of accumulation & letters of intent
■
Breakpoints as described in the prospectus.
■
Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts
as described in the fund’s prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets
held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. Eligible fund family assets not held at J.P.
Morgan Securities LLC (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) may be included in the ROA calculation only if
the shareholder notifies their financial advisor about such assets.
■
Letters of Intent (“LOI”) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated
purchases within a fund family, through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable).
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC:
Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase fund shares through a Janney Montgomery Scott
LLC (“Janney”) brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and
contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”), or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed
elsewhere in a Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end sales charge* waivers on Class A shares available at Janney
■
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend
reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
■
Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates
and their family members as designated by Janney.
■
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided
(1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in
the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement).
■
Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored
403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision,
employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans.
■
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
■
Class C shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and
are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures.
CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares available at Janney
■
Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
■
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.
■
Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
■
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and other retirement
accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.
■
Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney.
■
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
■
Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund.
Front-end sales charge* discounts available at Janney: breakpoints, rights of accumulation,
and/or letters of intent
■
Breakpoints as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.
■
Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts,
will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s
household at Janney. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder
notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
■
Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases
within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the
calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
*Also referred to as an “initial sales charge.”
Purchases or sales of front-end (i.e. Class A) or level-load (i.e., Class C) mutual
fund shares through a Merrill platform or account will be eligible only for the following sales load waivers (front-end, contingent
deferred, or back-end waivers) and discounts, which differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus. Purchasers will have
to buy mutual fund shares directly from the mutual fund company or through another intermediary to be eligible for waivers or
discounts not listed below.
It is the client’s responsibility to notify Merrill at the time of purchase or sale of any relationship or other facts that qualify the
transaction for a waiver or discount. A Merrill representative may ask for reasonable documentation of such facts and Merrill may condition the granting of a waiver or discount on the timely receipt of such documentation.
Additional information on waivers and discounts is available in the Merrill Sales Load Waiver and Discounts Supplement (the “Merrill SLWD Supplement”) and in the Mutual Fund Investing at Merrill pamphlet at
ml.com/funds. Clients are encouraged to review these documents and speak with their financial advisor to determine whether
a transaction is eligible for a waiver or discount.
Front-end Load Waivers available at Merrill
■
Shares of mutual funds available for purchase by employer-sponsored retirement, deferred
compensation, and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans provided
the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan. For purposes
of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans
■
Shares purchased through a Merrill investment advisory program
■
Brokerage class shares exchanged from advisory class shares due to the holdings moving
from a Merrill investment advisory program to a Merrill brokerage account
■
Shares purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform
■
Shares purchased through the systematic reinvestment of capital gains distributions
and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same mutual fund in the same account
■
Shares exchanged from level-load shares to front-end load shares of the same mutual
fund in accordance with the description in the Merrill SLWD Supplement
■
Shares purchased by eligible employees of Merrill or its affiliates and their family members who purchase shares in accounts within the employee’s Merrill Household (as defined in the Merrill SLWD Supplement)
■
Shares purchased by eligible persons associated with the fund as defined in this prospectus
(e.g. the fund’s officers or trustees)
■
Shares purchased from the proceeds of a mutual fund redemption in front-end load shares
provided (1) the repurchase is in a mutual fund within the same fund family; (2) the repurchase occurs within 90 calendar
days from the redemption trade date, and (3) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account (known as Rights of
Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically
sold to pay Merrill’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for Rights of Reinstatement
CDSC Waivers on Front-end, Back-end, and Level Load Shares Available at Merrill
■
Shares sold due to the client’s death or disability (as defined by Internal Revenue
Code Section 22I(3))
■
Shares sold pursuant to a systematic withdrawal program subject to Merrill’s maximum systematic withdrawal limits as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement
■
Shares sold due to return of excess contributions from an IRA account
■
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts
due to the investor reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulation
■
Front-end or level-load shares held in commission-based, non-taxable retirement brokerage
accounts (e.g. traditional, Roth, rollover, SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans) that are transferred to
fee-based accounts or platforms and exchanged for a lower cost share class of the same mutual fund
Front-end load Discounts Available at Merrill:
Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent
■
Breakpoint discounts, as described in this prospectus, where the sales load is at
or below the maximum sales load that Merrill permits to be assessed to a front-end load purchase, as described in the Merrill SLWD
Supplement
■
Rights of Accumulation (ROA), as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement, which entitle clients to breakpoint discounts based on the aggregated holdings of mutual fund family assets held in accounts in
their Merrill Household
■
Letters of Intent (LOI), which allow for breakpoint discounts on eligible new purchases
based on anticipated future eligible purchases within a fund family at Merrill, in accounts within your Merrill Household, as further described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management:
Effective July 1, 2018 shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley
Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers
with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s
Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Morgan Stanley Wealth
Management
■
Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored
403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision,
employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans
■
Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s
account linking rules
■
Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions
when purchasing shares of the same fund
■
Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account
■
Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred
sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class
conversion program
■
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided
(i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same
account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge.
Effective June 30, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Oppenheimer
& Co. Inc. (“OPCO”) platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers
and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in
this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at OPCO
■
Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including
health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based
brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan
■
Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan
■
Shares purchased through a OPCO affiliated investment advisory program
■
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend
reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
■
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided
(1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account,
and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Restatement).
■
A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net
asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC
and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of OPCO
■
Employees and registered representatives of OPCO or its affiliates and their family
members
■
Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser
or any of its affiliates, as described in this Prospectus
CDSC Waivers on A, B and C Shares available at OPCO
■
Death or disability of the shareholder
■
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus
■
Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
■
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts
due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in the prospectus
■
Shares sold to pay OPCO fees but only if the transaction is initiated by OPCO
■
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-end load Discounts Available at OPCO: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation &
Letters of Intent
■
Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus.
■
Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will
be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household
at OPCO. Eligible fund family assets not held at OPCO may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder
notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. & each entity’s
affiliates (“Raymond James”):
Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Raymond James
platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond
James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers
(front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ
from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end sales load waivers on Class A shares available at Raymond James
■
Shares purchased in an investment advisory program.
■
Shares purchased within the same fund family through a systematic reinvestment of
capital gains and dividend distributions.
■
Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their
family members as designated by Raymond James.
■
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided
(1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account,
and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement).
■
A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net
asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC
and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James.
CDSC Waivers on Classes A, B and C shares available at Raymond James
■
Death or disability of the shareholder.
■
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.
■
Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.
■
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts
due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in the Fund’s prospectus.
■
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts
due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.
■
Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by
Raymond James.
■
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at Raymond James: breakpoints, rights of accumulation,
and/or letters of intent
■
Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus.
■
Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be
automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household
at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights
of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
■
Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases
within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included
in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Non-profits in brokerage accounts are eligible for sales charge waivers on purchases
of Class A shares.
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
Class A, Class C and Institutional Class Shares
If you would like further details on these Funds, you can request a free copy of the
following documents:
Shareholder Reports and Form N-CSR. Additional information about each Fund’s investments is available in each Fund’s
annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR. In each Fund’s annual report,
you will find each Fund’s performance data and a discussion by the Portfolio Managers about strategies and market conditions that
significantly affected each Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find each Fund’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The SAI contains more comprehensive information on each Fund, including: various types of securities and practices, and their risks, investment limitations and additional
policies and information about the Fund’s management and business structure. The SAI is hereby incorporated by reference into
this prospectus, making it legally part of the prospectus.
Investment Manager: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
Sub-adviser (for Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund): Neuberger Berman Europe Limited
You can obtain a shareholder report, SAI, and other information such as financial
statements from your financial intermediary, or from:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
877-628-2583
Website: www.nb.com
Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database
on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic
request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Each Fund’s current net asset value per share is made available at: http://www.nb.com/performance.
The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC”
are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund names in this prospectus are either service marks or registered service
marks of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. ©2025 Neuberger Berman BD LLC, distributor. All rights reserved.
SEC File Number: 811-03802
H0772 02/25
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
|
|
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund
|
|
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
|
|
Prospectus February 28, 2025
These securities, like the securities of all mutual funds, have not been approved
or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has not determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Contents
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
Fund Summaries
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund
Investor Class Shares (NCRIX)
The Fund seeks to maximize total return consistent with capital preservation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | |
| |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | |
| |
Total annual operating expenses | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement1 | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that
the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. Actual performance
and expenses may be higher or lower.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 156% of the average value of its portfolio. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate including to-be-announced (“TBA”) roll transactions was 156%.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests in a diversified mix of debt securities,
which primarily include government bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities.
The Fund may invest in a broad array of securities, including: securities issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; municipal securities; foreign
securities, including emerging markets; securities issued by supranational entities (e.g., World Bank, IMF); corporate bonds;
mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities; collateralized debt obligations, including collateralized loan obligations; inflation-linked debt securities; and commercial paper. Securities in which the Fund may invest may be issued by domestic and foreign governments,
corporate entities and trusts and may be structured as fixed rate debt, floating rate debt, and debt that may not pay
interest from the time of issuance. The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced
(“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities),
which involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase securities that will be issued
or settled at a later date. The Fund may enter into a TBA agreement and “roll over” such agreement prior to the settlement date by
selling the obligation to purchase the securities set forth in the agreement and entering into a new TBA agreement for future
delivery of pools of mortgage-backed securities.
The debt securities in which the Fund invests primarily are investment grade. The
Fund considers debt securities to be investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated within the four highest categories
by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable
quality.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward foreign
currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.
The Fund normally will not invest more than 15% of its total assets in non-U.S. dollar
denominated securities and, through hedging strategies, will attempt to limit its exposure to currencies other than the
U.S. dollar to 5% of its total assets.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in preferred securities. The Fund may also invest
a significant amount of its assets in U.S. Treasury securities or other money market instruments depending on market conditions.
The Fund normally seeks to maintain its target average duration within one year of
the average duration of the bonds in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. However, depending on market conditions, the
Fund may generally seek to maintain its target average duration within a maximum of two years of the average duration of the
bonds in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in bonds and other debt securities
and other investment companies that provide investment exposure to such debt securities. The Fund will not alter this
policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage
changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
Investment Philosophy and Process
The Portfolio Management Team’s investment philosophy is rooted in the belief that
positive results can be achieved through a consistently applied, risk-managed approach to portfolio management that leverages
the strengths of its fundamental research capabilities, decision-making frameworks, and quantitative risk management tools.
The Portfolio Management Team employs an integrated investment process in managing the Fund.
■
Portfolio Strategy: The Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, which
it monitors on an ongoing basis, including exposures to sectors (such as government, structured debt,
credit, etc.) and duration/yield curve positioning, utilizing internally generated views that are produced by specialty sector
investment teams in conjunction with asset allocation tools.
■
Strategy Implementation: Once the Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund,
the specialty sector investment teams and the Portfolio Management Team determine industry/sub-sector
weightings and make securities selections within the types of securities that the Fund can purchase, such as investment
grade securities and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.
When assessing the value of a particular security, the teams utilize internally generated
research and proprietary quantitatively driven tools and frameworks (including an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal
and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning) to a) establish an internal outlook, b) evaluate the market’s
outlook as it is reflected in asset prices, and c) contrast the two. As part of their fundamental investment analysis, the Portfolio
Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments,
where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party
metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors,
alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the
Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending
on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments,
such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration
of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment
strategy.
The teams will generally purchase securities if their internal outlook suggests a
security is undervalued by the market and sell securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is overvalued by the market.
The goal is to identify and evaluate investment opportunities that others may have missed.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk. CDOs, which include collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), issue classes or “tranches” of securities that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due to interest rate fluctuations, actual defaults, collateral defaults, disappearance of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to CDO securities as a class. The risks of investing in CDOs depend largely on the quality and type of the underlying debt, which may include loans, bonds and mortgages, and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. In addition, CDOs that obtain their exposure through derivative instruments entail the additional risks associated with such instruments. CDOs can be difficult to value, may at times be illiquid, may be highly leveraged (which could make them highly volatile), and may produce unexpected investment results due to their complex structure. In addition, CDOs involve many of the same risks of investing in debt securities and asset-backed securities including, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer. Issuers generally do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured, which increases its credit risk.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely
affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of other portfolio investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful and the Fund may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its debt securities. For this reason, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities
to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and
substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy.
Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-877-9700 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
| | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Thanos Bardas (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment
Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), David M. Brown, CFA (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment
Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), Nathan Kush (Managing Director of the Manager), and Olumide Owolabi (Managing Director of the Manager). Messrs. Bardas and Brown have managed the Fund since February 2008, Mr. Kush has managed the Fund since December 2017, and Olumide Owolabi has managed the Fund since February 2023.
Buying and Selling Shares
Investor Class of the Fund is closed to new investors. Only certain investors are allowed to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus.
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form.
Shares of the Fund generally are available
only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace
retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares.
For certain investors, shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions).
See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of Investor Class shares
and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Investor Class is $2,000. Additional investments
can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with
Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale
of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider
or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider
or visit its website for more information.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
Investor Class Shares (NHINX)
The Fund seeks high total return consistent with capital preservation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | |
| |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | |
| |
Total annual operating expenses | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that
the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. Actual performance
and expenses may be higher or lower.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 102% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests mainly in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. dollar-denominated, High-Yield Bonds (as defined below), with an emphasis on debt securities rated below investment grade (commonly
called “junk bonds”). For purposes of this Fund, High-Yield Bonds are generally defined as those debt securities that,
at the time of investment, are rated in the lowest investment grade category (BBB by S&P Global Ratings, Baa by Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or comparably rated by at least one independent credit rating agency) or lower or, if
unrated, determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in floating rate senior secured loans
issued in U.S. dollars by U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. The Fund considers floating
rate senior secured loans to be High-Yield Bonds. The Fund may invest a significant amount of its assets in loans, including
in participation interests in loans.
The Fund normally expects to have a weighted averaged maturity between five and ten
years. The Fund endeavors to manage credit risk through disciplined credit analysis and diversification of credit quality.
The Fund intends to opportunistically rotate quality and sector exposures throughout the credit cycle, maintaining a higher quality
bias in High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic downturn is underway and increasing lower quality
holdings of High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic expansion is underway. With regard to interest
rate risk, the Portfolio Managers are sensitive to the overall duration of the portfolio in relation to its benchmark and
evaluate the duration of potential new portfolio acquisitions in conjunction with their credit analysis. The Fund invests its assets
in a broad range of issuers and industries.
The Portfolio Managers will seek positive returns through in-depth credit research
utilizing proprietary analytics processes to assess the strength of a company’s credit profile, examples of which include but are not
limited to: their ability to pay principal and interest, their cash flow and balance sheet composition, and their market position
relative to competitors. As part of their
fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social
and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information,
the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial
metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process.
As part of this analysis, the Portfolio Managers also regularly engage with the management teams of issuers on issues that the Portfolio
Managers believe are material to the credit risk of an issuer. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of
integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply
to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents.
The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact”
or “sustainable” investment strategy.
In addition, the Portfolio Managers analyze and adjust weightings based on general
and sector-specific economic and market conditions, while seeking to diversify across industries, companies and investment
size.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors, industries and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward
foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds
(“ETFs”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.
The Fund does not normally invest in or continue to hold securities that are in default
or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, but may do so depending on market,
company-specific or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe
have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments. The Fund may also invest in
restricted securities.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including obligations of issuers in emerging market countries, denominated in any
currency, but the Fund normally will not invest more than 20% of its net assets at the time of investment in non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes, in High-Yield Bonds (as defined above) and other investment companies that provide investment exposure
to such bonds. The Fund will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This
test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances
will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for high-yield debt and loan instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation
underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its
investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market
volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to
instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service
providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus.
Returns would have been lower/higher if Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-877-9700 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
| | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Joseph Lind (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield
of the Manager), and Christopher Kocinski (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield of the Manager). Mr. Lind
has co-managed the Fund since July 2018, and Mr. Kocinski has co-managed the Fund since May 2019.
Buying and Selling Shares
Investor Class of the Fund is closed to new investors. Only certain investors are allowed to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus.
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form.
Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace
retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares.
For certain investors, shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions).
See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of Investor Class shares
and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Investor Class is $2,000. Additional investments
can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with
Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale
of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider
or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider
or visit its website for more information.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Investor Class Shares (NMUIX)
The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income tax that is consistent with low risk to principal and liquidity; total return is a secondary goal.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | |
| |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | |
| |
Total annual operating expenses | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement1 | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that
the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. Actual performance
and expenses may be higher or lower.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 89% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goals, the Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in
securities of municipal issuers within the U.S. and its territories; however, the Fund may invest without limit in municipal securities
the interest on which may be an item of tax preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“Tax Preference Item”).
The Fund’s dividends are generally exempt from federal income tax, although shareholders may have to pay an alternative
minimum tax on income deemed to be a Tax Preference Item. A portion of the dividends you receive may also be exempt from
state and local income taxes, depending on where you live.
Municipal securities include securities issued by U.S. states, any of their political
subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or by U.S. territories and possessions, such as Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto
Rico, and their political subdivisions and public corporations.
23 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
The Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including investment
grade securities, below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), and unrated securities. The Fund normally
will not invest more than 15% of its total assets in below investment grade securities. The Fund considers debt securities
to be below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent
credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest
in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk
of default or that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, depending
on the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of the investment opportunity.
The Fund seeks to minimize its exposure to credit risk by diversifying its assets
among many municipal issuers and among the different types and maturities of municipal securities available. The Portfolio Managers
monitor national trends in the municipal securities market, as well as a range of economic, financial and political factors.
As part of the investment process, the Portfolio Managers analyze individual issues and look for securities that they believe offer
compelling risk-adjusted return potential (based on some or all of the following, among other things, an analysis of cash flows, ability
to pay principal and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning), with a secondary emphasis on duration control
(i.e., monitoring and managing interest rate risk) and yield curve positioning (i.e., seeking attractive maturities on the yield
curve). As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers
believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit
analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered
and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration
of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment
companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that
the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.
The Fund may sell securities if the Portfolio Managers find an opportunity they believe
is more compelling or if the Portfolio Managers’ outlook on the investment or the market changes.
The Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters created
as part of tender option bond transactions). The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to interest rates,
sectors and individual issuers and increasing the Fund’s investment exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing
directly in more conventional securities. These derivative instruments may include options, futures (including U.S. Treasury futures), inverse floating rate securities and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest
rate swaps. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
Although it may invest in securities of any maturity, the Fund normally seeks to maintain
an average weighted portfolio duration of between three and seven years.
The Fund may not change its fundamental policy of normally investing at least 80%
of its total assets in securities of municipal issuers without shareholder approval. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests;
later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets or market values will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
The Fund is not an appropriate investment for tax-advantaged retirement accounts,
such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts or for investors subject to the federal alternative minimum tax,
and may not be beneficial for investors in low tax brackets.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for municipal debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately
24 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. In addition, the Fund may also realize a taxable gain or loss on such securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying
25 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by the performance of the issuer of the underlying instrument, by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic events. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk, meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific factors. By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more
26 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility. To the extent that the Fund earns interest income on private activity bonds, a part of its dividends will be a Tax Preference Item.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be
27 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing, and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs and services.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
28 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund's use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund's return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the
29 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus.
Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
30 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-877-9700 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund | | | |
| | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
Bloomberg 7-Year G.O. Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by James L. Iselin (Managing Director of the Manager) and S. Blake
Miller, CFA (Managing Director of the Manager). Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since 2007, and Mr. Miller has managed
the Fund since 2010.
Buying and Selling Shares
Investor Class of the Fund is closed to new investors. Only certain investors are allowed to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus.
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form.
Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, and financial
advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares.
31 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
For certain investors, shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions).
See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of Investor Class shares
and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Investor Class is $2,000. Additional investments
can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
The part of the Fund’s dividends that it reports as “exempt-interest dividends” will
be excludable from your gross income for federal income tax purposes. (Accordingly, investment in the Fund’s shares is not
appropriate for tax-exempt investors, including retirement plans and accounts, which will not benefit from that exclusion.) Distributions
of the Fund’s taxable net investment income and net capital gains, if any, will be taxable to you. Exempt-interest dividends
the Fund pays may be subject to state and local income taxes. In addition, a portion of those dividends is expected to be attributable
to interest on private activity bonds that you must treat as a Tax Preference Item for purposes of calculating your liability,
if any, for the federal alternative minimum tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund
and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services.
These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and
its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.
32 Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Descriptions of Certain Practices and Security Types
Derivatives. A derivative is generally a financial contract the value of which depends on, or
is derived from, changes in the value of one or more “reference instruments,” such as underlying assets (including securities),
reference rates, indices or events. Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, credit, interest rates, commodities, currencies
or currency exchange rates, or related indices. A derivative may also contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the reference
instrument. Derivatives may be traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations, or in private transactions
with other parties in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market with a single dealer or a prime broker acting as an intermediary with
respect to an executing dealer. Derivatives may be used for hedging purposes and non-hedging (or speculative) purposes. Some derivatives
require one or more parties to post “margin,” which means that a party must deposit assets with, or for the benefit of,
a third party, such as a futures commission merchant, in order to initiate and maintain the derivatives position. Margin is typically
adjusted daily, and adverse market movements may require a party to post additional margin.
Call Options. A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy an underlying asset or other reference
instrument at a specified price, regardless of the instrument’s market price at the time. Writing
(selling) a call option obligates the writer (seller) to sell the underlying asset or other reference instrument to the purchaser
at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. A call option is “covered” if the writer (seller)
simultaneously holds an equivalent position in the security underlying the option. The writer (seller) receives a premium when
it writes a call option. Purchasing a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the underlying asset or other reference
instrument from the writer (seller) at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The purchaser
pays a premium when it purchases a call option.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts (“Forward Contracts”). A forward contract is a contract for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a future date at a fixed price. Forward contracts
are not required to be traded on organized exchanges or cleared through regulated clearing organizations.
Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying asset at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a securities index
or other reference instrument at a future date.
Put Options. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell an underlying asset or other reference
instrument at a specified price, regardless of the instrument’s market price at the time. Writing
(selling) a put option obligates the writer (seller) to buy the underlying asset or other reference instrument from the purchaser
at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The writer (seller) receives a premium when it writes
a put option. Purchasing a put option gives the purchaser the right to sell the underlying asset or other reference
instrument to the writer (seller) at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The purchaser pays
a premium when it purchases a put option.
Swaps. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange one or more payments
based, for example, on the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined
reference instruments. Swap transactions generally may be used to obtain exposure to a reference instrument without
owning or taking physical custody of the reference instrument and generally do not involve delivery of the notional
amount of the agreement. Swaps have historically been OTC instruments; however, recent legislation requires
many swaps to be executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing
organization.
There are various types of swaps including, but not limited to, the following: interest
rate swaps (exchanging a floating interest rate for a fixed interest rate); total return swaps (exchanging a floating
interest rate for the total return of a reference instrument); credit default swaps (buying or selling protection against
certain designated credit events); and options on swaps (“swaptions”) (options to enter into a swap agreement).
Emerging Market Countries. Emerging market countries are generally considered to be those countries whose economies
are less developed than the economies of countries such as the United States or most nations
in Western Europe.
Fixed Income Securities. Debt securities may consist of fixed and floating rate obligations of various credit
quality and duration and may be issued by: corporate entities; trusts; domestic issuers, including securities
issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; foreign
issuers, including in emerging markets, and including foreign governments and supranational entities; and municipal issuers, including
within the U.S. and its territories. Such obligations may include: bonds, loans, inflation-linked debt securities, when-issued
and forward-settling securities, commercial paper, mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities, and
hybrid securities (including convertible securities).
Foreign Markets. There are many promising opportunities for investment outside the United States.
Foreign markets can respond to different factors and therefore may follow cycles that are different from
each other. For this reason, many investors put a portion of their portfolios in foreign investments as a way of gaining further diversification.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities. Inflation-linked debt securities are debt securities whose principal value is periodically
adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal
value of inflation-linked debt securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated
with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced.
Loans. Loans are a type of debt security that may be made in connection with, among other
things, recapitalizations, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, dividend issuances and refinancings. The loans in which a Fund
typically invests are structured and administered by a third party that acts as agent for a group of lenders that make
or hold interests in the loan. A Fund may acquire interests in such loans by taking an assignment of all or a portion of a direct interest
in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a participation in an interest in a loan that continues
to be held by another institution.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) typically offer investors
higher yields than other fixed income securities. The higher yields are usually justified
by the weaker credit profiles of these issuers as compared to investment grade issuers. Lower-rated debt securities may include debt
obligations of all types issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporate and governmental entities, including bonds, debentures and notes,
loan interests and preferred stocks that have priority over any other class of stock of the entity as to the distribution of
assets or the payment of dividends.
Municipal Securities. Municipal securities include, among other types of instruments, general obligation
bonds, revenue bonds, private activity bonds, anticipation notes and tax-exempt commercial paper. General
obligation bonds are backed by the full taxing power of the issuing governmental entity. Revenue bonds are backed only by
the income from a specific project, facility, or tax. Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance
various privately operated facilities, and are generally supported only by revenue from those facilities, if any. They are not backed
by the credit of any governmental or public authority. Anticipation notes are issued by municipalities in expectation of future
proceeds from the issuance of bonds or from taxes or other revenues and are payable from those bond proceeds, taxes, or revenues.
Tax-exempt commercial paper is issued by municipalities to help finance short-term capital or operating requirements.
Additional Information about Principal Investment Risks
This section provides additional information about a Fund’s principal investment risks
described in its Fund Summary section. The following risks are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed
importance or potential exposure.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a
security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, with a higher risk of default, or other less favorable characteristics. This may reduce the amount of the Fund’s
distributions. In addition, the Fund may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. The likelihood of a call also may impact the price of a security. In addition, the Fund may also realize a taxable gain or loss on such securities.
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk. CDOs, which include collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), issue classes or “tranches”
of securities that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due
to interest rate fluctuations, actual defaults, collateral defaults, disappearance of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of
defaults, and investor aversion to CDO securities as a class. CDOs carry risks including, but not limited to, (i) the possibility that
distributions from the underlying debt securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments, (ii) the quality of the underlying
debt securities may decline in value or default, particularly during periods of economic downturn, or be downgraded, if rated
by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (iii) the Fund may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes
of securities, (iv) the investment return could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models, (v) the risk
of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures, (vi) the manager of the CDO may perform poorly,
(vii) the complex structure may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results, and (viii) the lack of
a readily available secondary market for CDOs. Interest on certain tranches of a CDO may be paid in kind or deferred and capitalized
(paid in the form of obligations of the same type rather than cash), which involves continued exposure to the risk of default with
respect to such payments. The risks of investing in CDOs depend largely on the quality and type of the underlying debt, which
may include loans, bonds and mortgages, and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. In addition, CDOs that obtain
their exposure through derivative instruments entail the additional risks associated with such instruments. CDOs can
be difficult to value, may at times be illiquid, may be highly leveraged (which could make them highly volatile), and may produce unexpected
investment results due to their complex structure. CDOs may also charge fees and expenses, which are in addition to
those of the Fund. In addition, CDOs
involve many of the same risks of investing in debt securities and asset-backed securities
including, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality,
or other issuer, usually for purposes such as financing current operations. Issuers generally
do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. A Fund may invest in commercial paper that cannot be resold to the public without
an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected by
changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. Commercial paper is subject to the risk
that the issuer will be unable to issue sufficient new commercial paper to meet the repayment obligations under its outstanding commercial
paper (commonly referred to as rollover risk). While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid, the Manager
may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have
been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured, which
increases its credit risk, and is usually issued at a discount from their value at maturity.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become
less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of
an issuer, factors affecting an issuer directly (such as management changes, labor relations, collapse of key suppliers or customers,
or material changes in overhead costs), factors affecting the industry in which a particular issuer operates (such as competition
or technological advances) and changes in general social, economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default
by an issuer, which may affect a security’s credit quality or value. A downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could
affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities.
Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security,
the more sensitive it is to credit risk. In addition, lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and
may negatively affect a security’s liquidity. Ratings represent a rating agency’s opinion regarding the quality of a security and are not
a guarantee of quality, and do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. In addition, rating agencies may fail
to make timely changes to credit ratings in response to subsequent events and a rating may become stale in that it fails to reflect
changes in an issuer’s financial condition. The credit quality of a security or instrument can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly,
which may negatively impact its liquidity and value. The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement
(for example, guarantees, letters of credit, or bond insurance). Entities providing credit or liquidity support also may be affected
by credit risk. Credit enhancement is designed to help assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against
losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative
to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign
currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Domestic
issuers that hold substantial foreign assets may be similarly affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to factors
external to a country’s economy, which makes the forecasting of currency market movements extremely difficult. Currency exchange
rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including
investor perception of a country’s economy and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign
governments, central banks, or supranational entities, such as the International Monetary Fund; or by currency controls or political
developments in the U.S. or abroad. To the extent the Fund invests or hedges based on the perceived relationship between two
currencies, there is a risk that the correlation between those currencies may not behave as anticipated.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing
in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in
unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, which can magnify the impact of a decline in the value of the reference
instrument underlying the derivative, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives can have the potential
for unlimited losses, for example, where the Fund may be called upon to deliver a security it does not own. Derivatives may at
times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated
price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative
instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There
may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative,
and the reference instrument may not perform as anticipated. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could
render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated
with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no
assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives may
involve fees, commissions, or other costs
that may reduce the Fund’s gains or exacerbate losses from the derivatives. In addition,
the Fund’s use of derivatives may have different tax consequences for the Fund than an investment in the reference instruments,
and those differences may increase the amount and affect the timing of income recognition and character of taxable distributions
payable to shareholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy
its distribution requirements. Certain aspects of the regulatory treatment of derivative instruments, including federal income tax,
are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. In October
2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act which regulates the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under
the Investment Company Act (‘‘Rule 18f-4’’). The Funds have adopted a Rule 18f-4 Policy which provides, among other things, that unless the Fund
qualifies as a ‘‘limited derivatives user’’ as defined in Rule 18f-4, the Fund is subject to a comprehensive
derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, and to provide additional
disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. If the Fund qualifies as a limited derivatives user, Rule 18f-4 requires the Fund to have
policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk.
Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the
derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. Counterparty risk may arise because
of market activities and developments, the counterparty’s financial condition (including financial difficulties, bankruptcy,
or insolvency), or other reasons. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund
to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. Counterparty risk is generally thought to be greater with OTC derivatives
than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. However, derivatives that are traded on organized exchanges
and/or through clearing organizations involve the possibility that the futures commission merchant or clearing organization
will default in the performance of its obligations. In addition, during periods of market volatility, such exchanges or clearing organizations
may suspend or limit trading in a derivative, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to
price.
When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral;
these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund
from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other
opportunities as they arise. Derivatives that have margin requirements involve the risk that if the Fund has insufficient cash or eligible
margin securities to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities or other instruments from its
portfolio at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. A relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in substantial losses
to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. The Fund normally will remain obligated to meet margin requirements until a derivatives
position is closed.
Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential
changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.
New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Although the Fund may use derivatives to attempt to hedge against certain risks, the
hedging instruments may not perform as expected and could produce losses.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in
foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward
contracts on currencies. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote
prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which
the counterparty is prepared to buy and the price at which it is prepared to sell).
Futures. There can be no assurance that, at all times, a liquid market will exist for offsetting
a futures contract that the Fund has previously bought or sold and this may result in the inability to close a
futures position when desired. This could be the case if, for example, a futures price has increased or decreased by the
maximum allowable daily limit and there is no buyer (or seller) willing to purchase (or sell) the futures contract that
the Fund needs to sell (or buy) at that limit price. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends
on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund
enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund
to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those
associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time
or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee
that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation
between the movement in
prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be
a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option
worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes
in the value of the underlying instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility
of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by the performance of the
issuer of the underlying instrument, by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic
events. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk,
meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views
based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific
factors.
By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the
underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without
the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the
Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price
that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able
to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may
be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered
call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the
strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from
the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price
of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient
to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be
offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund
has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those
funds.
Swaps. Swap transactions generally do not involve delivery of reference instruments or payment
of the notional amount of the contract. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is
limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to
a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit
default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and
cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions
may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an
organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this
may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities are securities of companies that are in financial distress
and that may be in or about to enter bankruptcy or some other legal proceeding. The Fund may not receive
interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs
to protect its investment. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities
involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. The Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment in distressed
securities or may be required to accept cash, securities or other property with a value less than its original investment. The Fund
may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest
on its portfolio holdings. Distressed securities include loans, bonds and notes, many of which are not publicly traded, and may involve
a substantial degree of risk. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities
meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such
securities may be subject to restrictions on resale. In addition, the prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and
erratic market movements and above-average price volatility. It may be difficult to obtain information regarding the financial
condition of a borrower or issuer, and its financial condition may change rapidly. Also, it may be difficult to value such securities and
the spread between the bid-ask prices of such securities may be greater than expected.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks
in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure
to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and
other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries,
organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure;
fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization
or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or
other taxes; and less stringent auditing and
accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. The Fund may have
limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities. In addition, key information about
the issuer, the markets or the local government or economy may be unavailable, incomplete, or inaccurate. As a result,
foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets,
or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, securities
issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory
conditions in foreign countries, as well as currency exchange rates. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is
traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it
conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than
those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may
be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on
foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or
impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars,
there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition,
the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible
to local and global changes, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Emerging market countries may
also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently
than U.S. law would. Shareholder claims and legal remedies that are common in the United States may be difficult or
impossible to pursue in many emerging market countries. In addition, due to jurisdictional limitations, matters of comity
and various other factors, U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-U.S. companies
and non-U.S. persons in certain emerging market countries. Most foreign and emerging market companies are not subject to the
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States, which may impact
the availability and quality of information about foreign and emerging market issuers. Securities markets in emerging market countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Additionally, in times of market stress, regulatory
authorities of different emerging market countries may apply varying techniques and degrees of intervention, which can have
an effect on prices. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of
issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings
in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the
issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities
of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions
may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied
broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods
of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments,
may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s
ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. market. Over a
given period of time, foreign securities may underperform U.S. securities—sometimes for years. The Fund could also underperform if it invests in countries or
regions whose economic performance falls short. To the extent that the Fund invests a portion of
its assets in one country, state, region or currency, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value
of the Fund’s investments more than if its investments were not so invested.
The effect of economic instability on specific foreign markets or issuers may be difficult
to predict or evaluate. Some national economies continue to show profound instability, which may in turn affect their international
trading and financial partners or other members of their currency bloc.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio
turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s
performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio
turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation.
The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security
is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation index used will accurately
measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities
may lose value in the event that the actual rate of inflation is different than the rate of the inflation measure. In addition,
any inflation measure used could be discontinued, substituted or changed in a manner that could adversely impact such securities.
Repayment of the original principal upon maturity (as adjusted upward for inflation,
as needed) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed debt securities. For inflation-linked debt securities that
do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the securities repaid at maturity may be less than the original
principal value. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real
interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked
debt security falls when real interest rates rise, (i.e., when nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation),
and rises when real interest rates fall (i.e., when inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates). Interest payments on
inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods
of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
Any increase in the principal value of an inflation-linked debt security is taxable
in the year the increase occurs, even though the security’s holders do not receive cash representing the increase until the security
matures. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed
by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities,
will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such
securities may decline. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable and may be made in response to the supply and demand for credit, changes to government monetary policy and other initiatives, inflation rates, perceptions of risk and other factors. A changing interest rate environment increases certain risks, including the potential for periods of volatility. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration
(i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated
with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price.
For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, a debt security with a duration of two years will decrease in value by approximately 2%.
Thus, the Fund’s sensitivity to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the Fund’s overall duration. Short-term securities
tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates, and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates.
Short-term and long-term interest rates, and interest rates in different countries, do not necessarily move in the same direction
or by the same amount. The link between interest rates and debt security prices tends to be weaker with lower-rated debt securities
than with investment grade debt securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term
interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value
when market rates rise, and produces more income and may increase in value when market rates fall. Whereas ordinary fixed income
securities suffer a decline in value when market rates rise, this phenomenon is exacerbated in the case of inverse floaters,
because when market rates rise, the rate paid by the inverse floater declines, producing greater price and income volatility than a
conventional fixed-rate bond with comparable credit quality and maturity. An investment in an inverse floater involves the risk
of loss of principal and may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform
the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may
make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses. Accordingly, the holder
of an inverse floater could lose more than its principal investment.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the
market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s securities may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including
disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against
the issuer, perceived poor management performance, changes in economic or political conditions or in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. Certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, may have a significant
adverse effect on the value of an issuer’s securities.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more
volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in
losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of
other portfolio investments. For certain instruments or transactions that create leverage, or have embedded leverage, relatively small
market fluctuations may result in large changes in the value of such investments. In addition, the costs that the Fund pays to engage
in these practices are additional costs borne by the Fund and could reduce or eliminate any net investment profits. Unless the profits
from engaging in these practices exceed the costs of engaging in these practices, the use of leverage will diminish the investment
performance of the Fund compared with what it would have been had the Fund not used leverage. There can be no assurance that
the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by
a significant amount. When the Fund uses
leverage or utilizes certain of these practices, it may need to dispose of some of
its holdings at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy regulatory or other requirements.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment or type of investment
in which the Fund invests is or may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently
can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time. An illiquid investment means any investment that the Fund
reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the
sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Judgment plays a greater role in pricing these investments
than it does in pricing investments having more active markets, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not
be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. The Fund may receive illiquid securities as a result of its investment
in securities involved in restructurings. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes
abruptly, particularly during periods of increased market volatility, adverse investor perception, economic uncertainty
or changes in interest rates. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of
securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time, which can be extensive.
An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage
of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. Market participants
attempting to sell the same or a similar investment at the same time as the Fund could decrease the liquidity of such investments,
especially during times of market volatility. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even
an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors,
instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption
proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced
to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may
be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to
sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests
may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established
uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds
7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available
to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow
money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer
or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower,
limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance
highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse
changes in economic or market conditions.
Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive
covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets, although many covenants may be waived or modified with
the consent of a certain percentage of the holders of the loans even if the Fund does not consent. There is a risk that the value
of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to
cover the amount owed on the loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In the
event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further,
in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value
of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral
may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. In addition, if a secured loan
is foreclosed, the Fund may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral
may be difficult to sell and the Fund would bear the risk that the collateral may decline in value while the Fund is holding it. Further,
there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may
need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation, which may increase
the Fund’s operating expenses. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose
the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining
an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee
or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and
obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired
by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor.
When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over
the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct
rights against the borrower. As a participant, the Fund also would be subject to the risk that the lending bank or other party selling
the participation interest would not remit the Fund’s pro rata share of loan payments to the Fund. It may be difficult for the
Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank’s financial condition. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or
may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which
it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
The liquidity of floating rate loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary
market trading in such loans, may vary, sometimes significantly, over time and among individual floating rate loans and loans
may be subject to wide bid/ask spreads. During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult;
and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.
Courts have held in some situations that loan interests are not “securities,” and
purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not have the benefit of the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Also,
if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer (which is not uncommon in the loan market), the Fund
may, as a result, be unable to sell the issuer’s securities.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities
determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade
debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes
in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected
to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid and also may require a greater degree of judgment to
establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, and may carry higher transaction costs. In particular,
these securities may be issued by smaller companies or by highly indebted companies, which are generally less able than more
financially stable companies to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. Lower-rated debt securities are considered
by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal
and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and
interest. Such securities are susceptible to such a default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and business
developments relating to the issuer, the industry in general, market interest rates and market liquidity. Such securities may
be unsecured or have insufficient collateral and may be subordinated to other creditors, which increases the risk of loss on these
securities. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case
the Fund may lose its entire investment. Where it deems it appropriate and in the best interests of Fund shareholders, the Fund may
incur additional expenses to seek recovery on a defaulted security and/or to pursue litigation to protect the Fund’s investment.
The credit rating of a security may not accurately reflect the actual credit risk
associated with such a security. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers
of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, such as a high profile default, whether
or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of such securities, especially in a thinly traded
or illiquid market. To the extent the Fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted lower-rated debt securities or unrated debt securities
of comparable quality, these securities may involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities, costs, and liquidity and
valuation difficulties.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments,
including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political,
regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning
these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Changes in the financial condition of a single issuer
may impact a market as a whole. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods and may not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may
miss out on opportunities for better performance. Geopolitical risks, including terrorism, tensions or open conflict between
nations, or political or economic dysfunction within some nations that are major players on the world stage or major
producers of oil, may lead to overall instability in world economies and markets generally and have led, and may in the future lead,
to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects. Similarly, environmental and public health risks, such
as natural disasters or epidemics, or widespread fear that such events may occur, may impact markets and economies adversely and cause
market volatility in both the short- and long-term.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market
or the assets underlying the securities. These
securities differ from more traditional debt securities because the principal is paid
back over the life of the security rather than at the security’s maturity; however, principal may be repaid early if a decline in interest
rates causes many borrowers to refinance (known as prepayment risk), or repaid more slowly if a rise in rates causes refinancings
to slow down (known as extension risk). Thus, they tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types
of debt securities and as a result, these securities may exhibit additional volatility during periods of interest rate turmoil. Asset-backed
securities also may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
may be “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool and a holder of those “subordinated” securities would receive payments only
after any obligations to other more “senior” investors have been satisfied. In addition, investments in mortgage- and
asset-backed securities may be subject to call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree
than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages
or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will
adversely affect the security’s value. Further, such securities may have credit support, the utility of which could be negatively
affected by such conditions as well.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political
and legislative changes or litigation at the federal or state level, as well as uncertainties related
to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality may hinder its ability
to pay interest and principal. Under some circumstances, municipal securities might not pay interest unless the state legislature
or municipality authorizes money for that purpose. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal
securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic
or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The amount of
public information available about municipal securities is generally less than that available about corporate securities.
In the case of insured municipal securities, insurance supports the commitment that
interest payments will be made on time and the principal will be repaid at maturity. Insurance does not, however, protect the
Fund or its shareholders against losses caused by declines in a municipal security’s market value. The Portfolio Managers generally
look to the credit quality of the issuer of a municipal security to determine whether the security meets the Fund’s quality restrictions,
even if the security is covered by insurance. However, a downgrade in the claims-paying ability of an insurer of a municipal
security could have an adverse effect on the market value of the security.
Municipal issuers may be adversely affected by high labor costs and increasing unfunded
pension liabilities, and by the phasing out of federal programs providing financial support. In addition, changes in the financial
condition of one or more individual municipal issuers or insurers of municipal issuers can affect the overall municipal
securities market. At times, the secondary market for municipal securities may not be liquid, which could limit the Fund’s ability to
sell securities it is holding. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and
local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Financial difficulties of municipal issuers may continue or get worse. Further, the application of state law to municipal
issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state.
Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer
restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting
other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when
it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as
their fair market value.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects,
especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the
overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project
or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the
issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest
and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
To the extent that Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund invests in private activity bonds, a part of its dividends
will be a Tax Preference Item. Consult your tax adviser for more information.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate
change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s
financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which
would adversely impact the Fund.
Generally, the Fund purchases municipal securities the interest on which, in the opinion
of counsel to the issuer, is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. There is no guarantee that such
an opinion will be correct, and there is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with such an opinion. Municipal
securities generally must meet certain
regulatory and statutory requirements to distribute interest that is excludable from
gross income for federal income tax. If any municipal security held by Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund fails
to meet such requirements, the interest received by the Fund from such security and distributed to shareholders would be taxable.
Proposals also may be introduced before state legislatures that would affect the state tax treatment of a municipal
fund's distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of municipal securities and the value of a municipal fund's
holdings would be affected.
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may
be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems,
human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to
gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the
securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks (e.g., malicious software coding, ransomware,
or “hacking”) or unintentional events (e.g., inadvertent release of confidential information). A cybersecurity incident
could, among other things, result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, customers or employees being unable to access electronic
systems (“denial of services”), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer
or network system, or remediation costs associated with system repairs. A cybersecurity incident may not permit the Fund and
its service providers to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and calculating net
asset value. Any cybersecurity incident could have a substantial adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders.
The occurrence of any of these problems could result in a loss of information, regulatory
scrutiny, reputational damage and other consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund or its
shareholders. The Manager, through its monitoring and oversight of Fund service providers, endeavors to determine that service
providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to such problems. While the Manager has established
business continuity plans and risk management systems seeking to address these problems, there are inherent limitations
in such plans and systems, and it is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the
cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate
their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations,
and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect
issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial
intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational
efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their
business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or
services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal
liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with
or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of
data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's
effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized
and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and
competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise
significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale,
and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may
lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates
traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory
frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes
could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, money market funds
and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance
of those other investment companies and to the allocation of its assets among those other investment companies. Investments in
other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment
companies’ expenses. If the Fund invests in other investment companies, the Fund may receive distributions of taxable gains
from portfolio transactions by that investment company and may recognize taxable gains from transactions in shares of that investment
company, which could be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders when distributed to them.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying
portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect
its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively
managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track because of, for example, the temporary
unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the
weighting of securities or the number of stocks held. A passively managed ETF may not be permitted to sell poorly performing
stocks that are included in its index. Investing in ETFs could incur brokerage and other trading costs for the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with
both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities
are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation
in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Preferred securities generally are subordinated to debt securities in an issuer’s
capital structure, subjecting them to a greater risk of non-payment than those more senior securities. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of
the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders
of its debt securities. For these reasons, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk
than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived
changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to
adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks, and
there is a risk an issuer of preferred securities may call or redeem prior to any stated maturity.
Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion,
to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Preferred shareholders may have certain
rights if distributions are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer, may suffer a loss of value if
distributions are not paid, and may be required to report the deferred distribution on its tax returns, even though it may not have received
any cash. Generally, preferred shareholders have no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless distributions
to preferred shareholders have not been paid for a stated period, at which time the preferred shareholders may elect a number of directors
to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the distributions have been paid to preferred shareholders, the preferred shareholders
no longer have voting rights.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain
debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after
(extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates
or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity
(i.e., a prepayment). As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a
lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may
lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Prepayments could also create capital gains tax liability in some instances.
Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration
of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines. If
the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the Fund may be unable to capitalize on
securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that
are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless
certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. These securities may not be listed
on an exchange and may have no active trading market. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these
securities may be more volatile and more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened
risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities
may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the
Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. A security that was
liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for private placements
and other restricted securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for sale and there may be
substantial delays in effecting the registration. If, during such a delay, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain
a less favorable price than prevailed at the time it decided to seek registration of the securities. In addition, the Fund may
get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security, so it may be less able to anticipate
a loss. Also, if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may, as a result, be legally prohibited
from selling the securities.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent
years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies
are substantially interconnected, as are global
financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or
region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets
may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this
time.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad,
in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation.
The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their
approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in
interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating
economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market
value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce
liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets. Also, regulators have expressed concern that changes in
interest rates may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility.
Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility,
disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between
countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the
U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen
at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may
decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Regulators in the U.S. adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some
of which implicate a Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known.
Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit a Fund’s ability to pursue its
investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact its performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty
on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation
of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely,
the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen
and could adversely impact performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine,
in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of
ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and
risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of a Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely
affect the global economy. The impact of epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future could negatively affect the
economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity,
in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time and could last for an extended period of time.
An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue
and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing,
and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs
and services.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market
risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling;
a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political,
regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact
financial markets and the broader economy.
China’s economy, which had been sustained through debt-financed spending on housing
and infrastructure, appears to be experiencing a significant slowdown and growing at a lower rate than prior years.
While the Chinese government appears to be taking measures to address these issues, due to the size of China’s economy, the resolution of these issues could impact a number of other countries.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen.
The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
A rise in sea levels, a change in weather patterns, including an increase in powerful
storms and large wildfires, and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause properties to lose value or become unmarketable
altogether. Unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected zones may not ever recover their value.
Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain
land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.
Losses related to climate change could adversely affect corporate issuers and mortgage
lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities that depend on tax or other revenues and tourist
dollars generated by affected properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate, municipal or mortgage-backed securities.
Since property and security values are driven largely by buyers’ perceptions, it is difficult to know the time period over
which these market effects might unfold.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause
the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity,
or at a loss or depressed value. The sale of assets to meet redemption requests may cause the Fund to realize capital gains, which
would result in the Fund having to distribute such gains. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries
control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable
cash flow needs. In addition, the risk is heightened if redemption requests are unusually large or frequent or occur
during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs and
create adverse tax consequences.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out
of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with
a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors
to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Risk Management. Management undertakes certain analyses with the intention of identifying particular
types of risks and reducing the Fund’s exposure to them. However, risk is an essential part of investing,
and the degree of return an investor might expect is often tied to the degree of risk the investor is willing to accept. By its
very nature, risk involves exposure to the possibility of adverse events. Accordingly, no risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s
exposure to such events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by adverse events, and
especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. While the prospectus describes material risk factors associated
with the Fund’s investment program, there is no assurance that as a particular situation unfolds in the markets, management
will identify all of the risks that might affect the Fund, rate their probability or potential magnitude correctly, or be able
to take appropriate measures to reduce the Fund’s exposure to them. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk
prove to be incorrect. Measures taken with the intention of decreasing exposure to identified risks might have the unintended
effect of increasing exposure to other risks.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant
positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector,
industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect
those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market may be more volatile, and
may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic,
political or regulatory events. The Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors, industries, or sub-sectors
do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or industries may adversely affect performance.
For information about the risks of investing in particular sectors, see the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may
delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example,
to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s
debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required
by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There
may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings
through which all or part of the sovereign
debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk
is increased for emerging market issuers. Certain emerging market or developing countries are among the largest debtors to commercial
banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of
principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign
debt on a timely basis that led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued by supranational entities, such as
the World Bank. A supranational entity is financially supported by the governments of one or more countries, has no taxing authority,
and is dependent on its members for payments of interest and principal. There is no guarantee that the members will continue
to make capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal
on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund’s use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are
deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests.
Holders of the first class of interests, or floating rate certificates, receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates
and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. A remarketing agent for the trust is required to attempt to resell any tendered
floating rate certificates and if the remarketing agent is unsuccessful, the trust’s liquidity provider must contribute cash to ensure
that the tendering holders receive the purchase price of their securities on the repurchase date. Holders of the second class of interests,
or residual income certificates (commonly referred to as “inverse floaters”), receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on
the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and
bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially
eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage
risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender
option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss
of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. In certain instances, a trust may be terminated if, for example, the
issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments, the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded,
or tendered floating rate certificates cannot be resold.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these
guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market
prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government
and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Some are backed by the issuer’s
right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality.
These securities carry at least some risk of non-payment or default by the issuer. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some
U.S. government securities may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S.
Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. There is no assurance
that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by
law to do so.
In recent periods, the values of U.S. government securities have been affected substantially
by increased demand for them around the world. Increases or decreases in the demand for U.S. government securities may
occur at any time and may result in increased volatility in the values of those securities. In recent years, credit rating agencies
have shown some concern about whether the U.S. government has the political will necessary to service all of its outstanding and
expected future debt, and some have adjusted their ratings or outlook for U.S. government debt accordingly. These developments, and the
factors underlying them, could cause an increase in interest rates and borrowing costs, which may negatively impact both the
perception of credit risk associated with the debt securities issued by the U.S. and the government's ability to access the debt
markets on favorable terms. In addition, these developments could create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which could increase
volatility in both stock and bond markets. These events could result in significant adverse impacts on issuers of securities
held by the Fund.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has
valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities
that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult
to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value
methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an
investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. Investors who purchase or
redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher
redemption proceeds, than they would have received if the Fund had not held fair-valued securities or had used a different methodology.
The value of foreign securities, certain futures, fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected
by events after the close of the markets on which
they are traded but before the Fund determines its net asset value. The Fund uses
pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment
at the price established by such pricing services. Different pricing services use different valuation methodologies, potentially resulting
in different values for the same investments. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if a pricing service
were to change its valuation methodology, the value of the Fund’s investments could be impacted. The Fund’s ability to value its investments
in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers,
such as pricing services or accounting agents.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments
with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest
rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments will not generally rise
in value if market interest rates decline. Thus, investing in variable and floating rate instruments generally allows less opportunity
for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in instruments with a fixed interest rate. Certain types of floating rate
instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions
on resale and may lack an active market, which may make them more difficult to value or sell.
Certain variable and floating rate instruments have an interest rate floor feature,
which prevents the interest rate payable by the instrument from dropping below a specified level as compared to a reference interest
rate (the “reference rate”), such as SOFR. Such a floor is designed to protect the Fund from a decrease in the reference rate below the specified level. However, if the reference rate is below the floor, there will be a lag between a rise in the reference
rate and a rise in the interest rate payable by the instrument, and the Fund may not benefit from increasing interest rates for a significant
period of time. Rates on certain variable rate instruments typically only reset periodically.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (TBA) mortgage-backed securities) involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or
deliver securities at a later date. Because the Fund is committed to buying them at a certain price, any change in the value of these
securities, even prior to their issuance, affects the Fund’s share value. Accordingly, the purchase of such securities involves
a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. When-issued and forward-settling securities
can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price. When-issued and forward-settling
securities may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy
its purchase obligations. When-issued and forward-settling securities also are subject to the risk that the security will not
be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security. If this occurs, the Fund may lose the opportunity
to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and may forgo any gain in the security’s price. The Fund may sell securities
it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In addition, the purchase
of mortgage-backed securities on a TBA basis may result in a Fund incurring increased prepayment risks because the underlying mortgages
may be less favorable than anticipated by the Fund.
Information about Additional Risks and Other Practices
As discussed in the Statement of Additional Information, a Fund may engage in certain
practices and invest in certain securities in addition to those described as its “principal investment strategies” in its Fund Summary
section. For example, should a Fund engage in borrowing or securities lending, or should a Fund use derivatives or invest
in foreign securities, it will be subject to the additional risks associated with these practices and securities, some or all of which
may already be included in its “principal investment strategies.”
Borrowing money, securities lending, or using derivatives would create investment
leverage, meaning that certain gains or losses would be amplified, increasing share price movements.
Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in
addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities, and can fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid,
than comparable U.S. securities. Securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating
to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries.
As part of its liquidity management practices, including for cash management purposes
or to facilitate short-term liquidity, a Fund may invest in reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a
Fund sells portfolio securities to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase the securities
at an agreed-upon price and date, which reflects an interest payment to that party. Reverse repurchase agreements involve
the risk that the other party will fail to return the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to a Fund. A
Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the cash collateral held by the Fund is less than the
value of the securities. These events could also
trigger adverse tax consequences to a Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve
the risk that the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which a Fund is obligated to repurchase
them. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing by a Fund. When a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase
agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party or the securities in which
the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During the term of the agreement, a Fund may also
be obligated to pledge additional cash and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair value of the transferred security.
The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements.
In addition, a Fund may be an investment option for a Neuberger Berman mutual fund
that is managed as a “fund of funds.” As a result, from time to time, a Fund may experience relatively large redemptions or investments
and could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it is not advantageous to do so.
In anticipation of adverse or uncertain market, economic, political, or other temporary
conditions, including during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, a Fund may temporarily depart from its goal and use
a different investment strategy (including leaving a significant portion of its assets uninvested) for defensive purposes. Doing
so could help a Fund avoid losses, but may mean lost opportunities. In addition, in doing so different factors could affect a
Fund’s performance and a Fund may not achieve its goal. Furthermore, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund could earn
income that is not exempt from federal income tax. In addition, to the extent a Fund is new or is undergoing a transition (such as a
change in strategy, rebalancing, reorganization, liquidation or experiencing large inflows or outflows) or takes a
temporary defensive position, it may deviate from its principal investment strategies during such period.
A Fund may change its goal without shareholder approval.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information.
The Bloomberg 7-Year General Obligation (G.O.) Index is the 7-year (6-8 years to maturity) component of the Bloomberg G.O. Index. The Bloomberg G.O. Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated,
long-term, tax-exempt state and local general obligation bond market.
The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is a rules-based, market-value-weighted index engineered for the long-term tax-exempt
bond market. To be included in the index, bonds must be rated investment-grade (Baa3/BBB-
or higher) by at least two of the following ratings agencies: Moody’s, S&P, Fitch. If only two of the three agencies
rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the three agencies rates a security, the
rating must be investment-grade. They must have an outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction
of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate, have a dated-date after December 31, 1990, and must be at least one year
from their maturity date. Remarketed issues, taxable municipal bonds, bonds with floating rates, and derivatives, are excluded
from the benchmark.
The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, taxable bond
market and includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed
securities (MBS) (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) pass-throughs), asset-backed securities
(ABS), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) (agency and nonagency).
The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated below investment grade corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. In addition to meeting
other criteria, qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch ratings),
and have risk exposure to countries that are members of the FX-G10, Western Europe or territories of the U.S. and Western Europe.
Securities in legal default are excluded from the index. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, provided
the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. Transaction costs will be incorporated into the calculation of total
return for ICE fixed income indices beginning in July 2022.
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”), located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is each Fund’s investment manager and administrator. Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“Distributor”),
located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is each Fund’s distributor. Pursuant to an investment
advisory agreement, the Manager is
responsible for choosing a Fund’s investments and handling its day-to-day business.
The services provided by the Manager as the investment manager and administrator include, among others, overall responsibility
for providing all supervisory, management, and administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Funds, which
may include, among others, compliance monitoring, operational and investment risk management, legal and administrative services
and portfolio accounting services. The Manager carries out its duties subject to the policies established by the Board of
Trustees. The investment advisory agreement establishes the fees a Fund pays to the Manager for its services as the Fund’s investment
manager and the expenses paid directly by the Fund. Together, the Neuberger Berman affiliates manage approximately $508 billion in total assets (as of 12/31/2024) and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.
NBIA may engage one or more of foreign affiliates that are not registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“participating affiliates”) in accordance with applicable SEC no-action letters.
As participating affiliates, whether or not registered with the SEC, the affiliates may provide designated investment personnel to associate
with NBIA as “associated persons” of NBIA and perform specific services for NBIA, including services for the Funds, which may involve, among other
services, advisory services and portfolio management, research and/or placing orders for securities and other instruments. The designated employees
of a participating affiliate act for NBIA and are subject to certain NBIA policies
and procedures as well as supervision and periodic monitoring by NBIA. The Funds will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result
of any such arrangements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Funds'
investment advisory agreements is available in the Funds' Form N-CSR for the period ending October 31, 2024.
Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended to
give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state
securities laws that have not been waived. The Funds enter into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others,
the Manager, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third party beneficiaries
of, those contractual arrangements. Where shareholders are not third party beneficiaries of contractual arrangements, those
contractual arrangements cannot be enforced by shareholders acting on their own behalf.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund’s Investor Class were 0.45% of
its average daily net assets.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund’s Investor Class were 0.75% of
its average daily net assets.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund’s Investor Class
were 0.41% of its average daily net assets.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about
each Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager, and each Portfolio Manager’s ownership
of shares in the Fund(s) that he manages.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund
Thanos Bardas is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 1998 and is the Co-Head
of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. In addition, he is a member of the Asset Allocation Committee.
Mr. Bardas has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2008.
David M. Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He re-joined the firm in January 2003 and
is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. Mr. Brown has been a Portfolio Manager of the
Fund since February 2008.
Nathan Kush is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2001. He is a member
of the portfolio management team for the firm’s Global Investment Grade strategies. Additionally, he is involved
in investment grade credit research and, previously, covered the banking, brokerage, finance, insurance and REIT sectors. Mr.
Kush has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2017.
Olumide Owolabi is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2003. He is the Head
of the U.S. Rates team and has investment and research responsibilities across global interest rate and inflation
markets. Mr. Owolabi has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2023.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
Joseph Lind, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He has co-managed the Fund since July 2018
and is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he served as a high yield strategy
portfolio manager at another asset manager from 2012 to 2018.
Christopher Kocinski, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Kocinski joined the firm in 2006 and
is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Before being named co-portfolio manager to the Fund in 2019, Mr.
Kocinski was co-director of non-investment grade credit research and a senior research analyst for the Manager.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
James L. Iselin is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since 2007. Mr. Iselin joined the
firm in 2006. Previously, Mr. Iselin was a portfolio manager for another investment adviser
working in the Municipal Fixed Income group since 1993.
S. Blake Miller, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Miller has managed the Fund since 2010.
Mr. Miller joined the firm in 2008. Prior to this, he was the head of Municipal Fixed Income investing
at another firm where he worked since 1986.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Investor Class shares
for the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the
financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along
with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund—Investor Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 156%, 185%, 226%, 243% and 186% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Investor Class shares
for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the
Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the
Fund's most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund—Investor Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense offset arrangements had not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Investor Class shares
for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the
Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the
Fund's most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund—Investor Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
Your Investment
Because Investor Class shares of the Funds do not have a sales charge, the price you
pay for each share of a Fund is the Fund’s net asset value per share. Similarly, because the Funds do not charge fees for selling
shares, your Fund pays you the full share price (net asset value) when you sell shares.
If you use a financial intermediary, that provider may charge fees that are in addition
to those described in this prospectus.
The Funds are generally open for business every day the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”)
is open. The Exchange is generally closed on all national holidays and Good Friday; Fund shares will not be
priced on those days or other days on which the Exchange is scheduled to be closed. When the Exchange is closed for unusual reasons,
Fund shares will generally not be priced although a Fund may decide to remain open and price Fund shares and in such a case,
the Fund would post a notice on www.nb.com.
Each Fund normally calculates its share price on each day the Exchange is open once
daily as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In the event of an emergency or other disruption in trading on the Exchange, a Fund’s share
price would still normally be determined as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In general, every buy or sell order you place will go
through at the next share price calculated after your order has been received in proper form (see “Maintaining Your Account” for information
on placing orders). If you use a financial intermediary, you should check with that provider to find out by what time
your order must be received so that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when your financial intermediary accepts orders,
it is possible that a Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to buy or sell shares.
Because foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed, the value
of foreign securities owned by a Fund could change on days when you cannot buy or sell Fund shares. Remember, though, any purchase
or sale takes place at the next share price calculated after your order is received in proper form.
The net asset value per share of Investor Class of a Fund is the total value of Fund
assets attributable to shares of that class minus the liabilities attributable to that class, divided by the total number
of shares outstanding for that class. Because the value of a Fund's portfolio securities changes every business day, its
share price usually changes as well.
A Fund generally values its investments based upon their last reported sale prices,
market quotations, or estimates of value provided by an independent pricing service as of the time as of which the Fund’s
share price is calculated. Debt securities and certain derivative instruments that do not trade on an exchange generally
are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager on the basis of market quotations
and in the case of derivatives, market data about the underlying investments. Short-term securities held
by a Fund may be valued on the basis of amortized cost, unless other factors indicate that amortized cost is not
an accurate estimate of the security’s value. Equity securities (including securities issued by ETFs) and exchange-traded
derivative instruments held by a Fund generally are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager
at the last reported sale price or official closing price or, if there is no reported sale quoted on a principal
exchange or market for that security or official closing price, on the basis of market quotations.
Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective
fund’s daily calculated net asset value per share. The prospectuses for these funds explain the circumstances
under which the funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
If a valuation for a security is not available from an independent pricing service
or if the Manager believes in good faith that the valuation does not reflect the amount a Fund would receive on a current sale
of that security, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available,
the Fund may use a fair value estimate made according to methods approved by the Manager. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Board of Trustees designated the Manager as the Fund’s
valuation designee. As the Fund’s valuation designee, the Manager is responsible for determining fair value in good
faith for any and all Fund investments. A Fund may also use these methods to value certain types of illiquid
securities. Fair value pricing generally will be used if the market in which a portfolio security trades closes early or if
trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time as of which a Fund’s share
price is calculated.
A Fund may also fair value securities that trade in a foreign market if significant
events that appear likely to affect the value of those securities occur between the time the foreign market closes and the
time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. Significant events may include (1) corporate actions or announcements
that affect a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3)
natural disasters or armed conflicts that affect a country or region, or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations.
For certain foreign assets, after the relevant foreign markets have closed, a third-party
vendor supplies evaluated, systematic fair value pricing based upon analysis of historical correlation of multiple
factors. In the case of both foreign equity and foreign income securities, in the absence of precise information about
the market values of these foreign securities as of the time as of which a Fund's share price is calculated, the Manager
has determined on the basis of available data that prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer
to the prices a Fund could realize on a current sale than are the prices of those securities established at the close of
the foreign markets in which the securities primarily trade. Please see the Funds' Statement of Additional Information
for additional detail about the Funds' fair valuation practices.
The effect of using fair value pricing is that a portfolio security will be priced
based on the subjective judgment of the Manager, operating under procedures approved by the Manager, instead of being priced
using valuations from an independent pricing service. Fair value pricing can help to protect a Fund by reducing
arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing will completely
prevent dilution of a Fund’s net asset value by such traders.
Trading in securities on many foreign exchanges is normally completed before the Fund
calculates its net asset value. In addition, foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed. As a result,
the value of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change at times or on days when the Fund’s net asset value
is not calculated, when Fund shares do not trade, and when sales and redemptions of Fund shares do not occur.
If you purchase Investor Class shares directly from the Distributor, you have access
to the services listed below. If you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, consult that provider for information about
investment services.
Systematic Investments—This plan lets you take advantage of dollar-cost averaging by establishing periodic
investments of $100 or more a month. You choose the schedule and amount. Your investment money may
come from an eligible money market fund outside the fund family or your bank account.
Systematic Withdrawals—This plan lets you arrange withdrawals of at least $100 from a fund in the fund family
on a periodic schedule. You can also set up payments to distribute the full value of an account
over a given time. While this service can be helpful to many investors, be aware that it could generate capital gains or losses.
Electronic Bank Transfers—When you sell Fund shares, you can have the money sent to your bank account electronically
rather than mailed to you as a check. Please note that your bank must be a member
of the Automated Clearing House, or ACH, system.
Internet Access—At www.nb.com, you can make transactions, check your account and access a wealth of
information.
FUNDfone®— Get up-to-date performance and account information through our 24-hour automated
service by calling 800-335-9366. If you already have an account with us, you can place orders to buy,
sell, or exchange fund shares.
Systematic investing allows you to take advantage of the principle of dollar-cost
averaging. When you make regular investments of a given amount—say, $100 a month—you will end up investing at different share prices over time. When the share price is high, your $100 buys fewer shares; when the share price is
low, your $100 buys more shares. Over time, this can help lower the average price you pay per share.
Dollar-cost averaging cannot guarantee you a profit or protect you from losses in
a declining market. But it can be beneficial over the long term.
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions—Each Fund pays out to its shareholders any net investment income and net realized
capital gains. Ordinarily, each Fund declares income dividends daily and pays them monthly and declares and makes
any capital gain distributions once a year (usually in December). Gains from foreign currency transactions, if any, are
normally distributed in December. A Fund may make additional distributions, if necessary, to avoid federal income or excise taxes.
Unless you designate otherwise, your distributions, if any, from a Fund will be reinvested
in additional shares of the distributing Class of the Fund. However, if you prefer, you may receive all distributions in cash
or reinvest capital gain distributions but receive income dividends in cash. Distributions taken in cash can be sent to you by
check or by electronic transfer to a designated bank account or invested in shares of the same Class of another fund in the fund family
with the same account registration. To take advantage of one of these options, please indicate your choice on your application
or contact a Fund in writing or by phone if you bought shares directly. If you use a financial intermediary, you must consult
it about whether your income dividends and capital gain distributions from a Fund will be reinvested in additional shares of
the distributing Class of the Fund or paid to you in cash.
How distributions are taxed—Except for tax-advantaged retirement plans and accounts and other tax-exempt investors
(collectively, “exempt investors”) and except as noted in the next sentence, all Fund distributions
you receive are generally taxable to you, regardless of whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in additional
Fund shares. The part of Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund's income dividends that it reports to its shareholders
in writing as “exempt-interest dividends” (essentially, the part of its dividends equal to the excess of its interest income
that is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes over certain amounts disallowed as deductions) is excludable from
its shareholders' gross income for those purposes. Accordingly, shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
are not appropriate investments for exempt investors.
Fund distributions to individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), Roth IRAs, and qualified
retirement plans generally are tax-free. Eventual withdrawals from a Roth IRA also may be tax-free, while withdrawals from
other retirement plans and accounts are subject to federal income tax.
Distributions of taxable income dividends and net realized capital gains, if any,
generally are taxable to shareholders other than exempt investors in the year they are received. In some cases, however, distributions
received in January are treated for federal income tax purposes as if they had been paid the previous December 31. Your tax statement
(see “Taxes and You”) will help clarify this for you.
Distributions of net investment income (other than exempt-interest dividends) and
the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss (“dividends”) are taxed as ordinary income. It is not expected
that any of the Funds' distributions will be attributable to “qualified dividend income” (generally, dividends a Fund receives
on stock of most U.S. and certain foreign corporations), which are subject to maximum federal income tax rates for individual
and certain other non-corporate shareholders (each, an “individual shareholder”) that are lower than the maximum rates for ordinary
income (“lower maximum rates”).
Distributions of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain
over net short-term capital loss) are taxed as long-term capital gain and for individual shareholders are subject to the lower maximum rates.
The tax treatment of capital gain distributions from a Fund depends on how long the Fund held the securities it sold
that generated the gain, not on when you bought your shares of the Fund or whether you reinvested your distributions.
As noted above, exempt-interest dividends from Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate
Bond Fund are excludable from federal gross income. However, part of Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond
Fund's exempt-interest dividends may be a Tax Preference Item, which could have adverse tax consequences for a high-income
individual who otherwise would owe comparatively little in federal income tax. Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate
Bond Fund also may invest in securities or use techniques that produce taxable income; your tax statement will identify any distributions
of income of this type.
If, for any taxable year, a Fund distributes an amount that exceeds its current earnings
and profits (generally, the sum of its investment company taxable income plus net capital gain for that year)—which might result from, among other things, the difference between book and tax accounting treatment of certain derivatives and foreign
currency transactions—plus its accumulated earnings and profits, if any, that excess generally will be treated as
a return of capital, which will reduce your tax basis in your Fund shares. To the extent that excess is greater than your tax basis, it
will be treated as gain from a redemption of your shares (taxed as described below).
Shareholders should review any notice that accompanies a payment of dividends or other
distributions to determine whether any portion of the payment represents a return of capital rather than a distribution of
a Fund’s net income and/or gains.
How share transactions are taxed—When you sell (redeem) or exchange Fund shares, you generally will realize a taxable
gain or loss. An exception, once again, applies to exempt investors. For individual shareholders,
any capital gain recognized on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares that have been held for more than one year will
qualify for the lower maximum rates.
Additional tax—An individual shareholder’s distributions from a Fund (other than exempt-interest dividends) and net gains recognized on redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares are subject to a 3.8% federal
tax on the lesser of (1) the individual’s “net investment income” (which generally includes distributions from a Fund and net gains
from the disposition of Fund shares) or (2) the excess of the individual’s “modified adjusted gross income” over a specified threshold
amount. This tax is in addition to any other taxes due on that income. You should consult your own tax professional regarding
the effect, if any, this provision may have on your investment in Fund shares.
The taxes you actually owe on taxable Fund distributions and share transactions can
vary with many factors, such as your marginal tax bracket, how long you held your shares and whether you owe federal
alternative minimum tax.
How can you figure out your tax liability on Fund distributions and share transactions?
One helpful tool is the tax statement that we or your financial intermediary sends you after the end of each calendar
year. It details the distributions you received during the past year and shows their tax status. That statement,
or a separate statement from us or your financial intermediary, also covers your share transactions.
Most importantly, consult your tax professional. Everyone’s tax situation is different,
and your tax professional should be able to help you answer any questions you may have.
A Fund is required to withhold at the backup withholding rate from the money you are
otherwise entitled to receive from its taxable distributions and redemption proceeds (regardless of whether you
realized a gain or loss) if you are an individual shareholder who fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number
to the Fund. Withholding at that rate also is required from a Fund’s taxable distributions to which you are otherwise
entitled if you are an individual shareholder and the Internal Revenue Service tells us that you are subject to backup
withholding (1) for failing to properly report the receipt of interest or dividend income or (2) for any other reason.
If you use a financial intermediary, you must supply your signed taxpayer identification
number form (generally, Form W-9) to your financial intermediary, and it must supply its taxpayer identification
number to us, in order to avoid backup withholding.
Buying Shares Before a Distribution
The money a Fund earns, either as net investment income or as net realized capital
gains, is reflected in its share price until it distributes the money. At that time, the amount of the distribution is deducted
from the share price. Because of this, if you buy shares of a Fund just before it makes such a distribution of taxable
income, you will end up getting some of your investment back as a taxable distribution. You can avoid this situation by
waiting to invest until after the record date for the distribution.
Generally, if you are an exempt investor, there are no current tax consequences to
you from distributions.
Basis Determination and Reporting
Your basis in Fund shares that you acquired or acquire after December 31, 2011 (collectively,
“Covered Shares”), will be determined in accordance with the Funds' default basis determination method, which
is average cost basis, unless you affirmatively elect in writing (which may be electronic) to use a different basis
determination method acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service. The basis determination method may not be changed with respect
to a redemption (including a redemption that is part of an exchange) of Covered Shares after the settlement date
of the redemption. A Fund must report to the Internal Revenue Service and furnish to its shareholders the basis information
for Covered Shares. See “Additional Tax Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for more information
about the rules regarding basis determination and a Fund’s reporting obligation. You should consult with your
tax professional to determine the best basis determination method for your tax situation and to obtain more information
about how the basis determination and reporting rules apply to you.
Maintaining Your Account
When you buy shares. Instructions for buying shares from Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the Funds' Distributor,
are under “Buying Shares.” See “Financial Intermediaries” if you are buying shares through a
financial intermediary. Whenever you make an initial investment in one of the Funds or add to your existing account (except with
an automatic investment), you will be sent a statement confirming your transaction if you bought shares directly. Investors who
bought shares through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary for information regarding transaction
statements. Investment checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank. We cannot accept cash, money orders, starter checks, travelers checks,
or other cash equivalents. We do accept Bank Checks and Cashier’s Checks from U.S. Financial Institutions.
When you purchase shares, you will receive the next share price to be calculated after
your order has been received in proper form. Purchase orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Funds' transfer agent
has received payment for the shares. In the case of certain institutional investors, the Distributor will process purchase orders
when received, on the basis of a pre-existing arrangement to make payment by the following morning. In addition, if you have established
a systematic investment program (SIP) with one or more of the Funds, your order is deemed “received in proper form”
on the date you pre-selected on your SIP application for the systematic investments to occur. Dividends normally are first
earned the business day after your purchase order is received in proper form.
Investor Class of each of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income
Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund is closed to new investors. Only certain investors are allowed to purchase Investor
Class shares of such Funds, as follows:
■
Grandfathered Investors may purchase Investor Class shares of Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund. “Grandfathered Investors” are investors in any fund in the Neuberger Berman family of funds who hold their shares directly with
Neuberger Berman, who established accounts in Investor Class or Trust Class shares prior to March 1, 2008, and who have
continuously maintained an account directly with Neuberger Berman since that date. A Grandfathered Investor’s “immediate
family” (his or her spouse—or equivalent if recognized under local law—and his or her children under the age of 21) are also deemed “Grandfathered Investors.” A Grandfathered Investor’s mother, father, sister, or brother may open
a custodial account for the Grandfathered Investor’s minor children. Grandfathered Investors do not include any financial intermediaries
who have accounts with a Fund or shareholders who invest through such financial intermediaries.
■
Financial intermediaries who established accounts in Investor Class shares of Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund prior to March 1, 2008, and who have continuously maintained an account in Investor Class shares
of the Fund, may continue to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund. Self-directed retail shareholders who
hold their shares through a financial intermediary’s account with Neuberger Berman must maintain such account in Investor
Class shares of the Fund with the same financial intermediary to continue to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund.
■
Financial intermediaries who established accounts in Investor Class shares of Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund prior to June 15, 2009, and who have continuously maintained an account in Investor
Class shares of the Fund, may continue to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund. Self-directed retail shareholders who
hold their shares through a financial intermediary’s account with Neuberger Berman must maintain such account in Investor
Class shares of the Fund with the same financial intermediary to continue to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund.
■
Financial intermediaries who established accounts in Investor Class shares of Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund prior to July 26, 2010, and who have continuously maintained an account in Investor Class shares of the Fund, may continue to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund. Self-directed retail shareholders who hold their shares through a financial intermediary’s account with Neuberger Berman must maintain such account
in Investor Class shares of the Fund with the same financial intermediary to continue to purchase Investor Class shares of the Fund.
Shareholders who, by virtue of an investment made through a financial intermediary,
are permitted to invest in a class that is generally closed to new investors may have to continue to participate in the same
program of fees and services at that financial intermediary to maintain their ability to purchase that class. Please check with your
financial intermediary for more information.
When you sell shares. If you bought your shares from the Distributor, instructions for selling shares are
under “Selling Shares.” See “Financial Intermediaries” if you want to sell shares you purchased through a
financial intermediary. You can place an order to sell some or all of your shares at any time. When you sell shares, you will receive
the next share price to be calculated after your order has been received in proper form. Redemption orders are deemed “received in
proper form” when the Fund’s transfer agent has received your order to sell. Dividends are earned through the business day on
which your redemption order is received in
proper form. Investors redeeming in full will receive earned dividends on the day
they sell their shares; investors redeeming a portion of their shares will receive earned dividends on the next applicable monthly
distribution date.
In some cases, you will have to place your order to sell shares in writing, and you
will need a Medallion signature guarantee (see “Medallion Signature Guarantees”).
When selling shares in an account that you do not intend to close, remember to leave
at least $1,000 worth of shares in the account. Otherwise, the Fund has the right to request that you bring the balance back
up to the minimum level. If you have not done so within 60 days, we may close your account and redeem the proceeds.
The Funds reserve the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Funds do not redeem
in kind under normal circumstances, but would do so when the Manager or the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the
best interests of a Fund’s shareholders as a whole or the transaction is otherwise effected in accordance with procedures adopted
by the Board of Trustees.
Uncashed checks—We do not pay interest on uncashed checks from Fund distributions or the sale of Fund
shares. We are not responsible for checks after they are sent to you. After allowing a reasonable time
for delivery, please call us if you have not received an expected check. While we cannot track a check, we may make arrangements
for a replacement. We may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state government under the state’s
unclaimed or abandoned property law.
Statements and Confirmations—Please review your account statements and confirmations carefully as soon as you receive
them. You must contact us within 30 days if you have any questions or notice any discrepancies.
Otherwise, you may adversely affect your right to make a claim about the transaction(s).
When you exchange shares — You can move an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in
the fund family (or to an eligible money market fund outside the fund family) through an exchange
of shares, or by electing to use your cash distributions from one fund to purchase shares of the other fund. There are three
things to remember when making an exchange:
■
both accounts must have the same registration
■
you will need to observe any eligibility requirements, including minimum investment
and minimum account balance requirements for the fund accounts involved
■
because an exchange is treated as a sale (redemption) of the exchanged shares for
federal income tax purposes, consider any tax consequences before placing your order.
The exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor that we believe is trying
to “time the market” or is otherwise making exchanges that we judge to be excessive. Frequent exchanges can interfere with Fund
management and affect costs and performance for other shareholders. Contact your financial intermediary to see if
it allows you to take advantage of the fund exchange program and for its policies to effect an exchange.
In addition, Grandfathered Investors may exchange into Class A shares of a fund in
the fund family without paying any applicable sales charges.
See “Additional Exchange Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for
information regarding eligible money market funds outside the fund family.
Placing orders by telephone — If you use a financial intermediary, contact your financial intermediary for its
policies regarding telephone orders.
Fund investors have the option of placing telephone orders, subject to certain restrictions.
This option is available to you unless you indicate on your account application (or in a subsequent letter to us or to SS&C
Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.) that you do not want it.
Whenever we receive a telephone order, we take steps to make sure the order is legitimate.
These may include asking for identifying information and recording the call. As long as a Fund and its representatives
take reasonable measures to verify the authenticity of calls, investors may be responsible for any losses caused by unauthorized
telephone orders.
In unusual circumstances, it may be difficult to place an order by phone. In these
cases, consider sending your order by express delivery. You may also use FUNDfone® or visit our website at www.nb.com.
Proceeds from the sale of shares — The proceeds from the shares you sell are typically sent out the next business day
after your order is executed, and nearly always within seven days regardless of payment type.
When you sell shares through your financial intermediary, contact your provider to find out when proceeds will be sent to you.
There are two cases in which proceeds may be delayed beyond this time:
■
in unusual circumstances where the law allows additional time if needed
■
if a check you wrote to buy shares has not cleared by the time you sell those shares;
clearance may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.
If you think you may need to sell shares soon after buying them, you can avoid the
check clearing time by investing by wire.
The Funds do not issue certificates for shares. If you have share certificates from
prior purchases, the only way to redeem them is by sending in the certificates. If you lose a certificate, you will incur a fee before
any transaction can be processed.
The Funds typically expect to meet redemption requests, under both normal and stressed
market conditions, by redeeming cash and cash equivalent portfolio holdings and/or selling portfolio securities or other
instruments. As described further above and in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, the Funds also reserve the right to
redeem an investor’s shares in kind (i.e., providing investors with portfolio securities instead of cash), in whole or in part
to meet redemption requests in stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
The Funds reserve the right to pay in kind for redemptions. A Fund also may elect
to honor a shareholder’s request for the Fund to pay in kind for redemptions in an attempt to manage any liquidity needs, to manage
and optimize its portfolio composition, to offset transaction costs associated with portfolio transactions, and/or to more efficiently
manage its portfolio. The securities provided to investors in an in-kind redemption may be a pro-rata portion of the Fund’s
portfolio or a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio selected by the Manager based upon various circumstances and subject
to the Fund’s policies and procedures and any applicable laws or regulations. If the securities provided to investors in an
in-kind redemption are a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio, it will only include securities that have been disclosed in
the Fund's most recent public portfolio holdings disclosure.
Redemptions in kind may cause you to incur transaction costs to the extent you dispose
of the securities redeemed in kind and the value of the securities redeemed in kind may decrease between the time of redemption
and the time of such sale. The Funds may also borrow under any available line of credit and other available methods to meet
redemption requests in both normal and stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
Other policies — Under certain circumstances, which may include normal and stressed market conditions,
the Funds reserve the right to:
■
suspend the offering of shares
■
reject any exchange or purchase order
■
suspend or reject future purchase orders from any investor who has not provided timely
payment to settle a purchase order
■
change, suspend, or revoke the exchange privilege
■
suspend the telephone order privilege
■
satisfy an order to sell Fund shares with securities rather than cash
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when trading on the Exchange is restricted, or as otherwise permitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange or the bond market is closed
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange, the Federal Reserve or the bond market closes early (e.g.,
on the eve of a major holiday or because of a local emergency, such as a blizzard)
■
change investment minimums or other requirements for buying and selling, or waive
any minimums or requirements for certain investors
■
remain open and process orders to purchase or sell Fund shares when the Exchange is
closed.
Important information regarding unclaimed/abandoned property — If your financial intermediary (or, if you bought your shares directly, the Distributor) is unable to locate you, then it is required by
law to determine whether your account(s) must be
deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned.” Your financial intermediary (or the Distributor)
is required to transfer (or escheat) unclaimed or abandoned property to the appropriate state government in accordance
with state law. Your account(s) may also be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned” and subsequently transferred to the appropriate
state government if no activity (as defined by that state) occurs within the account(s) during the period of time specified by
state law or if checks related to the account(s) remain uncashed. Your last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your financial intermediary (or the Distributor)
maintains a correct address for your account(s). An incorrect address may cause your account statements and other mailings
to be returned as undeliverable. Neither the Distributor nor a Fund nor its transfer agent will be liable to investors or their
representatives for good faith compliance with state unclaimed or abandoned property (escheatment) laws. If you use a financial intermediary,
contact that provider regarding applicable state escheatment laws.
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the plan, the Fund’s Investor Class pays the Fund's Distributor a fee
at an annual rate of 0.25% of its average net assets to compensate financial intermediaries for providing distribution
related services to the Fund and/or administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The Distributor may also
retain part of this fee as compensation for providing these services. These fees increase the cost of investment.
Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over the long term they could result in
higher overall costs than other types of sales charges.
Medallion Signature Guarantees
You may need a Medallion signature guarantee when you sell shares directly or through
a financial intermediary. A Medallion signature guarantee is a guarantee that your signature is authentic.
Medallion signature guarantees are required for a variety of transactions including
requests for changes to your account or to the instructions for distribution of proceeds. We reserve the right
to require a Medallion signature guarantee on any transaction at our discretion.
Most banks, brokers, and other financial institutions can provide you with one. Some
may charge a fee; others may not, particularly if you are a customer of theirs.
A notarized signature from a notary public is not a Medallion signature guarantee.
The Investor Class shares available in this prospectus may be purchased through certain
financial intermediaries such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers.
The fees and policies outlined in this prospectus are set by the Funds and by the
Distributor. However, if you use a financial intermediary, most of the information you will need for managing your investment
will come from that provider. This includes information on how to buy and sell shares, investor services,
and additional policies.
If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider to buy or sell shares of
the Funds described in this prospectus.
Most financial intermediaries allow you to take advantage of the fund exchange program,
which is designed for moving an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in the fund family
if made available by that financial intermediary through an exchange of shares.
In exchange for the services it offers, your financial intermediary may charge fees
that are in addition to those described in this prospectus.
Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries
The Distributor and/or its affiliates pay additional compensation, out of their own
resources and not as an expense of the Funds, to certain financial intermediaries, including affiliates, in connection
with the sale, distribution, retention and/or servicing of Fund shares. The amount of these payments may be substantial and
may differ among financial intermediaries based on, for example, the level or type of services provided by a
financial intermediary. These payments are in addition to any fees paid to compensate financial intermediaries for providing
distribution related services to the Funds and/or administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders. These arrangements
are separately negotiated between the Distributor and/or its affiliates, and the recipients of these
payments or their affiliates. If your
financial intermediary receives such payments, these payments may provide an incentive
for the financial intermediary to make the Funds' shares available to you or recommend the Funds. If you have purchased
shares of a Fund through a financial intermediary, please speak with your financial intermediary to learn more
about any payments it receives from the Distributor and/or its affiliates, as well as fees and/or commissions the financial
intermediary charges. You should also consult disclosures made by your financial intermediary at the time of purchase.
Any such payments by the Distributor or its affiliates will not change the net asset value or the price of
a Fund's shares. For more information, please see the Funds' Statement of Additional Information.
Information Required from New Accounts
To help the U.S. government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities,
federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each
person who opens an account.
When you open an account, we (which may include your financial intermediary acting
on our behalf) will require your name, address, date of birth, and social security number or other taxpayer identification
number. We may also require other identifying documents. If we cannot verify the information you supply to us
or if it is incomplete, we may be required to return your funds or redeem your account.
If you are a direct investor buying or selling shares, instructions are provided in
the following charts. Investors buying or selling shares through a financial intermediary should contact it for instructions.
|
|
|
|
Your first investment must be at least $2,000
Additional investments can be as little as $100
We cannot accept cash, money orders, starter checks,
travelers checks, or other cash equivalents
We do accept Bank Checks and Cashier’s Checks from U.S.
Financial Institutions
You will be responsible for any losses or fees resulting
from a bad check; if necessary, we may sell other shares
belonging to you in order to cover these losses
All checks must be made out to “Neuberger Berman
Funds”; we cannot accept checks made out to you or
other parties and signed over to us
|
Fill out the application and enclose your check
If regular first-class mail, send to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
P.O. Box 219189
Kansas City, MO 64121-9189
If express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail, send
to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407
|
|
All wires must be for at least $1,000
|
Before wiring any money, call 800-877-9700 for an order
confirmation
Have your financial institution send your wire to SS&C
Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
Include your name, the Fund name, your account number
and other information as requested
|
Exchanging from another
fund
|
All exchanges must be for at least $1,000
Both accounts involved must be registered in the same
name, address and taxpayer identification number
An exchange order cannot be cancelled or changed once it
has been placed
|
Call 800-877-9700 to place your order
To place an order using FUNDfone®, call 800-335-9366
or visit www.nb.com
|
|
We do not accept phone orders for a first investment
Additional investments must be for at least $1,000
Additional shares will be purchased when your order is
received in proper form
Not available on retirement accounts
|
Call 800-877-9700 to notify us of your purchase
Immediately follow up with a wire or electronic transfer
To add shares to an existing account using FUNDfone®,
call 800-335-9366 or visit www.nb.com
|
Setting up systematic
investments
|
All investments must be at least $100
|
Call 800-877-9700 for instructions
|
Selling Shares
|
|
|
|
Unless you instruct us otherwise, we will mail your
proceeds by check to the address of record, payable to the
registered owner(s)
If you have designated a bank account on your
application, you can request that we wire the proceeds to
this account; if the total balance of all of your Neuberger
Berman fund accounts is less than $100,000, you will be
charged an $8.00 wire fee
You can also request that we send the proceeds to your
designated bank account by electronic transfer (ACH)
without a fee
You may need a Medallion signature guarantee
Please also supply us with your e-mail address and
daytime telephone number when you write to us in the
event we need to reach you
|
Send us a letter requesting us to sell shares signed by all
registered owners; include your name, account number,
the Fund name, the dollar amount or number of shares
you want to sell, and any other instructions
If regular first-class mail, send to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
P.O. Box 219189
Kansas City, MO 64121-9189
If express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail, send
to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407
|
|
For amounts of up to $100,000
Not available if you have changed the address on the
account in the past 15 days
|
Write a request to sell shares as described above
Call 800-877-9700 to obtain the appropriate fax number
|
|
All phone orders to sell shares must be for at least $1,000
unless you are closing out an account
Not available if you have declined the phone option or are
selling shares in certain retirement accounts (The only
exception is for those retirement shareholders who are at
least 59½ or older and have their birthdates on file)
Not available if you have changed the address on the
account in the past 15 days
|
Call 800-877-9700 to place your order
Give your name, account number, the Fund name, the
dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell, and
any other instructions
To place an order using FUNDfone®, call 800-335-9366
or visit www.nb.com
|
Exchanging into another
fund
|
All exchanges must be for at least $1,000
Both accounts involved must be registered in the same
name, address and taxpayer identification number
An exchange order cannot be cancelled or changed once it
has been placed
|
Call 800-877-9700 to place your order
To place an order using FUNDfone®, call 800-335-9366
or visit www.nb.com
|
Setting up systematic
withdrawals
|
Withdrawals must be at least $100
|
Call 800-877-9700 for instructions
|
Retirement Plans and Accounts
We offer investors a number of tax-advantaged plans and accounts for retirement saving:
Traditional IRAs allow money to grow tax-deferred until you take it out, usually at
or after retirement. Contributions are deductible for some investors, but even when they are not, an IRA can be beneficial.
Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth like a traditional IRA, but instead of tax-deductible
contributions, the withdrawals are tax-free for investors who meet certain requirements.
Also available: SEP-IRA, SIMPLE-IRA, Keogh, and other types of plans. Coverdell Education
Savings Accounts (formerly Education IRAs), though not for retirement savings, also are available. Consult your
tax professional to find out which types of plans or accounts may be beneficial for you. Call 800-877-9700 for information
on any Neuberger Berman retirement plan or account.
Generally, retirement plans and accounts should not invest in Neuberger Berman Municipal
Intermediate Bond Fund.
If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider about the services and
information it provides on the Internet.
Investors with Internet access can enjoy many valuable and time-saving features by
visiting us at www.nb.com.
The site offers more complete information on our funds, including current performance
data, portfolio manager interviews, tax information plus educational articles, news and analysis. You can
tailor the site so it serves up information that is most relevant to you.
As a Fund shareholder who bought shares directly from the Distributor, you can use
the web site to access account information and even make secure transactions—24 hours a day.
Frequent purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares (“market-timing activities”)
can interfere with effective Fund management and adversely affect Fund performance in various ways, including by requiring
a portfolio manager to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time or price, by increasing costs (such as
brokerage costs) to a Fund by requiring a portfolio manager to effect more frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
and possibly by requiring a portfolio manager to keep a larger portion of Fund assets in cash, all of which could adversely affect
the interests of long-term shareholders. To discourage market-timing activities by Fund shareholders, the Board of Trustees has
adopted market-timing policies and has approved the procedures of the principal underwriter for implementing those policies.
As described earlier in this prospectus, pursuant to such policies, the exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor
that is believed to be “timing the market” or is otherwise making exchanges judged to be excessive. In furtherance of these policies,
under certain circumstances, the Funds reserve the right to reject any exchange or purchase order; change, suspend or revoke
the exchange privilege; or suspend the telephone order privilege.
The Manager applies the Funds' policies and procedures with respect to market-timing
activities by monitoring trading activity in the Funds, identifying excessive trading patterns, and warning or prohibiting shareholders
who trade excessively from making further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares. These policies and procedures are applied
consistently to all shareholders. Although the Funds make efforts to monitor for market-timing activities, the ability of the
Funds to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of omnibus accounts maintained by brokers, retirement plan
accounts and other approved financial intermediaries may be limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary
maintains the underlying shareholder accounts. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Funds will be able to eliminate
all market-timing activities.
Portfolio Holdings Policy
A description of the Funds' policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure
of the Funds' portfolio holdings is available in the Funds' Statement of Additional Information.
The complete portfolio holdings for each Fund are available at www.nb.com/holdings
(click on the tab with the name of the relevant Fund). The complete portfolio holdings for each Fund are generally posted
15-30 days after each month-end.
Each Fund’s complete portfolio holdings will remain available at this website until
the subsequent month-end holdings have been posted. Complete portfolio holdings for the Funds will also be available in reports
on Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR filed with the SEC. Historical portfolio holdings are available upon request.
Generally, no earlier than five business days after month-end, a Fund may publicly
disclose via various shareholder and public communications, such as portfolio manager commentaries, fact sheets or other marketing
materials, which will be publicly available at www.nb.com, certain portfolio characteristics and partial information
concerning portfolio holdings for the month as of month-end, including but not limited to: up to the top 10 holdings of the Fund
(if the Fund engages in short selling, it may also disclose up to the top 10 short positions); up to the top 10 holdings that contributed
to and/or detracted from performance or were the best and/or worst performers; sector breakdowns or changes to portfolio
composition (e.g., buys and sells). This information will typically remain available at this website until information for
the subsequent month has been posted; however, to comply with Rule 30e-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, quarter-end
information may be retained on this website for each Fund’s previous fiscal year. A Fund may also post intra-month
updates to holdings and certain portfolio characteristics to www.nb.com. Any such intra-month update would be in addition to
and not in lieu of the holdings disclosure policies described above.
Each Fund offers one or more classes of shares that have identical investment programs,
but may have different fee waivers and different arrangements for distribution and shareholder servicing and, consequently,
different expenses. Shares of a class to which a fee waiver applies may not be available to all investors in a Fund. Rather, they will
be made available to investors meeting eligibility criteria outlined in the Prospectuses for such share classes. This prospectus
relates solely to the Investor Class shares of the Funds.
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
If you would like further details on these Funds, you can request a free copy of the
following documents:
Shareholder Reports and Form N-CSR. Additional information about each Fund’s investments is available in each Fund’s
annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR. In each Fund’s annual report,
you will find each Fund’s performance data and a discussion by the Portfolio Managers about strategies and market conditions that
significantly affected each Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find each Fund’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The SAI contains more comprehensive information on each Fund, including: various types of securities and practices, and their risks, investment limitations and additional
policies and information about the Fund’s management and business structure. The SAI is hereby incorporated by reference into
this prospectus, making it legally part of the prospectus.
Investment Manager: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
You can obtain a shareholder report, SAI, and other information such as financial
statements from your financial intermediary, or from:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
800-877-9700
Website: www.nb.com
Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database
on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic
request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Each Fund’s current net asset value per share is made available at: http://www.nb.com/performance.
The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC”
are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund names in this prospectus are either service marks or registered service
marks of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. ©2025 Neuberger Berman BD LLC, distributor. All rights reserved.
SEC File Number: 811-03802
A0107 02/25
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
|
|
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund
|
|
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
|
|
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
|
|
Prospectus February 28, 2025
These securities, like the securities of all mutual funds, have not been approved
or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has not determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Contents
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
Fund Summaries
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund
The Fund seeks to maximize total return consistent with capital preservation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | |
| |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | |
| |
Total annual operating expenses | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement1 | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that
the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. Actual performance
and expenses may be higher or lower.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 156% of the average value of its portfolio. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate including to-be-announced (“TBA”) roll transactions was 156%.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests in a diversified mix of debt securities,
which primarily include government bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities.
The Fund may invest in a broad array of securities, including: securities issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; municipal securities; foreign
securities, including emerging markets; securities issued by supranational entities (e.g., World Bank, IMF); corporate bonds;
mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities; collateralized debt obligations, including collateralized loan obligations; inflation-linked debt securities; and commercial paper. Securities in which the Fund may invest may be issued by domestic and foreign governments,
corporate entities and trusts and may be structured as fixed rate debt, floating rate debt, and debt that may not pay
interest from the time of issuance. The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced
(“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities),
which involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase securities that will be issued
or settled at a later date. The Fund may enter into a TBA agreement and “roll over” such agreement prior to the settlement date by
selling the obligation to purchase the securities set forth in the agreement and entering into a new TBA agreement for future
delivery of pools of mortgage-backed securities.
The debt securities in which the Fund invests primarily are investment grade. The
Fund considers debt securities to be investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated within the four highest categories
by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable
quality.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward foreign
currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.
The Fund normally will not invest more than 15% of its total assets in non-U.S. dollar
denominated securities and, through hedging strategies, will attempt to limit its exposure to currencies other than the
U.S. dollar to 5% of its total assets.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in preferred securities. The Fund may also invest
a significant amount of its assets in U.S. Treasury securities or other money market instruments depending on market conditions.
The Fund normally seeks to maintain its target average duration within one year of
the average duration of the bonds in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. However, depending on market conditions, the
Fund may generally seek to maintain its target average duration within a maximum of two years of the average duration of the
bonds in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in bonds and other debt securities
and other investment companies that provide investment exposure to such debt securities. The Fund will not alter this
policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage
changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
Investment Philosophy and Process
The Portfolio Management Team’s investment philosophy is rooted in the belief that
positive results can be achieved through a consistently applied, risk-managed approach to portfolio management that leverages
the strengths of its fundamental research capabilities, decision-making frameworks, and quantitative risk management tools.
The Portfolio Management Team employs an integrated investment process in managing the Fund.
■
Portfolio Strategy: The Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, which
it monitors on an ongoing basis, including exposures to sectors (such as government, structured debt,
credit, etc.) and duration/yield curve positioning, utilizing internally generated views that are produced by specialty sector
investment teams in conjunction with asset allocation tools.
■
Strategy Implementation: Once the Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund,
the specialty sector investment teams and the Portfolio Management Team determine industry/sub-sector
weightings and make securities selections within the types of securities that the Fund can purchase, such as investment
grade securities and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.
When assessing the value of a particular security, the teams utilize internally generated
research and proprietary quantitatively driven tools and frameworks (including an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal
and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning) to a) establish an internal outlook, b) evaluate the market’s
outlook as it is reflected in asset prices, and c) contrast the two. As part of their fundamental investment analysis, the Portfolio
Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments,
where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party
metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors,
alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the
Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending
on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments,
such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration
of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment
strategy.
The teams will generally purchase securities if their internal outlook suggests a
security is undervalued by the market and sell securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is overvalued by the market.
The goal is to identify and evaluate investment opportunities that others may have missed.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk. CDOs, which include collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), issue classes or “tranches” of securities that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due to interest rate fluctuations, actual defaults, collateral defaults, disappearance of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to CDO securities as a class. The risks of investing in CDOs depend largely on the quality and type of the underlying debt, which may include loans, bonds and mortgages, and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. In addition, CDOs that obtain their exposure through derivative instruments entail the additional risks associated with such instruments. CDOs can be difficult to value, may at times be illiquid, may be highly leveraged (which could make them highly volatile), and may produce unexpected investment results due to their complex structure. In addition, CDOs involve many of the same risks of investing in debt securities and asset-backed securities including, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer. Issuers generally do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured, which increases its credit risk.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely
affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of other portfolio investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful and the Fund may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its debt securities. For this reason, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities
to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and
substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy.
The performance prior to January 18, 2019 is that of the Fund’s Institutional Class, which is not offered through this prospectus. Class R6 would have substantially similar performance to Institutional Class because the classes are invested in the same portfolio of securities. Because Institutional Class has higher expenses than Class R6, its performance typically would have been lower than that of Class R6. Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-877-9700 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
| | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Thanos Bardas (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment
Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), David M. Brown, CFA (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment
Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), Nathan Kush (Managing Director of the Manager), and Olumide Owolabi (Managing Director of the Manager). Messrs. Bardas and Brown have managed the Fund since February 2008, Mr. Kush has managed the Fund since December 2017, and Olumide Owolabi has managed the Fund since February 2023.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form.
Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, retirement
plan administrators, and financial advisers.
Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares. See “Maintaining
Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Class R6 shares.
For certain institutional investors, shares of the Fund may be available directly
from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189),
by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone or exchange (call 800-366-6264 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your
Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming
(selling) shares directly.
The Fund does not impose minimum purchase requirements for Class R6 shares. However,
you should contact your investment provider to determine whether it imposes minimum purchase requirements.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of another class of the Fund through an investment provider
or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may
be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary
for the sale of shares of those other classes of the Fund and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest
by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund or those other classes
of the Fund over another investment. Neuberger Berman does not provide ongoing payments to third parties for any record-keeping, revenue sharing or administrative services in connection with investments in Class R6. To the extent the Fund makes such payments with respect to another class, they can come only out of the assets of that other class.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
The Fund seeks high total return consistent with capital preservation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | |
| |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | |
| |
Total annual operating expenses | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that
the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. Actual performance
and expenses may be higher or lower.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 102% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests mainly in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. dollar-denominated, High-Yield Bonds (as defined below), with an emphasis on debt securities rated below investment grade (commonly
called “junk bonds”). For purposes of this Fund, High-Yield Bonds are generally defined as those debt securities that,
at the time of investment, are rated in the lowest investment grade category (BBB by S&P Global Ratings, Baa by Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or comparably rated by at least one independent credit rating agency) or lower or, if
unrated, determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in floating rate senior secured loans
issued in U.S. dollars by U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. The Fund considers floating
rate senior secured loans to be High-Yield Bonds. The Fund may invest a significant amount of its assets in loans, including
in participation interests in loans.
The Fund normally expects to have a weighted averaged maturity between five and ten
years. The Fund endeavors to manage credit risk through disciplined credit analysis and diversification of credit quality.
The Fund intends to opportunistically rotate quality and sector exposures throughout the credit cycle, maintaining a higher quality
bias in High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic downturn is underway and increasing lower quality
holdings of High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic expansion is underway. With regard to interest
rate risk, the Portfolio Managers are sensitive to the overall duration of the portfolio in relation to its benchmark and
evaluate the duration of potential new portfolio acquisitions in conjunction with their credit analysis. The Fund invests its assets
in a broad range of issuers and industries.
The Portfolio Managers will seek positive returns through in-depth credit research
utilizing proprietary analytics processes to assess the strength of a company’s credit profile, examples of which include but are not
limited to: their ability to pay principal and interest, their cash flow and balance sheet composition, and their market position
relative to competitors. As part of their
fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social
and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information,
the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial
metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process.
As part of this analysis, the Portfolio Managers also regularly engage with the management teams of issuers on issues that the Portfolio
Managers believe are material to the credit risk of an issuer. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of
integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply
to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents.
The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact”
or “sustainable” investment strategy.
In addition, the Portfolio Managers analyze and adjust weightings based on general
and sector-specific economic and market conditions, while seeking to diversify across industries, companies and investment
size.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors, industries and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward
foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds
(“ETFs”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.
The Fund does not normally invest in or continue to hold securities that are in default
or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, but may do so depending on market,
company-specific or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe
have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments. The Fund may also invest in
restricted securities.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including obligations of issuers in emerging market countries, denominated in any
currency, but the Fund normally will not invest more than 20% of its net assets at the time of investment in non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes, in High-Yield Bonds (as defined above) and other investment companies that provide investment exposure
to such bonds. The Fund will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This
test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances
will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for high-yield debt and loan instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation
underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its
investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market
volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to
instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service
providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus.
Returns would have been lower if Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-877-9700 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
| | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Joseph Lind (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield
of the Manager), and Christopher Kocinski (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield of the Manager). Mr. Lind
has co-managed the Fund since July 2018, and Mr. Kocinski has co-managed the Fund since May 2019.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form.
Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, retirement
plan administrators, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares. See “Maintaining
Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Class R6 shares.
For certain institutional investors, shares of the Fund may be available directly
from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189),
by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone or exchange (call 800-366-6264 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your
Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming
(selling) shares directly.
The Fund does not impose minimum purchase requirements for Class R6 shares. However,
you should contact your investment provider to determine whether it imposes minimum purchase requirements.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of another class of the Fund through an investment provider
or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may
be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary
for the sale of shares of those other classes of the Fund and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest
by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund or those other classes
of the Fund over another investment. Neuberger Berman does not provide ongoing payments to third parties for any record-keeping, revenue sharing or administrative services in connection with investments in Class R6. To the extent the Fund makes such payments with respect to another class, they can come only out of the assets of that other class.
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
The Fund seeks high current income with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | |
| |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | |
| |
Total annual operating expenses1 | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that
the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. Actual performance
and expenses may be higher or lower.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 71% of the average value of its portfolio. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate including to-be-announced (“TBA”) roll transactions was 206%.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund invests primarily in a diversified mix of debt securities.
The Fund may invest in a broad array of securities, including: securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest
by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; inflation-linked debt securities; municipal securities; foreign
securities, including emerging markets; corporate bonds; commercial paper; mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities; and loans.
Securities in which the Fund may invest may be issued by domestic and foreign governments, supranational entities (e.g. World
Bank, IMF), corporate entities and trusts and may be structured as fixed rate debt; floating rate debt; and debt that may not
pay interest from the time of issuance.
While the Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including
investment grade securities, below investment grade securities and unrated securities, and may invest without limit in below investment
grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), under normal market conditions, the Portfolio Managers anticipate that
the Fund's average credit quality will be investment grade. The Fund considers debt securities to be below investment grade
if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency
or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund does not normally invest in or continue
to hold securities that are in default or
have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal,
but may do so depending on market or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio
Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forwards, including
forward foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps, options
on futures and options on interest rate swaps, otherwise known as swaptions.
While the fund may invest without limit in foreign securities, the Fund will invest
primarily in debt securities issued by U.S. corporations or by the U.S. government and any of its agencies. The Fund normally
will not invest more than 30% of its total assets at the time of investment in obligations of issuers in emerging market countries.
The Fund considers emerging market countries to be countries included in the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index - Global
Diversified, the JPMorgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index - Diversified, the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Index
or the JPMorgan Government Bond Index - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, as well as those countries which are
not defined as a High Income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member country by the World Bank.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters
created as part of tender option bond transactions), convertible securities, restricted securities and preferred securities.
The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities),
which involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase securities that will be issued or settled at a later date. The Fund
may enter into a TBA agreement and “roll over” such agreement prior to the settlement date by selling the obligation to purchase
the securities set forth in the agreement and entering into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage-backed
securities. The Fund may also hold cash and short-term securities, including cash equivalents and other debt obligations.
The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity and while the Fund does not
have a target average duration, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio Managers anticipate that the Fund's average duration
will be between two and eight years. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
Investment Philosophy and Process
The Portfolio Management Team’s investment philosophy is rooted in the belief that
positive results can be achieved through a consistently applied, risk-managed approach to portfolio management that leverages
the strengths of its fundamental research capabilities, decision-making frameworks, and quantitative risk management tools.
The Portfolio Management Team employs an integrated investment process in managing the Fund.
■
Portfolio Strategy: The Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, which
it monitors on an ongoing basis, including exposures to sectors (such as government, structured debt,
credit, etc.) and duration/yield curve positioning, utilizing internally generated views that are produced by specialty sector
investment teams in conjunction with asset allocation tools.
■
Strategy Implementation: Once the Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund,
the specialty sector investment teams and the Portfolio Management Team determine industry/sub-sector
weightings and make securities selections within the types of securities that the Fund can purchase, such as investment
grade securities, below investment grade securities, emerging market securities and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.
When assessing the worth of a particular security, the teams utilize internally generated
research and proprietary quantitatively driven tools and frameworks (including an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal
and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning) to a) establish an internal outlook, b) evaluate the market’s
outlook as it is reflected in asset prices, and c) contrast the two. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers
consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments,
where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party
metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors,
alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the
Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending
on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments,
such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration
of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment
strategy.
The teams will generally purchase securities if their internal outlook suggests a
security is undervalued by the market and sell securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is overvalued by the market.
The goal is to identify and evaluate investment opportunities that others may have missed.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer. Issuers generally do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured, which increases its credit risk.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole and there may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest
rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of other portfolio investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful and the Fund may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted
may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its debt securities. For this reason, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and
related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund's use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund's return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy.
Returns would have been lower/higher if the Manager had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-877-9700 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
| | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Thanos Bardas (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment
Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), Ashok Bhatia, CFA (Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income of the Manager), David M. Brown, CFA (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income
of the Manager), Robert Dishner (Managing Director of the Manager) and Thomas Sobanski (Senior Vice President of the Manager). Messrs. Bardas and Brown have managed the Fund since April 2009. Mr. Bhatia has managed the Fund since December 2017. Messrs. Dishner and Sobanski have managed the Fund since December 2024.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form.
Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, retirement
plan administrators, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares. See “Maintaining
Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Class R6 shares.
For certain institutional investors, shares of the Fund may be available directly
from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189),
by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone or exchange (call 800-366-6264 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your
Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming
(selling) shares directly.
The Fund does not impose minimum purchase requirements for Class R6 shares. However,
you should contact your investment provider to determine whether it imposes minimum purchase requirements.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of another class of the Fund through an investment provider
or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may
be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary
for the sale of shares of those other classes of the Fund and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest
by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund or those other classes
of the Fund over another investment. Neuberger Berman does not provide ongoing payments to third parties for any record-keeping, revenue sharing or administrative services in connection with investments in Class R6. To the extent the Fund makes such payments with respect to another class, they can come only out of the assets of that other class.
Descriptions of Certain Practices and Security Types
Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks and other securities
that pay interest or dividends and are convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks. Convertible
securities generally have some features of common stocks and some features of debt securities. In general, a convertible security
performs more like a stock when the underlying stock's price is high relative to the conversion price (because it is assumed
that it will be converted into the stock) and performs more like a debt security when the underlying stock's price is low relative
to the conversion price (because it is assumed that it will mature without being converted). Convertible securities typically pay
an income yield that is higher than the dividend yield of the issuer's common stock, but lower than the yield of the issuer's debt
securities.
Derivatives. A derivative is generally a financial contract the value of which depends on, or
is derived from, changes in the value of one or more “reference instruments,” such as underlying assets (including securities),
reference rates, indices or events. Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, credit, interest rates, commodities, currencies
or currency exchange rates, or related indices. A derivative may also contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the reference
instrument. Derivatives may be traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations, or in private transactions
with other parties in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market with a single dealer or a prime broker acting as an intermediary with
respect to an executing dealer. Derivatives may be used for hedging purposes and non-hedging (or speculative) purposes. Some derivatives
require one or more parties to post “margin,” which means that a party must deposit assets with, or for the benefit of,
a third party, such as a futures commission merchant, in order to initiate and maintain the derivatives position. Margin is typically
adjusted daily, and adverse market movements may require a party to post additional margin.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts (“Forward Contracts”). A forward contract is a contract for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a future date at a fixed price. Forward contracts
are not required to be traded on organized exchanges or cleared through regulated clearing organizations.
Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying asset at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a securities index
or other reference instrument at a future date.
Swaps. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange one or more payments
based, for example, on the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined
reference instruments. Swap transactions generally may be used to obtain exposure to a reference instrument without
owning or taking physical custody of the reference instrument and generally do not involve delivery of the notional
amount of the agreement. Swaps have historically been OTC instruments; however, recent legislation requires
many swaps to be executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing
organization.
There are various types of swaps including, but not limited to, the following: interest
rate swaps (exchanging a floating interest rate for a fixed interest rate); total return swaps (exchanging a floating
interest rate for the total return of a reference instrument); credit default swaps (buying or selling protection against
certain designated credit events); and options on swaps (“swaptions”) (options to enter into a swap agreement).
Emerging Market Countries. Emerging market countries are generally considered to be those countries whose economies
are less developed than the economies of countries such as the United States or most nations
in Western Europe.
Fixed Income Securities. Debt securities may consist of fixed and floating rate obligations of various credit
quality and duration and may be issued by: corporate entities; trusts; domestic issuers, including securities
issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; foreign
issuers, including in emerging markets, and including foreign governments and supranational entities; and municipal issuers, including
within the U.S. and its territories. Such obligations may include: bonds, loans, inflation-linked debt securities, when-issued
and forward-settling securities, commercial paper, mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities, and
hybrid securities (including convertible securities).
Foreign Markets. There are many promising opportunities for investment outside the United States.
Foreign markets can respond to different factors and therefore may follow cycles that are different from
each other. For this reason, many investors put a portion of their portfolios in foreign investments as a way of gaining further diversification.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities. Inflation-linked debt securities are debt securities whose principal value is periodically
adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal
value of inflation-linked debt securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated
with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced.
Loans. Loans are a type of debt security that may be made in connection with, among other
things, recapitalizations, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, dividend issuances and refinancings. The loans in which a Fund
typically invests are structured and administered by a third party that acts as agent for a group of lenders that make
or hold interests in the loan. A Fund may acquire interests in such loans by taking an assignment of all or a portion of a direct interest
in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a participation in an interest in a loan that continues
to be held by another institution.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) typically offer investors
higher yields than other fixed income securities. The higher yields are usually justified
by the weaker credit profiles of these issuers as compared to investment grade issuers. Lower-rated debt securities may include debt
obligations of all types issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporate and governmental entities, including bonds, debentures and notes,
loan interests and preferred stocks that have priority over any other class of stock of the entity as to the distribution of
assets or the payment of dividends.
Municipal Securities. Municipal securities include, among other types of instruments, general obligation
bonds, revenue bonds, private activity bonds, anticipation notes and tax-exempt commercial paper. General
obligation bonds are backed by the full taxing power of the issuing governmental entity. Revenue bonds are backed only by
the income from a specific project, facility, or tax. Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance
various privately operated facilities, and are generally supported only by revenue from those facilities, if any. They are not backed
by the credit of any governmental or public authority. Anticipation notes are issued by municipalities in expectation of future
proceeds from the issuance of bonds or from taxes or other revenues and are payable from those bond proceeds, taxes, or revenues.
Tax-exempt commercial paper is issued by municipalities to help finance short-term capital or operating requirements.
Additional Information about Principal Investment Risks
This section provides additional information about a Fund’s principal investment risks
described in its Fund Summary section. The following risks are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed
importance or potential exposure.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a
security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, with a higher risk of default, or other less favorable characteristics. This may reduce the amount of the Fund’s
distributions. In addition, the Fund may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. The likelihood of a call also may impact the price of a security.
Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk. CDOs, which include collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), issue classes or “tranches”
of securities that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due
to interest rate fluctuations, actual defaults, collateral defaults, disappearance of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of
defaults, and investor aversion to CDO securities as a class. CDOs carry risks including, but not limited to, (i) the possibility that
distributions from the underlying debt securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments, (ii) the quality of the underlying
debt securities may decline in value or default, particularly during periods of economic downturn, or be downgraded, if rated
by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (iii) the Fund may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes
of securities, (iv) the investment return could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models, (v) the risk
of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures, (vi) the manager of the CDO may perform poorly,
(vii) the complex structure may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results, and (viii) the lack of
a readily available secondary market for CDOs. Interest on certain tranches of a CDO may be paid in kind or deferred and capitalized
(paid in the form of obligations of the same type rather than cash), which involves continued exposure to the risk of default with
respect to such payments. The risks of investing in CDOs depend largely on the quality and type of the underlying debt, which
may include loans, bonds and mortgages, and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. In addition, CDOs that obtain
their exposure through derivative instruments entail the additional risks associated with such instruments. CDOs can
be difficult to value, may at times be illiquid, may be highly leveraged (which could make them highly volatile), and may produce unexpected
investment results due to their complex structure. CDOs may also charge fees and expenses, which are in addition to
those of the Fund. In addition, CDOs involve many of the same risks of investing in debt securities and asset-backed securities
including, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality,
or other issuer, usually for purposes such as financing current operations. Issuers generally
do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. A Fund may invest in commercial paper that cannot be resold to the public without
an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected by
changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. Commercial paper is subject to the risk
that the issuer will be unable to issue sufficient
new commercial paper to meet the repayment obligations under its outstanding commercial
paper (commonly referred to as rollover risk). While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid, the Manager
may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have
been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured, which
increases its credit risk, and is usually issued at a discount from their value at maturity.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a
security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the
underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks, and its price may be
as volatile as that of the underlying stock, when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price, and a convertible
security is subject to the market risks of debt securities, and is particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, when the underlying
stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible
securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Because their value can be influenced by many
different factors, convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than the underlying common stocks. Securities
that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities
that are convertible only at the option of the holder.
Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and
are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). Lower-rated debt securities involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Lower-rated debt securities may fluctuate more widely
in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. The credit rating of a company’s convertible securities is generally lower than that of its non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities
are normally considered “junior” securities—that is, the company usually must pay interest on its non-convertible debt securities
before it can make payments on its convertible securities. If the issuer stops paying interest or principal, convertible
securities may become worthless and the Fund could lose its entire investment. To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities
issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small-
and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole. There may also be less trading in small-
or mid-cap securities, which means that buy and sell transactions in those securities could have a larger impact on a security’s
price than is the case with large-cap securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become
less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of
an issuer, factors affecting an issuer directly (such as management changes, labor relations, collapse of key suppliers or customers,
or material changes in overhead costs), factors affecting the industry in which a particular issuer operates (such as competition
or technological advances) and changes in general social, economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default
by an issuer, which may affect a security’s credit quality or value. A downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could
affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities.
Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security,
the more sensitive it is to credit risk. In addition, lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and
may negatively affect a security’s liquidity. Ratings represent a rating agency’s opinion regarding the quality of a security and are not
a guarantee of quality, and do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. In addition, rating agencies may fail
to make timely changes to credit ratings in response to subsequent events and a rating may become stale in that it fails to reflect
changes in an issuer’s financial condition. The credit quality of a security or instrument can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly,
which may negatively impact its liquidity and value. The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement
(for example, guarantees, letters of credit, or bond insurance). Entities providing credit or liquidity support also may be affected
by credit risk. Credit enhancement is designed to help assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against
losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative
to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund is exposed directly or indirectly to foreign currencies, including through
its investments, or invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange
rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Domestic issuers that hold substantial
foreign assets may be similarly affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to factors external to a country’s
economy, which makes the forecasting of currency market movements extremely difficult. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception
of a country’s economy and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central
banks, or supranational entities, such as the International Monetary Fund; or by currency controls or political developments in
the U.S. or abroad. To the extent the Fund
invests or hedges based on the perceived relationship between two currencies, there
is a risk that the correlation between those currencies may not behave as anticipated.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing
in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in
unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, which can magnify the impact of a decline in the value of the reference
instrument underlying the derivative, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives can have the potential
for unlimited losses, for example, where the Fund may be called upon to deliver a security it does not own. Derivatives may at
times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated
price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative
instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There
may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative,
and the reference instrument may not perform as anticipated. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could
render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated
with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no
assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives may
involve fees, commissions, or other costs that may reduce the Fund’s gains or exacerbate losses from the derivatives. In addition,
the Fund’s use of derivatives may have different tax consequences for the Fund than an investment in the reference instruments,
and those differences may increase the amount and affect the timing of income recognition and character of taxable distributions
payable to shareholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy
its distribution requirements. Certain aspects of the regulatory treatment of derivative instruments, including federal income tax,
are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. In October
2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act which regulates the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under
the Investment Company Act (‘‘Rule 18f-4’’). The Funds have adopted a Rule 18f-4 Policy which provides, among other things, that unless the Fund
qualifies as a ‘‘limited derivatives user’’ as defined in Rule 18f-4, the Fund is subject to a comprehensive
derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, and to provide additional
disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. If the Fund qualifies as a limited derivatives user, Rule 18f-4 requires the Fund to have
policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk.
Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the
derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. Counterparty risk may arise because
of market activities and developments, the counterparty’s financial condition (including financial difficulties, bankruptcy,
or insolvency), or other reasons. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund
to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. Counterparty risk is generally thought to be greater with OTC derivatives
than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. However, derivatives that are traded on organized exchanges
and/or through clearing organizations involve the possibility that the futures commission merchant or clearing organization
will default in the performance of its obligations. In addition, during periods of market volatility, such exchanges or clearing organizations
may suspend or limit trading in a derivative, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to
price.
When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral;
these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund
from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other
opportunities as they arise. Derivatives that have margin requirements involve the risk that if the Fund has insufficient cash or eligible
margin securities to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities or other instruments from its
portfolio at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. A relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in substantial losses
to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. The Fund normally will remain obligated to meet margin requirements until a derivatives
position is closed.
Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential
changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.
New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Although the Fund may use derivatives to attempt to hedge against certain risks, the
hedging instruments may not perform as expected and could produce losses.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in
foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward
contracts on currencies. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote
prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which
the counterparty is prepared to buy and the price at which it is prepared to sell).
Futures. There can be no assurance that, at all times, a liquid market will exist for offsetting
a futures contract that the Fund has previously bought or sold and this may result in the inability to close a
futures position when desired. This could be the case if, for example, a futures price has increased or decreased by the
maximum allowable daily limit and there is no buyer (or seller) willing to purchase (or sell) the futures contract that
the Fund needs to sell (or buy) at that limit price. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends
on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund
enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund
to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. Swap transactions generally do not involve delivery of reference instruments or payment
of the notional amount of the contract. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is
limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to
a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit
default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and
cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions
may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an
organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this
may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities are securities of companies that are in financial distress
and that may be in or about to enter bankruptcy or some other legal proceeding. The Fund may not receive
interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs
to protect its investment. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities
involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. The Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment in distressed
securities or may be required to accept cash, securities or other property with a value less than its original investment. The Fund
may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest
on its portfolio holdings. Distressed securities include loans, bonds and notes, many of which are not publicly traded, and may involve
a substantial degree of risk. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities
meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such
securities may be subject to restrictions on resale. In addition, the prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and
erratic market movements and above-average price volatility. It may be difficult to obtain information regarding the financial
condition of a borrower or issuer, and its financial condition may change rapidly. Also, it may be difficult to value such securities and
the spread between the bid-ask prices of such securities may be greater than expected.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks
in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure
to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and
other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries,
organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure;
fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization
or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or
other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. The Fund may have
limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities. In addition, key information about
the issuer, the markets or the local government or economy may be unavailable, incomplete, or inaccurate. As a result,
foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets,
or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, securities
issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory
conditions in foreign countries, as well as currency exchange rates. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is
traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it
conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than
those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may
be more unstable and more likely to
impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on
foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or
impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars,
there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition,
the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible
to local and global changes, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Emerging market countries may
also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently
than U.S. law would. Shareholder claims and legal remedies that are common in the United States may be difficult or
impossible to pursue in many emerging market countries. In addition, due to jurisdictional limitations, matters of comity
and various other factors, U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-U.S. companies
and non-U.S. persons in certain emerging market countries. Most foreign and emerging market companies are not subject to the
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States, which may impact
the availability and quality of information about foreign and emerging market issuers. Securities markets in emerging market countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Additionally, in times of market stress, regulatory
authorities of different emerging market countries may apply varying techniques and degrees of intervention, which can have
an effect on prices. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of
issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings
in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the
issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities
of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions
may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied
broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods
of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments,
may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s
ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. market. Over a
given period of time, foreign securities may underperform U.S. securities—sometimes for years. The Fund could also underperform if it invests in countries or
regions whose economic performance falls short. To the extent that the Fund invests a portion of
its assets in one country, state, region or currency, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value
of the Fund’s investments more than if its investments were not so invested.
The effect of economic instability on specific foreign markets or issuers may be difficult
to predict or evaluate. Some national economies continue to show profound instability, which may in turn affect their international
trading and financial partners or other members of their currency bloc.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio
turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s
performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio
turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation.
The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security
is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation index used will accurately
measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities
may lose value in the event that the actual rate of inflation is different than the rate of the inflation measure. In addition,
any inflation measure used could be discontinued, substituted or changed in a manner that could adversely impact such securities.
Repayment of the original principal upon maturity (as adjusted upward for inflation,
as needed) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed debt securities. For inflation-linked debt securities that
do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the securities repaid at maturity may be less than the original
principal value. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real
interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked
debt security falls when real interest rates rise, (i.e., when nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation),
and rises when real interest rates fall (i.e., when inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates). Interest payments on
inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods
of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
Any increase in the principal value of an inflation-linked debt security is taxable
in the year the increase occurs, even though the security’s holders do not receive cash representing the increase until the security
matures. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed
by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities,
will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such
securities may decline. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable and may be made in response to the supply and demand for credit, changes to government monetary policy and other initiatives, inflation rates, perceptions of risk and other factors. A changing interest rate environment increases certain risks, including the potential for periods of volatility. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration
(i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated
with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price.
For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, a debt security with a duration of two years will decrease in value by approximately 2%.
Thus, the Fund’s sensitivity to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the Fund’s overall duration. Short-term securities
tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates, and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates.
Short-term and long-term interest rates, and interest rates in different countries, do not necessarily move in the same direction
or by the same amount. The link between interest rates and debt security prices tends to be weaker with lower-rated debt securities
than with investment grade debt securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term
interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value
when market rates rise, and produces more income and may increase in value when market rates fall. Whereas ordinary fixed income
securities suffer a decline in value when market rates rise, this phenomenon is exacerbated in the case of inverse floaters,
because when market rates rise, the rate paid by the inverse floater declines, producing greater price and income volatility than a
conventional fixed-rate bond with comparable credit quality and maturity. An investment in an inverse floater involves the risk
of loss of principal and may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform
the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may
make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses. Accordingly, the holder
of an inverse floater could lose more than its principal investment.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the
market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s securities may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including
disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against
the issuer, perceived poor management performance, changes in economic or political conditions or in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. Certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, may have a significant
adverse effect on the value of an issuer’s securities.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more
volatile. Derivatives, short positions, and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and
can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks
of other portfolio investments. For certain instruments or transactions that create leverage, or have embedded leverage, relatively
small market fluctuations may result in large changes in the value of such investments. In addition, the interest and other costs
that the Fund pays to engage in these practices are additional costs borne by the Fund and could reduce or eliminate any net investment
profits. Unless the profits from engaging in these practices exceed the costs of engaging in these practices, the use of leverage
will diminish the investment performance of the Fund compared with what it would have been had the Fund not used leverage. There
can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its
net assets, sometimes by a significant amount. When the Fund uses leverage or utilizes certain of these practices, it may need to
dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy regulatory or other requirements.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment or type of investment
in which the Fund invests is or may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently
can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time. An illiquid investment means any investment that the Fund
reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the
sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Judgment plays a greater role in pricing these investments
than it does in pricing investments having more active markets, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not
be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. The Fund may receive illiquid securities as a result of its investment
in securities involved in restructurings. Certain
investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes
abruptly, particularly during periods of increased market volatility, adverse investor perception, economic uncertainty
or changes in interest rates. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of
securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time, which can be extensive.
An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage
of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. Market participants
attempting to sell the same or a similar investment at the same time as the Fund could decrease the liquidity of such investments,
especially during times of market volatility. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even
an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors,
instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption
proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced
to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may
be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to
sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests
may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established
uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds
7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available
to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow
money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer
or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower,
limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance
highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse
changes in economic or market conditions.
Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive
covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets, although many covenants may be waived or modified with
the consent of a certain percentage of the holders of the loans even if the Fund does not consent. There is a risk that the value
of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to
cover the amount owed on the loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In the
event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further,
in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value
of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral
may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. In addition, if a secured loan
is foreclosed, the Fund may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral
may be difficult to sell and the Fund would bear the risk that the collateral may decline in value while the Fund is holding it. Further,
there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may
need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation, which may increase
the Fund’s operating expenses. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose
the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining
an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee
or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and
obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired
by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor.
When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over
the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct
rights against the borrower. As a participant, the Fund also would be subject to the risk that the lending bank or other party selling
the participation interest would not remit the Fund’s pro rata share of loan payments to the Fund. It may be difficult for the
Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank’s financial condition. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or
may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which
it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
The liquidity of floating rate loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary
market trading in such loans, may vary, sometimes significantly, over time and among individual floating rate loans and loans
may be subject to wide bid/ask spreads.
During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult;
and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.
Courts have held in some situations that loan interests are not “securities,” and
purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not have the benefit of the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Also,
if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer (which is not uncommon in the loan market), the Fund
may, as a result, be unable to sell the issuer’s securities.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities
determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade
debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes
in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected
to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid and also may require a greater degree of judgment to
establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, and may carry higher transaction costs. In particular,
these securities may be issued by smaller companies or by highly indebted companies, which are generally less able than more
financially stable companies to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. Lower-rated debt securities are considered
by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal
and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and
interest. Such securities are susceptible to such a default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and business
developments relating to the issuer, the industry in general, market interest rates and market liquidity. Such securities may
be unsecured or have insufficient collateral and may be subordinated to other creditors, which increases the risk of loss on these
securities. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case
the Fund may lose its entire investment. Where it deems it appropriate and in the best interests of Fund shareholders, the Fund may
incur additional expenses to seek recovery on a defaulted security and/or to pursue litigation to protect the Fund’s investment.
The credit rating of a security may not accurately reflect the actual credit risk
associated with such a security. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers
of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, such as a high profile default, whether
or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of such securities, especially in a thinly traded
or illiquid market. To the extent the Fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted lower-rated debt securities or unrated debt securities
of comparable quality, these securities may involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities, costs, and liquidity and
valuation difficulties.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments,
including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political,
regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning
these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Changes in the financial condition of a single issuer
may impact a market as a whole. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods and may not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may
miss out on opportunities for better performance. Geopolitical risks, including terrorism, tensions or open conflict between
nations, or political or economic dysfunction within some nations that are major players on the world stage or major
producers of oil, may lead to overall instability in world economies and markets generally and have led, and may in the future lead,
to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects. Similarly, environmental and public health risks, such
as natural disasters or epidemics, or widespread fear that such events may occur, may impact markets and economies adversely and cause
market volatility in both the short- and long-term.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market
or the assets underlying the securities. These securities differ from more traditional debt securities because the principal is paid
back over the life of the security rather than at the security’s maturity; however, principal may be repaid early if a decline in interest
rates causes many borrowers to refinance (known as prepayment risk), or repaid more slowly if a rise in rates causes refinancings
to slow down (known as extension risk). Thus, they tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types
of debt securities and as a result, these securities may exhibit additional volatility during periods of interest rate turmoil. Asset-backed
securities also may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
may be “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool and a holder of those “subordinated” securities would receive payments only
after any obligations to other more “senior” investors have been satisfied. In addition, investments in mortgage- and
asset-backed securities may be subject to call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree
than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages
or assets, particularly during periods of market
downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will
adversely affect the security’s value. Further, such securities may have credit support, the utility of which could be negatively
affected by such conditions as well.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political
and legislative changes or litigation at the federal or state level, as well as uncertainties related
to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality may hinder its ability
to pay interest and principal. Under some circumstances, municipal securities might not pay interest unless the state legislature
or municipality authorizes money for that purpose. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal
securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic
or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The amount of
public information available about municipal securities is generally less than that available about corporate securities.
In the case of insured municipal securities, insurance supports the commitment that
interest payments will be made on time and the principal will be repaid at maturity. Insurance does not, however, protect the
Fund or its shareholders against losses caused by declines in a municipal security’s market value. The Portfolio Managers generally
look to the credit quality of the issuer of a municipal security to determine whether the security meets the Fund’s quality restrictions,
even if the security is covered by insurance. However, a downgrade in the claims-paying ability of an insurer of a municipal
security could have an adverse effect on the market value of the security.
Municipal issuers may be adversely affected by high labor costs and increasing unfunded
pension liabilities, and by the phasing out of federal programs providing financial support. In addition, changes in the financial
condition of one or more individual municipal issuers or insurers of municipal issuers can affect the overall municipal
securities market. At times, the secondary market for municipal securities may not be liquid, which could limit the Fund’s ability to
sell securities it is holding. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and
local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Financial difficulties of municipal issuers may continue or get worse. Further, the application of state law to municipal
issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state.
Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer
restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting
other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when
it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as
their fair market value.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects,
especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the
overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project
or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the
issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest
and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate
change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s
financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which
would adversely impact the Fund.
Generally, the Fund purchases municipal securities the interest on which, in the opinion
of counsel to the issuer, is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. There is no guarantee that such
an opinion will be correct, and there is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with such an opinion. Municipal
securities generally must meet certain regulatory and statutory requirements to distribute interest that is excludable from
gross income for federal income tax. If any municipal security held by the Fund fails to meet such requirements, the interest
received by the Fund from such security and distributed to shareholders would be taxable. Proposals also may be introduced before
state legislatures that would affect the state tax treatment of a municipal fund's distributions. If such proposals were enacted,
the availability of municipal securities and the value of a municipal fund's holdings would be affected.
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may
be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems,
human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to
gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the
securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks (e.g., malicious software coding, ransomware,
or “hacking”) or unintentional events
(e.g., inadvertent release of confidential information). A cybersecurity incident
could, among other things, result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, customers or employees being unable to access electronic
systems (“denial of services”), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer
or network system, or remediation costs associated with system repairs. A cybersecurity incident may not permit the Fund and
its service providers to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and calculating net
asset value. Any cybersecurity incident could have a substantial adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders.
The occurrence of any of these problems could result in a loss of information, regulatory
scrutiny, reputational damage and other consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund or its
shareholders. The Manager, through its monitoring and oversight of Fund service providers, endeavors to determine that service
providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to such problems. While the Manager has established
business continuity plans and risk management systems seeking to address these problems, there are inherent limitations
in such plans and systems, and it is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the
cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate
their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations,
and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect
issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial
intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational
efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their
business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or
services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal
liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with
or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of
data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's
effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized
and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and
competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise
significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale,
and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may
lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates
traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory
frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes
could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, money market funds
and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance
of those other investment companies and to the allocation of its assets among those other investment companies. Investments in
other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment
companies’ expenses. If the Fund invests in other investment companies, the Fund may receive distributions of taxable gains
from portfolio transactions by that investment company and may recognize taxable gains from transactions in shares of that investment
company, which could be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders when distributed to them.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying
portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect
its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively
managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track because of, for example, the temporary
unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the
weighting of securities or the number of stocks held. A passively managed ETF may not be permitted to sell poorly performing
stocks that are included in its index. Investing in ETFs could incur brokerage and other trading costs for the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with
both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities
are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation
in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Preferred securities generally are subordinated to debt securities in an issuer’s
capital structure, subjecting them to a greater risk of non-payment than those more senior securities. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of
the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders
of its debt securities. For these reasons,
preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk
than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived
changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to
adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks, and
there is a risk an issuer of preferred securities may call or redeem prior to any stated maturity.
Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion,
to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Preferred shareholders may have certain
rights if distributions are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer, may suffer a loss of value if
distributions are not paid, and may be required to report the deferred distribution on its tax returns, even though it may not have received
any cash. Generally, preferred shareholders have no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless distributions
to preferred shareholders have not been paid for a stated period, at which time the preferred shareholders may elect a number of directors
to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the distributions have been paid to preferred shareholders, the preferred shareholders
no longer have voting rights.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain
debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after
(extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates
or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity
(i.e., a prepayment). As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a
lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may
lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Prepayments could also create capital gains tax liability in some instances.
Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration
of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines. If
the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the Fund may be unable to capitalize on
securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that
are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless
certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. These securities may not be listed
on an exchange and may have no active trading market. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these
securities may be more volatile and more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened
risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities
may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the
Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. A security that was
liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for private placements
and other restricted securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for sale and there may be
substantial delays in effecting the registration. If, during such a delay, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain
a less favorable price than prevailed at the time it decided to seek registration of the securities. In addition, the Fund may
get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security, so it may be less able to anticipate
a loss. Also, if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may, as a result, be legally prohibited
from selling the securities.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent
years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies
are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or
region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets
may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this
time.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad,
in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation.
The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their
approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in
interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating
economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market
value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce
liquidity across various markets or decrease
confidence in the markets. Also, regulators have expressed concern that changes in
interest rates may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility.
Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility,
disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between
countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the
U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen
at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may
decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Regulators in the U.S. adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some
of which implicate a Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known.
Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit a Fund’s ability to pursue its
investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact its performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty
on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation
of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely,
the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen
and could adversely impact performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine,
in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of
ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and
risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of a Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely
affect the global economy. The impact of epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future could negatively affect the
economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity,
in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time and could last for an extended period of time.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market
risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling;
a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political,
regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact
financial markets and the broader economy.
China’s economy, which had been sustained through debt-financed spending on housing
and infrastructure, appears to be experiencing a significant slowdown and growing at a lower rate than prior years.
While the Chinese government appears to be taking measures to address these issues, due to the size of China’s economy, the resolution of these issues could impact a number of other countries.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen.
The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
A rise in sea levels, a change in weather patterns, including an increase in powerful
storms and large wildfires, and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause properties to lose value or become unmarketable
altogether. Unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected zones may not ever recover their value.
Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain
land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.
Losses related to climate change could adversely affect corporate issuers and mortgage
lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities that depend on tax or other revenues and tourist
dollars generated by affected properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate, municipal or mortgage-backed securities.
Since property and security values are driven largely by buyers’ perceptions, it is difficult to know the time period over
which these market effects might unfold.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause
the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity,
or at a loss or depressed value. The sale of assets to meet redemption requests may cause the Fund to realize capital gains, which
would result in the Fund having to distribute such gains. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries
control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable
cash flow needs. In addition, the risk is heightened if redemption requests are unusually large or frequent or occur
during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs and
create adverse tax consequences.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out
of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with
a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors
to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Risk Management. Management undertakes certain analyses with the intention of identifying particular
types of risks and reducing the Fund’s exposure to them. However, risk is an essential part of investing,
and the degree of return an investor might expect is often tied to the degree of risk the investor is willing to accept. By its
very nature, risk involves exposure to the possibility of adverse events. Accordingly, no risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s
exposure to such events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by adverse events, and
especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. While the prospectus describes material risk factors associated
with the Fund’s investment program, there is no assurance that as a particular situation unfolds in the markets, management
will identify all of the risks that might affect the Fund, rate their probability or potential magnitude correctly, or be able
to take appropriate measures to reduce the Fund’s exposure to them. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk
prove to be incorrect. Measures taken with the intention of decreasing exposure to identified risks might have the unintended
effect of increasing exposure to other risks.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant
positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector,
industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect
those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market may be more volatile, and
may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic,
political or regulatory events. The Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors, industries, or sub-sectors
do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or industries may adversely affect performance.
For information about the risks of investing in particular sectors, see the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may
delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example,
to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s
debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required
by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There
may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings
through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk
is increased for emerging market issuers. Certain emerging market or developing countries are among the largest debtors to commercial
banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of
principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign
debt on a timely basis that led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued by supranational entities, such as
the World Bank. A supranational entity is financially supported by the governments of one or more countries, has no taxing authority,
and is dependent on its members for payments of interest and principal. There is no guarantee that the members will continue
to make capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal
on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund’s use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are
deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests.
Holders of the first class of interests, or floating rate certificates, receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates
and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. A remarketing agent for the trust is required to attempt to resell any tendered
floating rate certificates and if the remarketing agent is unsuccessful, the trust’s liquidity provider must contribute cash to ensure
that the tendering holders receive the purchase price of their securities on the repurchase date. Holders of the second class of interests,
or residual income certificates (commonly referred to as “inverse floaters”), receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on
the difference between the interest rate earned on
the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and
bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially
eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage
risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender
option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss
of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. In certain instances, a trust may be terminated if, for example, the
issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments, the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded,
or tendered floating rate certificates cannot be resold.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these
guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market
prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government
and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Some are backed by the issuer’s
right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality.
These securities carry at least some risk of non-payment or default by the issuer. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some
U.S. government securities may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S.
Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. There is no assurance
that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by
law to do so.
In recent periods, the values of U.S. government securities have been affected substantially
by increased demand for them around the world. Increases or decreases in the demand for U.S. government securities may
occur at any time and may result in increased volatility in the values of those securities. In recent years, credit rating agencies
have shown some concern about whether the U.S. government has the political will necessary to service all of its outstanding and
expected future debt, and some have adjusted their ratings or outlook for U.S. government debt accordingly. These developments, and the
factors underlying them, could cause an increase in interest rates and borrowing costs, which may negatively impact both the
perception of credit risk associated with the debt securities issued by the U.S. and the government's ability to access the debt
markets on favorable terms. In addition, these developments could create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which could increase
volatility in both stock and bond markets. These events could result in significant adverse impacts on issuers of securities
held by the Fund.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has
valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities
that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult
to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value
methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an
investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. Investors who purchase or
redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher
redemption proceeds, than they would have received if the Fund had not held fair-valued securities or had used a different methodology.
The value of foreign securities, certain futures, fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected
by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded but before the Fund determines its net asset value. The Fund uses
pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment
at the price established by such pricing services. Different pricing services use different valuation methodologies, potentially resulting
in different values for the same investments. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if a pricing service
were to change its valuation methodology, the value of the Fund’s investments could be impacted. The Fund’s ability to value its investments
in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers,
such as pricing services or accounting agents.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments
with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest
rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments will not generally rise
in value if market interest rates decline. Thus, investing in variable and floating rate instruments generally allows less opportunity
for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in instruments with a fixed interest rate. Certain types of floating rate
instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions
on resale and may lack an active market, which may make them more difficult to value or sell.
Certain variable and floating rate instruments have an interest rate floor feature,
which prevents the interest rate payable by the instrument from dropping below a specified level as compared to a reference interest
rate (the “reference rate”), such as SOFR. Such a floor is designed to protect the Fund from a decrease in the reference rate below the specified level. However, if the reference rate is below the floor, there will be a lag between a rise in the reference
rate and a rise in the interest rate payable by the
instrument, and the Fund may not benefit from increasing interest rates for a significant
period of time. Rates on certain variable rate instruments typically only reset periodically.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (TBA) mortgage-backed securities) involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or
deliver securities at a later date. Because the Fund is committed to buying them at a certain price, any change in the value of these
securities, even prior to their issuance, affects the Fund’s share value. Accordingly, the purchase of such securities involves
a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. When-issued and forward-settling securities
can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price. When-issued and forward-settling
securities may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy
its purchase obligations. When-issued and forward-settling securities also are subject to the risk that the security will not
be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security. If this occurs, the Fund may lose the opportunity
to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and may forgo any gain in the security’s price. The Fund may sell securities
it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In addition, the purchase
of mortgage-backed securities on a TBA basis may result in a Fund incurring increased prepayment risks because the underlying mortgages
may be less favorable than anticipated by the Fund.
Information about Additional Risks and Other Practices
As discussed in the Statement of Additional Information, a Fund may engage in certain
practices and invest in certain securities in addition to those described as its “principal investment strategies” in its Fund Summary
section. For example, should a Fund engage in borrowing or securities lending, or should a Fund use derivatives or invest
in foreign securities, it will be subject to the additional risks associated with these practices and securities, some or all of which
may already be included in its “principal investment strategies.”
Borrowing money, securities lending, or using derivatives would create investment
leverage, meaning that certain gains or losses would be amplified, increasing share price movements.
Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in
addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities, and can fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid,
than comparable U.S. securities. Securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating
to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries.
As part of its liquidity management practices, including for cash management purposes
or to facilitate short-term liquidity, a Fund may invest in reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a
Fund sells portfolio securities to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase the securities
at an agreed-upon price and date, which reflects an interest payment to that party. Reverse repurchase agreements involve
the risk that the other party will fail to return the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to a Fund. A
Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the cash collateral held by the Fund is less than the
value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to a Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve
the risk that the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which a Fund is obligated to repurchase
them. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing by a Fund. When a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase
agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party or the securities in which
the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During the term of the agreement, a Fund may also
be obligated to pledge additional cash and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair value of the transferred security.
The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements.
In addition, a Fund may be an investment option for a Neuberger Berman mutual fund
that is managed as a “fund of funds.” As a result, from time to time, a Fund may experience relatively large redemptions or investments
and could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it is not advantageous to do so.
In anticipation of adverse or uncertain market, economic, political, or other temporary
conditions, including during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, a Fund may temporarily depart from its goal and use
a different investment strategy (including leaving a significant portion of its assets uninvested) for defensive purposes. Doing
so could help a Fund avoid losses, but may mean lost opportunities. In addition, in doing so different factors could affect a
Fund’s performance and a Fund may not achieve its goal. In addition, to the extent a Fund is new or is undergoing a transition (such as a
change in strategy, rebalancing, reorganization, liquidation or experiencing large inflows or outflows) or takes a
temporary defensive position, it may deviate from its principal investment strategies during such period.
A Fund may change its goal without shareholder approval.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information.
The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, taxable bond
market and includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed
securities (MBS) (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) pass-throughs), asset-backed securities
(ABS), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) (agency and nonagency).
The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated below investment grade corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. In addition to meeting
other criteria, qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch ratings),
and have risk exposure to countries that are members of the FX-G10, Western Europe or territories of the U.S. and Western Europe.
Securities in legal default are excluded from the index. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, provided
the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. Transaction costs will be incorporated into the calculation of total
return for ICE fixed income indices beginning in July 2022.
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”), located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is each Fund’s investment manager and administrator. Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“Distributor”),
located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is each Fund’s distributor. Pursuant to an investment
advisory agreement, the Manager is responsible for choosing a Fund’s investments and handling its day-to-day business.
The services provided by the Manager as the investment manager and administrator include, among others, overall responsibility
for providing all supervisory, management, and administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Funds, which
may include, among others, compliance monitoring, operational and investment risk management, legal and administrative services
and portfolio accounting services. The Manager carries out its duties subject to the policies established by the Board of
Trustees. The investment advisory agreement establishes the fees a Fund pays to the Manager for its services as the Fund’s investment
manager and the expenses paid directly by the Fund. Together, the Neuberger Berman affiliates manage approximately $508 billion in total assets (as of 12/31/2024) and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.
NBIA may engage one or more of foreign affiliates that are not registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“participating affiliates”) in accordance with applicable SEC no-action letters.
As participating affiliates, whether or not registered with the SEC, the affiliates may provide designated investment personnel to associate
with NBIA as “associated persons” of NBIA and perform specific services for NBIA, including services for the Funds, which may involve, among other
services, advisory services and portfolio management, research and/or placing orders for securities and other instruments. The designated employees
of a participating affiliate act for NBIA and are subject to certain NBIA policies
and procedures as well as supervision and periodic monitoring by NBIA. The Funds will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result
of any such arrangements. NBEL, Neuberger Berman Singapore Pte. Limited and Neuberger Berman Asset Management Ireland Limited
are considered participating affiliates of NBIA that provide advisory services and portfolio management pursuant to applicable regulatory guidance.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Funds'
investment advisory agreements and, as applicable, sub-advisory agreements is available in the Funds' Form N-CSR for the period ending October 31, 2024.
Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended to
give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state
securities laws that have not been waived. The Funds enter into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others,
the Manager, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third party beneficiaries
of, those contractual arrangements. Where shareholders are not third party beneficiaries of contractual arrangements, those
contractual arrangements cannot be enforced by shareholders acting on their own behalf.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.23% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class R6.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.53% of the Fund’s average
daily net assets for Class R6.
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.45% of the Fund’s average
daily net assets for Class R6.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about
each Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager, and each Portfolio Manager’s ownership
of shares in the Fund(s) that he manages.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund
Thanos Bardas is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 1998 and is the Co-Head
of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. In addition, he is a member of the Asset Allocation Committee.
Mr. Bardas has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2008.
David M. Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He re-joined the firm in January 2003 and
is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. Mr. Brown has been a Portfolio Manager of the
Fund since February 2008.
Nathan Kush is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2001. He is a member
of the portfolio management team for the firm’s Global Investment Grade strategies. Additionally, he is involved
in investment grade credit research and, previously, covered the banking, brokerage, finance, insurance and REIT sectors. Mr.
Kush has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2017.
Olumide Owolabi is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2003. He is the Head
of the U.S. Rates team and has investment and research responsibilities across global interest rate and inflation
markets. Mr. Owolabi has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2023.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
Joseph Lind, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He has co-managed the Fund since July 2018
and is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he served as a high yield strategy
portfolio manager at another asset manager from 2012 to 2018.
Christopher Kocinski, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Kocinski joined the firm in 2006 and
is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Before being named co-portfolio manager to the Fund in 2019, Mr.
Kocinski was co-director of non-investment grade credit research and a senior research analyst for the Manager.
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
Thanos Bardas is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 1998 and is the Co-Head
of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. In addition, he is a member of the Asset Allocation Committee.
Mr. Bardas has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since April 2009.
Ashok Bhatia, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in July 2017 and is the
Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bhatia was a senior portfolio manager
and co-leader of the customized fixed income team at another asset manager. He has over 24 years’ experience in the investment
industry. Mr. Bhatia has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2017.
David M. Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He re-joined the firm in January 2003 and
is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. Mr. Brown has been a Portfolio Manager of the
Fund since April 2009.
Robert Dishner is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Dishner joined the firm in 2019 and is a member of the portfolio management team for the firm’s multi-sector fixed income strategies. Mr. Dishner has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2024.
Tom Sobanski, CFA, is a Senior Vice President of the Manager. Mr. Sobanski joined the firm in 2015 and is a member of the portfolio management team for the firm’s multi-sector fixed income strategies. Mr. Sobanski has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2024.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class R6 shares
for the fiscal periods indicated.Beginning with the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, all figures have been derived from the financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along
with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover). The information for the fiscal years or periods prior to October
31, 2022, was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund—Class R6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 156%, 185%, 226%, 243% and 186% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class R6 shares
for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund—Class R6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout the period indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gains (losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over the period,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of period (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during the fiscal period.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class R6 shares
for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund—Class R6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout the period indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what
it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gains (losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital gain distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of period
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund's expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over the period,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of period (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement/recoupment and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower/higher if the Manager had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during the fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 206%, 298%, 308%, 308% and 344% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Your Investment
Class R6 shares described in this prospectus generally are available only through
financial intermediaries, such as banks, brokerage firms, retirement plan administrators, and financial advisers. For certain investors,
shares of the Funds may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the Funds' Distributor.
Class R6 shares generally are available only to 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored
403(b) plans, profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, health savings accounts, defined benefit plans and non-qualified
deferred compensation plans, provided that shares are held on the books of a Fund through omnibus accounts (either
at the plan level or at the level of the financial intermediary), foundations and endowment funds, charitable trusts, certain
products managed by Neuberger Berman or Funds in the Neuberger Berman family of funds and certain other institutional investors
if approved by the Distributor.
Class R6 shares generally are not available to retail non-retirement accounts, traditional
individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Roth IRAs, Coverdell education savings accounts, SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs, or individual
403(b) plans.
Eligible retirement plans and other investors generally may open an account and purchase
Class R6 shares by contacting a financial intermediary authorized to sell the Funds' shares. Class R6 shares may not
be available through certain financial intermediaries.
Plan participants who are considering an investment in the Funds should contact their
employer, retirement plan administrator, or service agent that provides shareholder servicing, record keeping, account maintenance
or other services for their retirement plan (“Plan Service Provider”) for details about the Funds that are available under
their retirement plan and the procedures for buying and selling shares.
The Funds do not impose minimum purchase requirements for Class R6 shares. However,
you should contact your Plan Service Provider or financial intermediary to determine whether it imposes minimum purchase
requirements.
The Funds do not issue certificates for shares.
For certain institutional investors, shares of the Funds may be available for purchase
directly from the Distributor by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189),
by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas
City, MO 64105-1407) or by wire, fax, telephone or exchange. Please call 800-866-6264 for an application and instructions.
We cannot accept cash, money orders, starter checks, travelers checks, or other cash
equivalents. We do accept Bank Checks and Cashier’s Checks from U.S. Financial Institutions. You will be responsible for any
losses or fees resulting from a bad check; if necessary, we may sell other shares belonging to you in order to cover these losses.
All checks must be made out to “Neuberger Berman Funds”; we cannot accept checks made out to you or other parties and signed
over to us.
If you bought shares directly from the Distributor, to sell shares send a letter signed
by all registered owners; include your name, account number, the Fund name, the dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell,
and any other instructions. If by regular, first class mail, send to Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas
City, MO 64121-9189. If by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail, send to Neuberger Berman Funds, 430
West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407. Unless you instruct us otherwise, we will mail your proceeds by check
to the address of record, payable to the registered owner(s). If you have a designated bank account on your application, you
can request that we wire the proceeds to this account. You can also request that we send the proceeds to your designated bank account
by electronic transfer (ACH). Please also supply us with your e-mail address and daytime telephone number when you write to
us in the event we need to reach you.
You can move an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in
the fund family through an exchange of shares, or by electing to use your cash distributions from one fund to purchase shares
of the other fund. There are three things to remember when making an exchange:
■
both accounts must have the same registration
■
you will need to observe any eligibility requirements, including minimum investment
and minimum account balance requirements for the fund accounts involved
■
because an exchange is treated as a sale (redemption) of the exchanged shares for
federal income tax purposes, consider any tax consequences before placing your order.
The exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor that we believe is trying
to “time the market” or is otherwise making exchanges that we judge to be excessive. Frequent exchanges can interfere with Fund
management and affect costs and performance for other shareholders. Contact your financial intermediary to see if
it allows you to take advantage of the fund exchange program and for its policies to effect an exchange. Your ability to exchange
to another fund in the fund family may be limited by the availability of a given fund in your retirement plan as determined
by your Plan Service Provider.
Every buy or sell order will be processed at the next share price to be calculated
after the order has been received in proper form. Purchase orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Funds' transfer agent
has received payment for the shares. Redemption orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Funds' transfer agent
has received your order to sell Fund shares. In the case of certain institutional investors, the Distributor will process
purchase orders when received, on the basis of a pre-existing arrangement to make payment by the following morning. These policies
apply to the financial intermediaries who invest in the Funds. Please contact your financial intermediary for its policies.
The Funds typically expect to meet redemption requests, under both normal and stressed
market conditions, by redeeming cash and cash equivalent portfolio holdings and/or selling portfolio securities or other
instruments. As described further above and in the Funds' Statement of Additional Information, the Funds also reserve the right to
redeem an investor’s shares in kind (i.e., providing investors with portfolio securities instead of cash), in whole or in part
to meet redemption requests in stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
The Funds reserve the right to pay in kind for redemptions. A Fund also may elect
to honor a shareholder’s request for the Fund to pay in kind for redemptions in an attempt to manage any liquidity needs, to manage
and optimize its portfolio composition, to offset transaction costs associated with portfolio transactions, and/or to more efficiently
manage its portfolio. The securities provided to investors in an in-kind redemption may be a pro-rata portion of the Fund’s
portfolio or a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio selected by the Manager based upon various circumstances and subject
to the Fund’s policies and procedures and any applicable laws or regulations. If the securities provided to investors in an
in-kind redemption are a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio, it will only include securities that have been disclosed in
the Fund's most recent public portfolio holdings disclosure.
Redemptions in kind may cause you to incur transaction costs to the extent you dispose
of the securities redeemed in kind and the value of the securities redeemed in kind may decrease between the time of redemption
and the time of such sale. The Funds may also borrow under any available line of credit and other available methods to meet
redemption requests in both normal and stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
Under certain circumstances, which may include normal and stressed market conditions,
the Funds reserve the right to:
■
suspend the offering of shares
■
reject any exchange or purchase order
■
suspend or reject future purchase orders from any investor who has not provided timely
payment to settle a purchase order
■
change, suspend, or revoke the exchange privilege
■
satisfy an order to sell Fund shares with securities rather than cash
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”) is restricted, or as
otherwise permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange or the bond market is closed
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange, the Federal Reserve or the bond market closes early (e.g.,
on the eve of a major holiday or because of a local emergency, such as a blizzard)
■
remain open and process orders to purchase or sell Fund shares when the Exchange is
closed.
Dividends are first earned the business day after your purchase order is received
in proper form. The Funds reserve the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Funds do not redeem in kind under normal circumstances,
but would do so when the Manager or the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders
as a whole or the transaction is otherwise effected in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.
Proceeds from the sale of shares—The proceeds from the shares you sell are typically sent out the next business day
after your order is executed, and nearly always within seven days regardless of payment type.
When you sell shares through your financial intermediary, contact your provider to find out when proceeds will be sent to you.
There are two cases in which proceeds may be delayed beyond this time:
■
in unusual circumstances where the law allows additional time if needed
■
if a check you wrote to buy shares has not cleared by the time you sell those shares;
clearance may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.
If you think you may need to sell shares soon after buying them, you can avoid the
check clearing time by investing by wire.
Dividends are earned through the business day on which your redemption order is received
in proper form. Investors redeeming in full will receive earned dividends on the day they sell their shares; investors
redeeming a portion of their shares will receive earned dividends on the next applicable monthly distribution date.
Uncashed checks—We do not pay interest on uncashed checks from Fund distributions or the sale of Fund
shares. We are not responsible for checks after they are sent to you. After allowing a reasonable time
for delivery, please call us if you have not received an expected check. While we cannot track a check, we may make arrangements
for a replacement. We may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state government under the state’s
unclaimed or abandoned property law.
Statements and Confirmations—Please review your account statements and confirmations carefully as soon as you receive
them. You must contact us within 30 days if you have any questions or notice any discrepancies.
Otherwise, you may adversely affect your right to make a claim about the transaction(s).
Important information regarding unclaimed/abandoned property — If your financial intermediary (or, if you bought your shares directly, the Distributor) is unable to locate you, then it is required by
law to determine whether your account(s) must be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned.” Your financial intermediary (or the Distributor)
is required to transfer (or escheat) unclaimed or abandoned property to the appropriate state government in accordance
with state law. Your account(s) may also be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned” and subsequently transferred to the appropriate
state government if no activity (as defined by that state) occurs within the account(s) during the period of time specified by
state law or if checks related to the account(s) remain uncashed. Your last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your financial intermediary (or the Distributor)
maintains a correct address for your account(s). An incorrect address may cause your account statements and other mailings
to be returned as undeliverable. Neither the Distributor nor a Fund nor its transfer agent will be liable to investors or their
representatives for good faith compliance with state unclaimed or abandoned property (escheatment) laws. If you use a financial intermediary,
contact that provider regarding applicable state escheatment laws.
Class R6 shares described in this prospectus may be purchased through certain financial
intermediaries, such as banks, brokerage firms, retirement plan administrators, and financial advisers.
The fees and policies outlined in this prospectus are set by the Funds and by the
Distributor. However, most of the information you will need for managing your investment will come from your financial
intermediary. This includes information on how to buy and sell Class R6 shares, investor services, and additional
policies.
In exchange for the services it offers, your financial intermediary may charge fees
that are in addition to those described in this prospectus.
A Plan Service Provider or an employee benefits office can provide plan participants
with detailed information on how to participate in the plan, elect a Fund as an investment option, elect different
investment options, alter the amounts contributed to the plan, or change allocations among investment options. For questions
about participant accounts, plan participants should contact their Plan Service Provider or their employee benefits
office.
Financial intermediaries may provide some of the shareholder servicing and account
maintenance services required by plan accounts and their plan participants, including transfers of registration, dividend
payee changes and generation of confirmation statements, and may arrange for Plan Service Providers to provide other
investment or administrative services. Financial intermediaries may charge plans and plan participants transaction
fees and/or other additional amounts for such services. Similarly, plans may charge plan participants for certain
expenses, which are in addition to those described in this prospectus. These fees and additional amounts could reduce
an investment return in Class R6 shares of the Funds.
Information Required from New Accounts
To help the U.S. government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities,
federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each
person who opens an account.
When you open an account, we (which may include your financial intermediary acting
on our behalf) will require your name, address, date of birth, and social security number or other taxpayer identification
number. We may also require other identifying documents. If we cannot verify the information you supply to us
or if it is incomplete, we may be required to return your funds or redeem your account.
Because Class R6 shares of each Fund do not have a sales charge, the price you pay
for each share of a Fund is the Fund’s net asset value per share. Similarly, because the Funds do not charge fees for selling shares,
your Fund pays you the full share price (net asset value) when you sell shares.
If you use a financial intermediary, that provider may charge fees that are in addition
to those described in this prospectus.
The Funds are generally open for business every day the Exchange is open. The Exchange
is generally closed on all national holidays and Good Friday; Fund shares will not be priced on those days or other days
on which the Exchange is scheduled to be closed. When the Exchange is closed for unusual reasons, Fund shares will generally
not be priced although a Fund may decide to remain open and price Fund shares and in such a case, the Fund would post a notice
on www.nb.com.
Each Fund normally calculates its share price on each day the Exchange is open once
daily as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In the event of an emergency or other disruption in trading on the Exchange, a Fund’s share
price would still normally be determined as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In general, every buy or sell order you place will go
through at the next share price calculated after your order has been received in proper form (see “Maintaining Your Account” for information
on placing orders). Check with your financial intermediary to find out by what time your order must be received so
that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when your financial intermediary accepts orders, it is possible that
a Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to buy or sell shares.
Because foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed, the value
of foreign securities owned by a Fund could change on days when you cannot buy or sell Fund shares. Remember, though, any purchase
or sale takes place at the next share price calculated after your order is received in proper form.
The net asset value per share of Class R6 of a Fund is the total value of Fund assets
attributable to Class R6 shares minus the liabilities attributable to that class, divided by the total number of shares
outstanding for that class. Because the value of a Fund's portfolio securities changes every business day, its share price
usually changes as well.
A Fund generally values its investments based upon their last reported sale prices,
market quotations, or estimates of value provided by an independent pricing service as of the time as of which the Fund’s
share price is calculated. Debt securities and certain derivative instruments that do not trade on an exchange generally
are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager on the basis of market quotations
and in the case of derivatives, market data about the underlying investments. Short-term securities held
by a Fund may be valued on the basis of amortized cost, unless other factors indicate that amortized cost is not
an accurate estimate of the security’s value. Equity securities (including securities issued by ETFs) and exchange-traded
derivative instruments held by a Fund generally are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager
at the last reported sale price or official closing price or, if there is no reported sale quoted on a principal
exchange or market for that security or official closing price, on the basis of market quotations.
Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective
fund’s daily calculated net asset value per share. The prospectuses for these funds explain the circumstances
under which the funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
If a valuation for a security is not available from an independent pricing service
or if the Manager believes in good faith that the valuation does not reflect the amount a Fund would receive on a current sale
of that security, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available,
the Fund may use a fair value estimate made according to methods approved by the Manager. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Board of Trustees designated the Manager as the Fund’s
valuation designee. As the Fund’s
valuation designee, the Manager is responsible for determining fair value in good
faith for any and all Fund investments. A Fund may also use these methods to value certain types of illiquid
securities. Fair value pricing generally will be used if the market in which a portfolio security trades closes early or if
trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time as of which a Fund’s share
price is calculated.
A Fund may also fair value securities that trade in a foreign market if significant
events that appear likely to affect the value of those securities occur between the time the foreign market closes and the
time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. Significant events may include (1) corporate actions or announcements
that affect a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3)
natural disasters or armed conflicts that affect a country or region, or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations.
For certain foreign assets, after the relevant foreign markets have closed, a third-party
vendor supplies evaluated, systematic fair value pricing based upon analysis of historical correlation of multiple
factors. In the case of both foreign equity and foreign income securities, in the absence of precise information about
the market values of these foreign securities as of the time as of which a Fund's share price is calculated, the Manager
has determined on the basis of available data that prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer
to the prices a Fund could realize on a current sale than are the prices of those securities established at the close of
the foreign markets in which the securities primarily trade. Please see the Funds' Statement of Additional Information
for additional detail about the Funds' fair valuation practices.
The effect of using fair value pricing is that a portfolio security will be priced
based on the subjective judgment of the Manager, operating under procedures approved by the Manager, instead of being priced
using valuations from an independent pricing service. Fair value pricing can help to protect a Fund by reducing
arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing will completely
prevent dilution of a Fund’s net asset value by such traders.
Trading in securities on many foreign exchanges is normally completed before the Fund
calculates its net asset value. In addition, foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed. As a result,
the value of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change at times or on days when the Fund’s net asset value
is not calculated, when Fund shares do not trade, and when sales and redemptions of Fund shares do not occur.
Distributions—Each Fund pays out to its shareholders any net investment income and net realized
capital gains. Ordinarily, each Fund declares income dividends daily and pays them monthly and declares and makes
any capital gain distributions once a year (usually in December). Gains from foreign currency transactions, if any, are
normally distributed in December. A Fund may make additional distributions, if necessary, to avoid federal income or excise taxes.
Unless you designate otherwise, your distributions, if any, from a Fund will be reinvested
in additional Class R6 shares of the Fund. However, if you prefer, you may receive all distributions in cash or reinvest
capital gain distributions but receive income dividends in cash. Distributions taken in cash can be sent to you by check or by electronic
transfer to a designated bank account or invested in Class R6 shares of another fund in the fund family with the same account
registration. To take advantage of one of these options, please indicate your choice on your application or contact a Fund in
writing or by phone if you bought shares directly. If you use a financial intermediary, you must consult it about whether your
income dividends and capital gain distributions from a Fund will be reinvested in additional Class R6 shares of the
Fund or paid to you in cash.
How distributions are taxed—Except for tax-advantaged retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors (collectively, “exempt investors”), all Fund distributions you receive are generally taxable to you, regardless
of whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares.
Fund distributions to qualified retirement plans generally are tax-free. Eventual
withdrawals from retirement plans generally are subject to federal income tax.
Distributions generally are taxable to shareholders other than exempt investors in
the year they are received. In some cases, however, distributions received in January are treated for federal income tax purposes
as if they had been paid the previous December 31. Your tax statement (see “Taxes and You”) will help clarify this for you.
Distributions of net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain
over net long-term capital loss (“dividends”) are taxed as ordinary income. It is not expected that any of the Funds' distributions
will be attributable to “qualified dividend income” (generally, dividends a Fund receives on stock of most U.S. and certain foreign
corporations), which are subject to
maximum federal income tax rates for individual and certain other non-corporate shareholders
(each, an “individual shareholder”) that are lower than the maximum rates for ordinary income (“lower maximum rates”).
Distributions of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain
over net short-term capital loss) are taxed as long-term capital gain and for individual shareholders are subject to the lower maximum rates.
The tax treatment of capital gain distributions from a Fund depends on how long the Fund held the securities it sold
that generated the gain, not on when you bought your shares of the Fund or whether you reinvested your distributions.
If, for any taxable year, a Fund distributes an amount that exceeds its current earnings
and profits (generally, the sum of its investment company taxable income plus net capital gain for that year)—which might result from, among other things, the difference between book and tax accounting treatment of certain derivatives and foreign
currency transactions—plus its accumulated earnings and profits, if any, that excess generally will be treated as
a return of capital, which will reduce your tax basis in your Fund shares. To the extent that excess is greater than your tax basis, it
will be treated as gain from a redemption of your shares (taxed as described below).
Shareholders should review any notice that accompanies a payment of dividends or other
distributions to determine whether any portion of the payment represents a return of capital rather than a distribution of
a Fund’s net income and/or gains.
How share transactions are taxed—When you sell (redeem) or exchange Fund shares, you generally will realize a taxable
gain or loss. An exception, once again, applies to exempt investors. For individual shareholders,
any capital gain recognized on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares that have been held for more than one year will
qualify for the lower maximum rates.
Additional tax—An individual shareholder’s distributions from a Fund and net gains recognized on
redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares are subject to a 3.8% federal tax on the lesser of (1) the individual’s
“net investment income” (which generally includes distributions from a Fund and net gains from the disposition of Fund shares)
or (2) the excess of the individual’s “modified adjusted gross income” over a specified threshold amount. This tax is in
addition to any other taxes due on that income. You should consult your own tax professional regarding the effect, if any,
this provision may have on your investment in Fund shares.
The taxes you actually owe on Fund distributions and share transactions can vary with
many factors, such as your marginal tax bracket, how long you held your shares and whether you owe federal alternative
minimum tax.
How can you figure out your tax liability on Fund distributions and share transactions?
One helpful tool is the tax statement that we or your financial intermediary sends you after the end of each calendar
year. It details the distributions you received during the past year and shows their tax status. That statement,
or a separate statement from us or your financial intermediary, also covers your share transactions.
Most importantly, consult your tax professional. Everyone’s tax situation is different,
and your tax professional should be able to help you answer any questions you may have.
A Fund is required to withhold at the backup withholding rate from the money you are
otherwise entitled to receive from its distributions and redemption proceeds (regardless of whether you realized
a gain or loss) if you are an individual shareholder who fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number
to the Fund. Withholding at that rate also is required from a Fund’s distributions to which you are otherwise entitled
if you are an individual shareholder and the Internal Revenue Service tells us that you are subject to backup withholding
(1) for failing to properly report the receipt of interest or dividend income or (2) for any other reason.
If you use a financial intermediary, you must supply your signed taxpayer identification
number form (generally, Form W-9) to your financial intermediary and it must supply its taxpayer identification
number to us, in order to avoid backup withholding.
Buying Shares Before a Distribution
The money a Fund earns, either as net investment income or as net realized capital
gains, is reflected in its share price until it distributes the money. At that time, the amount of the distribution is deducted
from the share price. Because of this, if you buy shares of a Fund just before it makes such a distribution (other
than an exempt-interest dividend), you will end up getting some of your investment back as a taxable distribution. You can
avoid this situation by waiting to invest until after the record date for the distribution.
Generally, if you are an exempt investor, there are no current tax consequences to
you from distributions.
Basis Determination and Reporting
Your basis in Fund shares that you acquired or acquire after December 31, 2011 (collectively,
“Covered Shares”), will be determined in accordance with the Funds' default basis determination method, which
is average cost basis, unless you affirmatively elect in writing (which may be electronic) to use a different basis
determination method acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service. The basis determination method may not be changed with respect
to a redemption (including a redemption that is part of an exchange) of Covered Shares after the settlement date
of the redemption. A Fund must report to the Internal Revenue Service and furnish to its shareholders the basis information
for Covered Shares. See “Additional Tax Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for more information
about the rules regarding basis determination and a Fund’s reporting obligation. You should consult with your
tax professional to determine the best basis determination method for your tax situation and to obtain more information
about how the basis determination and reporting rules apply to you.
Frequent purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares (“market-timing activities”)
can interfere with effective Fund management and adversely affect Fund performance in various ways, including by requiring
a portfolio manager to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time or price, by increasing costs (such as
brokerage costs) to a Fund by requiring a portfolio manager to effect more frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
and possibly by requiring a portfolio manager to keep a larger portion of Fund assets in cash, all of which could adversely affect
the interests of long-term shareholders. To discourage market-timing activities by Fund shareholders, the Board of Trustees has
adopted market-timing policies and has approved the procedures of the principal underwriter for implementing those policies.
As described earlier in this prospectus, pursuant to such policies, the exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor
that is believed to be “timing the market” or is otherwise making exchanges judged to be excessive. In furtherance of these policies,
under certain circumstances, the Funds reserve the right to reject any exchange or purchase order, or change, suspend or
revoke the exchange privilege.
The Manager applies the Funds' policies and procedures with respect to market-timing
activities by monitoring trading activity in the Funds, identifying excessive trading patterns, and warning or prohibiting shareholders
who trade excessively from making further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares. These policies and procedures are applied
consistently to all shareholders. Although the Funds make efforts to monitor for market-timing activities, the ability of the
Funds to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of omnibus accounts maintained by brokers, retirement plan
accounts and other approved financial intermediaries may be limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary
maintains the underlying shareholder accounts. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Funds will be able to eliminate
all market-timing activities.
Portfolio Holdings Policy
A description of the Funds' policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure
of the Funds' portfolio holdings is available in the Funds' Statement of Additional Information.
The complete portfolio holdings for each Fund are available at www.nb.com/holdings
(click on the tab with the name of the relevant Fund). The complete portfolio holdings for each Fund are generally posted
15-30 days after each month-end.
Each Fund’s complete portfolio holdings will remain available at this website until
the subsequent month-end holdings have been posted. Complete portfolio holdings for the Funds will also be available in reports
on Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR filed with the SEC. Historical portfolio holdings are available upon request.
Generally, no earlier than five business days after month-end, a Fund may publicly
disclose via various shareholder and public communications, such as portfolio manager commentaries, fact sheets or other marketing
materials, which will be publicly available at www.nb.com, certain portfolio characteristics and partial information
concerning portfolio holdings for the month as of month-end, including but not limited to: up to the top 10 holdings of the Fund
(if the Fund engages in short selling, it may also disclose up to the top 10 short positions); up to the top 10 holdings that contributed
to and/or detracted from performance or were the best and/or worst performers; sector breakdowns or changes to portfolio
composition (e.g., buys and sells). This information will typically remain available at this website until information for
the subsequent month has been posted; however, to comply with Rule 30e-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, quarter-end
information may be retained on this website for each Fund’s previous fiscal year. A Fund may also post intra-month
updates to holdings and certain portfolio characteristics to www.nb.com. Any such intra-month update would be in addition to
and not in lieu of the holdings disclosure policies described above.
Fund Structure
Each Fund offers one or more classes of shares that have identical investment programs,
but may have different fee waivers and different arrangements for distribution and shareholder servicing and, consequently,
different expenses. Shares of a class to which a fee waiver applies may not be available to all investors in a Fund. Rather, they will
be made available to investors meeting eligibility criteria outlined in the Prospectuses for such share classes. This prospectus
relates solely to the Class R6 shares of the Funds.
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
If you would like further details on these Funds, you can request a free copy of the
following documents:
Shareholder Reports and Form N-CSR. Additional information about each Fund’s investments is available in each Fund’s
annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR. In each Fund’s annual report,
you will find each Fund’s performance data and a discussion by the Portfolio Managers about strategies and market conditions that
significantly affected each Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find each Fund’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The SAI contains more comprehensive information on each Fund, including: various types of securities and practices, and their risks, investment limitations and additional
policies and information about the Fund’s management and business structure. The SAI is hereby incorporated by reference into
this prospectus, making it legally part of the prospectus.
Investment Manager: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
You can obtain a shareholder report, SAI, and other information such as financial
statements from your financial intermediary, or from:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
877-628-2583
Website: www.nb.com
Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database
on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic
request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Each Fund’s current net asset value per share is made available at: http://www.nb.com/performance.
The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC”
are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund names in this prospectus are either service marks or registered service
marks of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. ©2025 Neuberger Berman BD LLC, distributor. All rights reserved.
SEC File Number: 811-03802
N0014 02/25
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
|
|
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
|
|
Prospectus February 28, 2025
These securities, like the securities of all mutual funds, have not been approved
or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has not determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Contents
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
Trust Class Shares (NSTTX)
The Fund seeks high current income with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | |
| |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | |
| |
Total annual operating expenses | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement1 | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that
the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. Actual performance
and expenses may be higher or lower.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 71% of the average value of its portfolio. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate including to-be-announced (“TBA”) roll transactions was 206%.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund invests primarily in a diversified mix of debt securities.
The Fund may invest in a broad array of securities, including: securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest
by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; inflation-linked debt securities; municipal securities; foreign
securities, including emerging markets; corporate bonds; commercial paper; mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities; and loans.
Securities in which the Fund may invest may be issued by domestic and foreign governments, supranational entities (e.g. World
Bank, IMF), corporate entities and trusts and may be structured as fixed rate debt; floating rate debt; and debt that may not
pay interest from the time of issuance.
While the Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including
investment grade securities, below investment grade securities and unrated securities, and may invest without limit in below investment
grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), under normal market conditions, the Portfolio Managers anticipate that
the Fund's average credit quality will be investment grade. The Fund considers debt securities to be below investment grade
if, at the time of investment, they are rated
below the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency
or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund does not normally invest in or continue
to hold securities that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal,
but may do so depending on market or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio
Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forwards, including
forward foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps, options
on futures and options on interest rate swaps, otherwise known as swaptions.
While the fund may invest without limit in foreign securities, the Fund will invest
primarily in debt securities issued by U.S. corporations or by the U.S. government and any of its agencies. The Fund normally
will not invest more than 30% of its total assets at the time of investment in obligations of issuers in emerging market countries.
The Fund considers emerging market countries to be countries included in the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index - Global
Diversified, the JPMorgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index - Diversified, the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Index
or the JPMorgan Government Bond Index - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, as well as those countries which are
not defined as a High Income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member country by the World Bank.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters
created as part of tender option bond transactions), convertible securities, restricted securities and preferred securities.
The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities),
which involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase securities that will be issued or settled at a later date. The Fund
may enter into a TBA agreement and “roll over” such agreement prior to the settlement date by selling the obligation to purchase
the securities set forth in the agreement and entering into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage-backed
securities. The Fund may also hold cash and short-term securities, including cash equivalents and other debt obligations.
The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity and while the Fund does not
have a target average duration, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio Managers anticipate that the Fund's average duration
will be between two and eight years. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
Investment Philosophy and Process
The Portfolio Management Team’s investment philosophy is rooted in the belief that
positive results can be achieved through a consistently applied, risk-managed approach to portfolio management that leverages
the strengths of its fundamental research capabilities, decision-making frameworks, and quantitative risk management tools.
The Portfolio Management Team employs an integrated investment process in managing the Fund.
■
Portfolio Strategy: The Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, which
it monitors on an ongoing basis, including exposures to sectors (such as government, structured debt,
credit, etc.) and duration/yield curve positioning, utilizing internally generated views that are produced by specialty sector
investment teams in conjunction with asset allocation tools.
■
Strategy Implementation: Once the Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund,
the specialty sector investment teams and the Portfolio Management Team determine industry/sub-sector
weightings and make securities selections within the types of securities that the Fund can purchase, such as investment
grade securities, below investment grade securities, emerging market securities and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.
When assessing the worth of a particular security, the teams utilize internally generated
research and proprietary quantitatively driven tools and frameworks (including an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal
and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning) to a) establish an internal outlook, b) evaluate the market’s
outlook as it is reflected in asset prices, and c) contrast the two. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers
consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments,
where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party
metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors,
alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the
Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending
on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments,
such as certain derivative instruments,
other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration
of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment
strategy.
The teams will generally purchase securities if their internal outlook suggests a
security is undervalued by the market and sell securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is overvalued by the market.
The goal is to identify and evaluate investment opportunities that others may have missed.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer. Issuers generally do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured, which increases its credit risk.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole and there may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange
rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent the Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of other portfolio investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful and the Fund may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted
may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which would adversely impact the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its debt securities. For this reason, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and
related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund's use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund's return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index. The index, which is described in “Description of Index” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy.
Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
| | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Thanos Bardas (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment
Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), Ashok Bhatia, CFA (Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income of the Manager), David M. Brown, CFA (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income
of the Manager), Robert Dishner (Managing Director of the Manager) and Thomas Sobanski (Senior Vice President of the Manager). Messrs. Bardas and Brown have managed the Fund since April 2009. Mr. Bhatia has managed the Fund since December 2017. Messrs. Dishner and Sobanski have managed the Fund since December 2024.
Buying and Selling Shares
Trust Class of the Fund is closed to new investors. Only certain investors are allowed to purchase Trust Class shares of the Fund. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus.
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form.
Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace
retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares.
For certain investors, shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger
Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express
delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 (Retail Services)
or 800-366-6264 (Institutional Support Services) for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for
eligibility requirements for direct purchases of Trust Class shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.
The minimum initial investment in Trust Class is $1,000. Additional investments can
be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with
Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale
of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider
or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider
or visit its website for more information.
Descriptions of Certain Practices and Security Types
Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks and other securities
that pay interest or dividends and are convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks. Convertible
securities generally have some features of common stocks and some features of debt securities. In general, a convertible security
performs more like a stock when the underlying stock's price is high relative to the conversion price (because it is assumed
that it will be converted into the stock) and performs more like a debt security when the underlying stock's price is low relative
to the conversion price (because it is assumed that it will mature without being converted). Convertible securities typically pay
an income yield that is higher than the dividend yield of the issuer's common stock, but lower than the yield of the issuer's debt
securities.
Derivatives. A derivative is generally a financial contract the value of which depends on, or
is derived from, changes in the value of one or more “reference instruments,” such as underlying assets (including securities),
reference rates, indices or events. Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, credit, interest rates, commodities, currencies
or currency exchange rates, or related indices. A derivative may also contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the reference
instrument. Derivatives may be traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations, or in private transactions
with other parties in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market with a single dealer or a prime broker acting as an intermediary with
respect to an executing dealer. Derivatives may be used for hedging purposes and non-hedging (or speculative) purposes. Some derivatives
require one or more parties to post “margin,” which means that a party must deposit assets with, or for the benefit of,
a third party, such as a futures commission merchant, in order to initiate and maintain the derivatives position. Margin is typically
adjusted daily, and adverse market movements may require a party to post additional margin.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts (“Forward Contracts”). A forward contract is a contract for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a future date at a fixed price. Forward contracts
are not required to be traded on organized exchanges or cleared through regulated clearing organizations.
Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying asset at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a securities index
or other reference instrument at a future date.
Swaps. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange one or more payments
based, for example, on the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined
reference instruments. Swap transactions generally may be used to obtain exposure to a reference instrument without
owning or taking physical custody of the reference instrument and generally do not involve delivery of the notional
amount of the agreement. Swaps have historically been OTC instruments; however, recent legislation requires
many swaps to be executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing
organization.
There are various types of swaps including, but not limited to, the following: interest
rate swaps (exchanging a floating interest rate for a fixed interest rate); total return swaps (exchanging a floating
interest rate for the total return of a reference instrument); credit default swaps (buying or selling protection against
certain designated credit events); and options on swaps (“swaptions”) (options to enter into a swap agreement).
Emerging Market Countries. Emerging market countries are generally considered to be those countries whose economies
are less developed than the economies of countries such as the United States or most nations
in Western Europe.
Fixed Income Securities. Debt securities may consist of fixed and floating rate obligations of various credit
quality and duration and may be issued by: corporate entities; trusts; domestic issuers, including securities
issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; foreign
issuers, including in emerging markets, and including foreign governments and supranational entities; and municipal issuers, including
within the U.S. and its territories. Such obligations may include: bonds, loans, inflation-linked debt securities, when-issued
and forward-settling securities, commercial paper, mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities, and
hybrid securities (including convertible securities).
Foreign Markets. There are many promising opportunities for investment outside the United States.
Foreign markets can respond to different factors and therefore may follow cycles that are different from
each other. For this reason, many investors put a portion of their portfolios in foreign investments as a way of gaining further diversification.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities. Inflation-linked debt securities are debt securities whose principal value is periodically
adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal
value of inflation-linked debt securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated
with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced.
Loans. Loans are a type of debt security that may be made in connection with, among other
things, recapitalizations, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, dividend issuances and refinancings. The loans in which the Fund typically invests are structured and administered by a third party that acts as agent for a group of lenders that make
or hold interests in the loan. The Fund may acquire interests in such loans by taking an assignment of all or a portion of a direct
interest in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a participation in an interest in a loan that continues
to be held by another institution.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) typically offer investors
higher yields than other fixed income securities. The higher yields are usually justified
by the weaker credit profiles of these issuers as compared to investment grade issuers. Lower-rated debt securities may include debt
obligations of all types issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporate and governmental entities, including bonds, debentures and notes,
loan interests and preferred stocks that have priority over any other class of stock of the entity as to the distribution of
assets or the payment of dividends.
Municipal Securities. Municipal securities include, among other types of instruments, general obligation
bonds, revenue bonds, private activity bonds, anticipation notes and tax-exempt commercial paper. General
obligation bonds are backed by the full taxing power of the issuing governmental entity. Revenue bonds are backed only by
the income from a specific project, facility, or tax. Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance
various privately operated facilities, and are generally supported only by revenue from those facilities, if any. They are not backed
by the credit of any governmental or public authority. Anticipation notes are issued by municipalities in expectation of future
proceeds from the issuance of bonds or from taxes or other revenues and are payable from those bond proceeds, taxes, or revenues.
Tax-exempt commercial paper is issued by municipalities to help finance short-term capital or operating requirements.
Additional Information about Principal Investment Risks
This section provides additional information about the Fund’s principal investment risks described in the Fund Summary section. The following risks are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed
importance or potential exposure.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a
security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, with a higher risk of default, or other less favorable characteristics. This may reduce the amount of the Fund’s
distributions. In addition, the Fund may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. The likelihood of a call also may impact the price of a security.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality,
or other issuer, usually for purposes such as financing current operations. Issuers generally
do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. The Fund may invest in commercial paper that cannot be resold to the public without an
effective registration statement under the 1933 Act. Among other factors, the value of commercial paper may be affected
by changes in interest rates and the credit rating and financial condition of the issuer. Commercial paper is subject to
the risk that the issuer will be unable to issue sufficient new commercial paper to meet the repayment obligations under its outstanding
commercial paper (commonly referred to as rollover risk). While some unregistered commercial paper is deemed illiquid,
the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers
have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses. Commercial paper is generally unsecured,
which increases its credit risk, and is usually issued at a discount from their value at maturity.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a
security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the
underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks, and its price may be
as volatile as that of the underlying stock, when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price, and a convertible
security is subject to the market risks of debt securities, and is particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, when the underlying
stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible
securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Because their value can be influenced by many
different factors, convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than the underlying common stocks. Securities
that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities
that are convertible only at the option of the holder.
Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and
are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). Lower-rated debt securities involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Lower-rated debt securities may fluctuate more widely
in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. The credit rating of a company’s convertible securities is
generally lower than that of its non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities
are normally considered “junior” securities—that is, the company usually must pay interest on its non-convertible debt securities
before it can make payments on its convertible securities. If the issuer stops paying interest or principal, convertible
securities may become worthless and the Fund could lose its entire investment. To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities
issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small-
and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole. There may also be less trading in small-
or mid-cap securities, which means that buy and sell transactions in those securities could have a larger impact on a security’s
price than is the case with large-cap securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become
less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of
an issuer, factors affecting an issuer directly (such as management changes, labor relations, collapse of key suppliers or customers,
or material changes in overhead costs), factors affecting the industry in which a particular issuer operates (such as competition
or technological advances) and changes in general social, economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default
by an issuer, which may affect a security’s credit quality or value. A downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could
affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities.
Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security,
the more sensitive it is to credit risk. In addition, lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and
may negatively affect a security’s liquidity. Ratings represent a rating agency’s opinion regarding the quality of a security and are not
a guarantee of quality, and do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. In addition, rating agencies may fail
to make timely changes to credit ratings in response to subsequent events and a rating may become stale in that it fails to reflect
changes in an issuer’s financial condition. The credit quality of a security or instrument can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly,
which may negatively impact its liquidity and value. The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement
(for example, guarantees, letters of credit, or bond insurance). Entities providing credit or liquidity support also may be affected
by credit risk. Credit enhancement is designed to help assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against
losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative
to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign
currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Domestic
issuers that hold substantial foreign assets may be similarly affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to factors
external to a country’s economy, which makes the forecasting of currency market movements extremely difficult. Currency exchange
rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including
investor perception of a country’s economy and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign
governments, central banks, or supranational entities, such as the International Monetary Fund; or by currency controls or political
developments in the U.S. or abroad. To the extent the Fund invests or hedges based on the perceived relationship between two
currencies, there is a risk that the correlation between those currencies may not behave as anticipated.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing
in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in
unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, which can magnify the impact of a decline in the value of the reference
instrument underlying the derivative, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives can have the potential
for unlimited losses, for example, where the Fund may be called upon to deliver a security it does not own. Derivatives may at
times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated
price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative
instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There
may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative,
and the reference instrument may not perform as anticipated. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could
render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated
with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no
assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives may
involve fees, commissions, or other costs that may reduce the Fund’s gains or exacerbate losses from the derivatives. In addition,
the Fund’s use of derivatives may have different tax consequences for the Fund than an investment in the reference instruments,
and those differences may increase the amount and affect the timing of income recognition and character of taxable distributions
payable to shareholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy
its distribution requirements. Certain aspects of the regulatory treatment of derivative instruments, including federal income tax,
are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. In October
2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the
1940 Act which regulates the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under
the Investment Company Act (‘‘Rule 18f-4’’). The Fund has adopted a Rule 18f-4 Policy which provides, among other things, that
unless the Fund qualifies as a ‘‘limited derivatives user’’ as defined in Rule 18f-4, the Fund is subject to a comprehensive
derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, and to provide additional
disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. If the Fund qualifies as a limited derivatives user, Rule 18f-4 requires the Fund to have
policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk.
Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the
derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. Counterparty risk may arise because
of market activities and developments, the counterparty’s financial condition (including financial difficulties, bankruptcy,
or insolvency), or other reasons. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund
to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. Counterparty risk is generally thought to be greater with OTC derivatives
than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. However, derivatives that are traded on organized exchanges
and/or through clearing organizations involve the possibility that the futures commission merchant or clearing organization
will default in the performance of its obligations. In addition, during periods of market volatility, such exchanges or clearing organizations
may suspend or limit trading in a derivative, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to
price.
When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral;
these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund
from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other
opportunities as they arise. Derivatives that have margin requirements involve the risk that if the Fund has insufficient cash or eligible
margin securities to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities or other instruments from its
portfolio at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. A relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in substantial losses
to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. The Fund normally will remain obligated to meet margin requirements until a derivatives
position is closed.
Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential
changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.
New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Although the Fund may use derivatives to attempt to hedge against certain risks, the
hedging instruments may not perform as expected and could produce losses.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in
foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward
contracts on currencies. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote
prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which
the counterparty is prepared to buy and the price at which it is prepared to sell).
Futures. There can be no assurance that, at all times, a liquid market will exist for offsetting
a futures contract that the Fund has previously bought or sold and this may result in the inability to close a
futures position when desired. This could be the case if, for example, a futures price has increased or decreased by the
maximum allowable daily limit and there is no buyer (or seller) willing to purchase (or sell) the futures contract that
the Fund needs to sell (or buy) at that limit price. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends
on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent the Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of
the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. Swap transactions generally do not involve delivery of reference instruments or payment
of the notional amount of the contract. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is
limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to
a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit
default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and
cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions
may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an
organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this
may not always be the case.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks
in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure
to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and
other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries,
organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure;
fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization
or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or
other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. The Fund may have
limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities. In addition, key information about
the issuer, the markets or the local government or economy may be unavailable, incomplete, or inaccurate. As a result,
foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets,
or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, securities
issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory
conditions in foreign countries, as well as currency exchange rates. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is
traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it
conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than
those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may
be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on
foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or
impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars,
there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition,
the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible
to local and global changes, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Emerging market countries may
also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently
than U.S. law would. Shareholder claims and legal remedies that are common in the United States may be difficult or
impossible to pursue in many emerging market countries. In addition, due to jurisdictional limitations, matters of comity
and various other factors, U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-U.S. companies
and non-U.S. persons in certain emerging market countries. Most foreign and emerging market companies are not subject to the
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States, which may impact
the availability and quality of information about foreign and emerging market issuers. Securities markets in emerging market countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Additionally, in times of market stress, regulatory
authorities of different emerging market countries may apply varying techniques and degrees of intervention, which can have
an effect on prices. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of
issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings
in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the
issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities
of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions
may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied
broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods
of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments,
may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s
ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. market. Over a
given period of time, foreign securities may underperform U.S. securities—sometimes for years. The Fund could also underperform if it invests in countries or
regions whose economic performance falls short. To the extent that the Fund invests a portion of
its assets in one country, state, region or currency, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value
of the Fund’s investments more than if its investments were not so invested.
The effect of economic instability on specific foreign markets or issuers may be difficult
to predict or evaluate. Some national economies continue to show profound instability, which may in turn affect their international
trading and financial partners or other members of their currency bloc.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio
turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s
performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio
turnover rate.
Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation.
The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security
is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation index used will accurately
measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities
may lose value in the event that the actual rate of inflation is different than the rate of the inflation measure. In addition,
any inflation measure used could be discontinued, substituted or changed in a manner that could adversely impact such securities.
Repayment of the original principal upon maturity (as adjusted upward for inflation,
as needed) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed debt securities. For inflation-linked debt securities that
do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the securities repaid at maturity may be less than the original
principal value. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real
interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked
debt security falls when real interest rates rise, (i.e., when nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation),
and rises when real interest rates fall (i.e., when inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates). Interest payments on
inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods
of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.
Any increase in the principal value of an inflation-linked debt security is taxable
in the year the increase occurs, even though the security’s holders do not receive cash representing the increase until the security
matures. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements.
The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed
by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.
Interest Rate Risk. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities,
will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such
securities may decline. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable and may be made in response to the supply and demand for credit, changes to government monetary policy and other initiatives, inflation rates, perceptions of risk and other factors. A changing interest rate environment increases certain risks, including the potential for periods of volatility. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration
(i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated
with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price.
For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, a debt security with a duration of two years will decrease in value by approximately 2%.
Thus, the Fund’s sensitivity to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the Fund’s overall duration. Short-term securities
tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates, and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates.
Short-term and long-term interest rates, and interest rates in different countries, do not necessarily move in the same direction
or by the same amount. The link between interest rates and debt security prices tends to be weaker with lower-rated debt securities
than with investment grade debt securities.
Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term
interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value
when market rates rise, and produces more income and may increase in value when market rates fall. Whereas ordinary fixed income
securities suffer a decline in value when market rates rise, this phenomenon is exacerbated in the case of inverse floaters,
because when market rates rise, the rate paid by the inverse floater declines, producing greater price and income volatility than a
conventional fixed-rate bond with comparable credit quality and maturity. An investment in an inverse floater involves the risk
of loss of principal and may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform
the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may
make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses. Accordingly, the holder
of an inverse floater could lose more than its principal investment.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the
market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s securities may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including
disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against
the issuer, perceived poor management performance, changes in economic or political conditions or in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. Certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, may have a significant
adverse effect on the value of an issuer’s securities.
Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more
volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in
losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses or magnify the risks of
other portfolio investments. For certain instruments
or transactions that create leverage, or have embedded leverage, relatively small
market fluctuations may result in large changes in the value of such investments. In addition, the costs that the Fund pays to engage
in these practices are additional costs borne by the Fund and could reduce or eliminate any net investment profits. Unless the profits
from engaging in these practices exceed the costs of engaging in these practices, the use of leverage will diminish the investment
performance of the Fund compared with what it would have been had the Fund not used leverage. There can be no assurance that
the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by
a significant amount. When the Fund uses leverage or utilizes certain of these practices, it may need to dispose of some of
its holdings at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy regulatory or other requirements.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment or type of investment
in which the Fund invests is or may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently
can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time. An illiquid investment means any investment that the Fund
reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the
sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Judgment plays a greater role in pricing these investments
than it does in pricing investments having more active markets, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not
be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. The Fund may receive illiquid securities as a result of its investment
in securities involved in restructurings. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes
abruptly, particularly during periods of increased market volatility, adverse investor perception, economic uncertainty
or changes in interest rates. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of
securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time, which can be extensive.
An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage
of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. Market participants
attempting to sell the same or a similar investment at the same time as the Fund could decrease the liquidity of such investments,
especially during times of market volatility. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even
an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors,
instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption
proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced
to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may
be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to
sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests
may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established
uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds
7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available
to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow
money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer
or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower,
limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance
highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse
changes in economic or market conditions.
Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive
covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets, although many covenants may be waived or modified with
the consent of a certain percentage of the holders of the loans even if the Fund does not consent. There is a risk that the value
of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to
cover the amount owed on the loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In the
event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further,
in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value
of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral
may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. In addition, if a secured loan
is foreclosed, the Fund may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral
may be difficult to sell and the Fund would bear the risk that the collateral may decline in value while the Fund is holding it. Further,
there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may
need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation, which may increase
the Fund’s operating expenses. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose
the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining
an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee
or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and
obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired
by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor.
When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over
the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct
rights against the borrower. As a participant, the Fund also would be subject to the risk that the lending bank or other party selling
the participation interest would not remit the Fund’s pro rata share of loan payments to the Fund. It may be difficult for the
Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank’s financial condition. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or
may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which
it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
The liquidity of floating rate loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary
market trading in such loans, may vary, sometimes significantly, over time and among individual floating rate loans and loans
may be subject to wide bid/ask spreads. During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult;
and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.
Courts have held in some situations that loan interests are not “securities,” and
purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not have the benefit of the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Also,
if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer (which is not uncommon in the loan market), the Fund
may, as a result, be unable to sell the issuer’s securities.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities
determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade
debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes
in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected
to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid and also may require a greater degree of judgment to
establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, and may carry higher transaction costs. In particular,
these securities may be issued by smaller companies or by highly indebted companies, which are generally less able than more
financially stable companies to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. Lower-rated debt securities are considered
by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal
and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and
interest. Such securities are susceptible to such a default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and business
developments relating to the issuer, the industry in general, market interest rates and market liquidity. Such securities may
be unsecured or have insufficient collateral and may be subordinated to other creditors, which increases the risk of loss on these
securities. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case
the Fund may lose its entire investment. Where it deems it appropriate and in the best interests of Fund shareholders, the Fund may
incur additional expenses to seek recovery on a defaulted security and/or to pursue litigation to protect the Fund’s investment.
The credit rating of a security may not accurately reflect the actual credit risk
associated with such a security. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers
of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, such as a high profile default, whether
or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of such securities, especially in a thinly traded
or illiquid market. To the extent the Fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted lower-rated debt securities or unrated debt securities
of comparable quality, these securities may involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities, costs, and liquidity and
valuation difficulties.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments,
including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political,
regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning
these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Changes in the financial condition of a single issuer
may impact a market as a whole. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods and may not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may
miss out on opportunities for better performance. Geopolitical risks, including terrorism, tensions or open conflict between
nations, or political or economic dysfunction within some nations that are major players on the world stage or major
producers of oil, may lead to overall instability in world economies and markets generally and have led, and may in the future lead,
to increased market volatility and may have
adverse long-term effects. Similarly, environmental and public health risks, such
as natural disasters or epidemics, or widespread fear that such events may occur, may impact markets and economies adversely and cause
market volatility in both the short- and long-term.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market
or the assets underlying the securities. These securities differ from more traditional debt securities because the principal is paid
back over the life of the security rather than at the security’s maturity; however, principal may be repaid early if a decline in interest
rates causes many borrowers to refinance (known as prepayment risk), or repaid more slowly if a rise in rates causes refinancings
to slow down (known as extension risk). Thus, they tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types
of debt securities and as a result, these securities may exhibit additional volatility during periods of interest rate turmoil. Asset-backed
securities also may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
may be “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool and a holder of those “subordinated” securities would receive payments only
after any obligations to other more “senior” investors have been satisfied. In addition, investments in mortgage- and
asset-backed securities may be subject to call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree
than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages
or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will
adversely affect the security’s value. Further, such securities may have credit support, the utility of which could be negatively
affected by such conditions as well.
Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political
and legislative changes or litigation at the federal or state level, as well as uncertainties related
to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality may hinder its ability
to pay interest and principal. Under some circumstances, municipal securities might not pay interest unless the state legislature
or municipality authorizes money for that purpose. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal
securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic
or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The amount of
public information available about municipal securities is generally less than that available about corporate securities.
In the case of insured municipal securities, insurance supports the commitment that
interest payments will be made on time and the principal will be repaid at maturity. Insurance does not, however, protect the
Fund or its shareholders against losses caused by declines in a municipal security’s market value. The Portfolio Managers generally
look to the credit quality of the issuer of a municipal security to determine whether the security meets the Fund’s quality restrictions,
even if the security is covered by insurance. However, a downgrade in the claims-paying ability of an insurer of a municipal
security could have an adverse effect on the market value of the security.
Municipal issuers may be adversely affected by high labor costs and increasing unfunded
pension liabilities, and by the phasing out of federal programs providing financial support. In addition, changes in the financial
condition of one or more individual municipal issuers or insurers of municipal issuers can affect the overall municipal
securities market. At times, the secondary market for municipal securities may not be liquid, which could limit the Fund’s ability to
sell securities it is holding. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and
local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.
Financial difficulties of municipal issuers may continue or get worse. Further, the application of state law to municipal
issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state.
Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer
restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting
other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when
it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as
their fair market value.
Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects,
especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the
overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project
or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the
issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest
and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.
Municipal securities may also have exposure to potential risks resulting from climate
change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a municipal issuer’s
financial plans in current or future years or may impair the source of revenues backing a municipal issuer’s revenue bonds, which
would adversely impact the Fund.
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may
be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems,
human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to
gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the
securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks (e.g., malicious software coding, ransomware,
or “hacking”) or unintentional events (e.g., inadvertent release of confidential information). A cybersecurity incident
could, among other things, result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, customers or employees being unable to access electronic
systems (“denial of services”), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer
or network system, or remediation costs associated with system repairs. A cybersecurity incident may not permit the Fund and
its service providers to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and calculating net
asset value. Any cybersecurity incident could have a substantial adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders.
The occurrence of any of these problems could result in a loss of information, regulatory
scrutiny, reputational damage and other consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund or its
shareholders. The Manager, through its monitoring and oversight of Fund service providers, endeavors to determine that service
providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to such problems. While the Manager has established
business continuity plans and risk management systems seeking to address these problems, there are inherent limitations
in such plans and systems, and it is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the
cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate
their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations,
and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect
issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial
intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational
efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their
business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or
services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal
liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with
or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of
data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's
effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized
and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and
competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise
significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale,
and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may
lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates
traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory
frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes
could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with
both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities
are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation
in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Preferred securities generally are subordinated to debt securities in an issuer’s
capital structure, subjecting them to a greater risk of non-payment than those more senior securities. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of
the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders
of its debt securities. For these reasons, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk
than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived
changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to
adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks, and
there is a risk an issuer of preferred securities may call or redeem prior to any stated maturity.
Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion,
to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Preferred shareholders may have certain
rights if distributions are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer, may suffer a loss of value if
distributions are not paid, and may be required to
report the deferred distribution on its tax returns, even though it may not have received
any cash. Generally, preferred shareholders have no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless distributions
to preferred shareholders have not been paid for a stated period, at which time the preferred shareholders may elect a number of directors
to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the distributions have been paid to preferred shareholders, the preferred shareholders
no longer have voting rights.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain
debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after
(extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates
or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity
(i.e., a prepayment). As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a
lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may
lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Prepayments could also create capital gains tax liability in some instances.
Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration
of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines. If
the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the Fund may be unable to capitalize on
securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that
are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless
certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. These securities may not be listed
on an exchange and may have no active trading market. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these
securities may be more volatile and more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened
risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities
may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the
Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. A security that was
liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for private placements
and other restricted securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for sale and there may be
substantial delays in effecting the registration. If, during such a delay, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain
a less favorable price than prevailed at the time it decided to seek registration of the securities. In addition, the Fund may
get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security, so it may be less able to anticipate
a loss. Also, if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may, as a result, be legally prohibited
from selling the securities.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent
years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies
are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or
region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets
may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this
time.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad,
in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation.
The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their
approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in
interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating
economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market
value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce
liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets. Also, regulators have expressed concern that changes in
interest rates may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility.
Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility,
disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between
countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the
U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen
at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may
decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Regulators in the U.S. adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some
of which implicate a Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known.
Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit a Fund’s ability to pursue its
investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact its performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty
on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation
of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely,
the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen
and could adversely impact performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine,
in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of
ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and
risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of a Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely
affect the global economy. The impact of epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future could negatively affect the
economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity,
in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time and could last for an extended period of time.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market
risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling;
a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political,
regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact
financial markets and the broader economy.
China’s economy, which had been sustained through debt-financed spending on housing
and infrastructure, appears to be experiencing a significant slowdown and growing at a lower rate than prior years.
While the Chinese government appears to be taking measures to address these issues, due to the size of China’s economy, the resolution of these issues could impact a number of other countries.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen.
The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
A rise in sea levels, a change in weather patterns, including an increase in powerful
storms and large wildfires, and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause properties to lose value or become unmarketable
altogether. Unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected zones may not ever recover their value.
Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain
land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.
Losses related to climate change could adversely affect corporate issuers and mortgage
lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities that depend on tax or other revenues and tourist
dollars generated by affected properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate, municipal or mortgage-backed securities.
Since property and security values are driven largely by buyers’ perceptions, it is difficult to know the time period over
which these market effects might unfold.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause
the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity,
or at a loss or depressed value. The sale of assets to meet redemption requests may cause the Fund to realize capital gains, which
would result in the Fund having to distribute such gains. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries
control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable
cash flow needs. In addition, the risk is heightened if redemption requests are unusually large or frequent or occur
during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs and
create adverse tax consequences.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out
of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with
a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors
to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Risk Management. Management undertakes certain analyses with the intention of identifying particular
types of risks and reducing the Fund’s exposure to them. However, risk is an essential part of investing,
and the degree of return an investor might expect is often tied to the degree of risk the investor is willing to accept. By its
very nature, risk involves exposure to the possibility of adverse events. Accordingly, no risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s
exposure to such events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by adverse events, and
especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. While the prospectus describes material risk factors associated
with the Fund’s investment program, there is no assurance that as a particular situation unfolds in the markets, management
will identify all of the risks that might affect the Fund, rate their probability or potential magnitude correctly, or be able
to take appropriate measures to reduce the Fund’s exposure to them. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk
prove to be incorrect. Measures taken with the intention of decreasing exposure to identified risks might have the unintended
effect of increasing exposure to other risks.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant
positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector,
industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect
those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market may be more volatile, and
may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic,
political or regulatory events. The Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors, industries, or sub-sectors
do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or industries may adversely affect performance.
For information about the risks of investing in particular sectors, see the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may
delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example,
to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s
debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required
by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There
may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings
through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk
is increased for emerging market issuers. Certain emerging market or developing countries are among the largest debtors to commercial
banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of
principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign
debt on a timely basis that led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness.
The Fund may also invest in obligations issued by supranational entities, such as
the World Bank. A supranational entity is financially supported by the governments of one or more countries, has no taxing authority,
and is dependent on its members for payments of interest and principal. There is no guarantee that the members will continue
to make capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal
on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.
Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund’s use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are
deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests.
Holders of the first class of interests, or floating rate certificates, receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates
and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. A remarketing agent for the trust is required to attempt to resell any tendered
floating rate certificates and if the remarketing agent is unsuccessful, the trust’s liquidity provider must contribute cash to ensure
that the tendering holders receive the purchase price of their securities on the repurchase date. Holders of the second class of interests,
or residual income certificates (commonly referred to as “inverse floaters”), receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on
the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and
bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. The distributions from inverse floaters will be reduced (and potentially
eliminated) if short-term interest rates increase. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage
risk. Tender option bonds may have some of the same characteristics as an investment in derivatives. An investment in tender
option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss
of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. In certain instances, a trust may be terminated if, for example, the
issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments, the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded,
or tendered floating rate certificates cannot be resold.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these
guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market
prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government
and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Some are backed by the issuer’s
right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury,
while others are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality.
These securities carry at least some risk of non-payment or default by the issuer. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some
U.S. government securities may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S.
Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. There is no assurance
that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by
law to do so.
In recent periods, the values of U.S. government securities have been affected substantially
by increased demand for them around the world. Increases or decreases in the demand for U.S. government securities may
occur at any time and may result in increased volatility in the values of those securities. In recent years, credit rating agencies
have shown some concern about whether the U.S. government has the political will necessary to service all of its outstanding and
expected future debt, and some have adjusted their ratings or outlook for U.S. government debt accordingly. These developments, and the
factors underlying them, could cause an increase in interest rates and borrowing costs, which may negatively impact both the
perception of credit risk associated with the debt securities issued by the U.S. and the government's ability to access the debt
markets on favorable terms. In addition, these developments could create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which could increase
volatility in both stock and bond markets. These events could result in significant adverse impacts on issuers of securities
held by the Fund.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has
valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities
that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult
to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value
methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an
investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. Investors who purchase or
redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher
redemption proceeds, than they would have received if the Fund had not held fair-valued securities or had used a different methodology.
The value of foreign securities, certain futures, fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected
by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded but before the Fund determines its net asset value. The Fund uses
pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment
at the price established by such pricing services. Different pricing services use different valuation methodologies, potentially resulting
in different values for the same investments. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if a pricing service
were to change its valuation methodology, the value of the Fund’s investments could be impacted. The Fund’s ability to value its investments
in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers,
such as pricing services or accounting agents.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments
with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest
rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments will not generally rise
in value if market interest rates decline. Thus, investing in variable and floating rate instruments generally allows less opportunity
for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in instruments with a fixed interest rate. Certain types of floating rate
instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions
on resale and may lack an active market, which may make them more difficult to value or sell.
Certain variable and floating rate instruments have an interest rate floor feature,
which prevents the interest rate payable by the instrument from dropping below a specified level as compared to a reference interest
rate (the “reference rate”), such as SOFR. Such a floor is designed to protect the Fund from a decrease in the reference rate below the specified level. However, if the reference rate is below the floor, there will be a lag between a rise in the reference
rate and a rise in the interest rate payable by the instrument, and the Fund may not benefit from increasing interest rates for a significant
period of time. Rates on certain variable rate instruments typically only reset periodically.
When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (TBA) mortgage-backed securities) involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or
deliver securities at a later date. Because the Fund is committed to buying them at a certain price, any change in the value of these
securities, even prior to their issuance, affects the Fund’s share value. Accordingly, the purchase of such securities involves
a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. When-issued and forward-settling securities
can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price. When-issued and forward-settling
securities may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy
its purchase obligations. When-issued and forward-settling securities also are subject to the risk that the security will not
be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security. If this occurs, the Fund may lose the opportunity
to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and may forgo any gain in the security’s price. The Fund may sell securities
it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In addition, the purchase
of mortgage-backed securities on a TBA basis
may result in the Fund incurring increased prepayment risks because the underlying mortgages may be
less favorable than anticipated by the Fund.
Information about Additional Risks and Other Practices
As discussed in the Statement of Additional Information, the Fund may engage in certain practices and invest in certain securities in addition to those described as its “principal investment strategies” in the Fund Summary section. For example, should the Fund engage in borrowing or securities lending, or should the Fund use derivatives or invest in foreign securities, it will be subject to the additional risks associated with these practices and securities, some or all of which
may already be included in its “principal investment strategies.”
Borrowing money, securities lending, or using derivatives would create investment
leverage, meaning that certain gains or losses would be amplified, increasing share price movements.
Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in
addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities, and can fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid,
than comparable U.S. securities. Securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating
to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries.
As part of its liquidity management practices, including for cash management purposes
or to facilitate short-term liquidity, the Fund may invest in reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement,
the Fund sells portfolio securities to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase
the securities at an agreed-upon price and date, which reflects an interest payment to that party. Reverse repurchase agreements involve
the risk that the other party will fail to return the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to
the Fund. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the cash collateral held by the
Fund is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase them. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing by the Fund. When the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party
or the securities in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During the term of the
agreement, the Fund may also be obligated to pledge additional cash and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair value
of the transferred security. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements.
In addition, the Fund may be an investment option for a Neuberger Berman mutual fund that is managed
as a “fund of funds.” As a result, from time to time, the Fund may experience relatively large redemptions or investments and could be required
to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it is not advantageous to do so.
In anticipation of adverse or uncertain market, economic, political, or other temporary
conditions, including during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, the Fund may temporarily depart from its goal and use a different investment strategy
(including leaving a significant portion of its assets uninvested) for defensive purposes. Doing
so could help the Fund avoid losses, but may mean lost opportunities. In addition, in doing so different factors could affect the Fund’s performance and the Fund may not achieve its goal. In addition, to the extent the Fund is new or is undergoing a transition (such as a change in strategy, rebalancing,
reorganization, liquidation or experiencing large inflows or outflows) or takes a
temporary defensive position, it may deviate from its principal investment strategies during such period.
The Fund may change its goal without shareholder approval.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information.
The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, taxable bond
market and includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed
securities (MBS) (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) pass-throughs), asset-backed securities
(ABS), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) (agency and nonagency).
Management of the Fund
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”), located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is the Fund’s investment manager and administrator. Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“Distributor”),
located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is the Fund’s distributor. Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement, the Manager is
responsible for choosing the Fund’s investments and handling its day-to-day business. The services provided by
the Manager as the investment manager and administrator include, among others, overall responsibility
for providing all supervisory, management, and administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of
the Fund, which may include, among others, compliance monitoring, operational and investment risk management, legal and administrative
services and portfolio accounting services. The Manager carries out its duties subject to the policies established by
the Board of Trustees. The investment advisory agreement establishes the fees the Fund pays to the Manager for its services as the Fund’s investment manager and the
expenses paid directly by the Fund. Together, the Neuberger Berman affiliates manage approximately
$508 billion in total assets (as of 12/31/2024) and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.
NBIA may engage one or more of foreign affiliates that are not registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“participating affiliates”) in accordance with applicable SEC no-action letters.
As participating affiliates, whether or not registered with the SEC, the affiliates may provide designated investment personnel to associate
with NBIA as “associated persons” of NBIA and perform specific services for NBIA, including services for the Fund, which may involve, among other services, advisory services and portfolio management, research and/or placing orders for securities and other instruments. The designated employees
of a participating affiliate act for NBIA and are subject to certain NBIA policies
and procedures as well as supervision and periodic monitoring by NBIA. The Fund will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result of any such arrangements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund's investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund's Form N-CSR for the period ending October 31, 2024.
Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended to
give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state
securities laws that have not been waived. The Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the
Manager, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third party beneficiaries of,
those contractual arrangements. Where shareholders are not third party beneficiaries of contractual arrangements, those
contractual arrangements cannot be enforced by shareholders acting on their own behalf.
For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager
were 0.80% of average daily net assets for Trust Class.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about
each Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager, and each Portfolio Manager’s ownership
of Fund shares.
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
Thanos Bardas is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 1998 and is the Co-Head
of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. In addition, he is a member of the Asset Allocation Committee.
Mr. Bardas has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since April 2009.
Ashok Bhatia, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in July 2017 and is the
Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bhatia was a senior portfolio manager
and co-leader of the customized fixed income team at another asset manager. He has over 24 years’ experience in the investment
industry. Mr. Bhatia has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2017.
David M. Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He re-joined the firm in January 2003 and
is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. Mr. Brown has been a Portfolio Manager of the
Fund since April 2009.
Robert Dishner is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Dishner joined the firm in 2019 and is a member of the portfolio management team for the firm’s multi-sector fixed income strategies. Mr. Dishner has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2024.
Tom Sobanski, CFA, is a Senior Vice President of the Manager. Mr. Sobanski joined the firm in 2015 and is a member of the portfolio management team for the firm’s multi-sector fixed income strategies. Mr. Sobanski has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2024.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Trust Class shares
for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the
Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the
Fund's most recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund—Trust Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gains (losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund's expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had
not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or
waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived
a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
(4)
The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 206%, 298%, 308%, 308% and 344% for the years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Your Investment
Trust Class shares of the Fund generally are available only through financial intermediaries. For certain investors,
shares of the Fund are also available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the Fund's Distributor (see “Maintaining Your Account”).
Because Trust Class shares of the Fund do not have a sales charge, the price you pay for each share of the Fund is the Fund’s net asset value per share. Similarly, because the Fund does not charge fees for selling shares, the Fund pays you the full share price (net asset value) when you sell shares.
If you use a financial intermediary, that provider may charge fees that are in addition
to those described in this prospectus.
The Fund is generally open for business every day the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”) is
open. The Exchange is generally closed on all national holidays and Good Friday; Fund shares will not be priced on
those days or other days on which the Exchange is scheduled to be closed. When the Exchange is closed for unusual reasons,
Fund shares will generally not be priced although the Fund may decide to remain open and price Fund shares and in such a case, the Fund
would post a notice on www.nb.com.
The Fund normally calculates its share price on each day the Exchange is open once daily
as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In the event of an emergency or other disruption in trading on the Exchange, the Fund’s share price would still normally be determined as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In general, every buy or sell order you place will
go through at the next share price calculated after your order has been received in proper form (see “Maintaining Your Account” for information
on placing orders). Check with your financial intermediary to find out by what time your order must be received so
that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when your financial intermediary accepts orders, it is possible that
the Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to buy or sell shares.
Because foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed, the value
of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change on days when you cannot buy or sell Fund shares. Remember, though, any
purchase or sale takes place at the next share price calculated after your order is received in proper form.
The net asset value per share of Trust class of the Fund is the total value of Fund assets attributable to shares of that class minus the liabilities attributable to that class, divided by the total number
of shares outstanding for that class. Because the value of the Fund's portfolio securities changes every business day, its share price usually changes
as well.
The Fund generally values its investments based upon their last reported sale prices,
market quotations, or estimates of value provided by an independent pricing service as of the time as of which the Fund’s
share price is calculated. Debt securities and certain derivative instruments that do not trade on an exchange generally
are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager on the basis of market quotations
and in the case of derivatives, market data about the underlying investments. Short-term securities held
by the Fund may be valued on the basis of amortized cost, unless other factors indicate that amortized cost is
not an accurate estimate of the security’s value. Equity securities (including securities issued by ETFs) and exchange-traded
derivative instruments held by the Fund generally are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by
the Manager at the last reported sale price or official closing price or, if there is no reported sale quoted
on a principal exchange or market for that security or official closing price, on the basis of market quotations.
Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective
fund’s daily calculated net asset value per share. The prospectuses for these funds explain the circumstances
under which the funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
If a valuation for a security is not available from an independent pricing service
or if the Manager believes in good faith that the valuation does not reflect the amount the Fund would receive on a current sale of that security, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available,
the Fund may use a fair value estimate made according to methods approved by the Manager. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Board of Trustees designated the Manager as the Fund’s
valuation designee. As the Fund’s valuation designee, the Manager is responsible for determining fair value in good
faith for any and all Fund investments. The Fund may also use these methods to value certain types of illiquid securities. Fair
value pricing
generally will be used if the market in which a portfolio security trades closes early
or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated.
The Fund may also fair value securities that trade in a foreign market if significant
events that appear likely to affect the value of those securities occur between the time the foreign market closes and
the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. Significant events may include (1) corporate actions or
announcements that affect a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or
region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts that affect a country or region, or (4) significant domestic or foreign
market fluctuations.
For certain foreign assets, after the relevant foreign markets have closed, a third-party
vendor supplies evaluated, systematic fair value pricing based upon analysis of historical correlation of multiple
factors. In the case of both foreign equity and foreign income securities, in the absence of precise information about
the market values of these foreign securities as of the time as of which the Fund's share price is calculated, the Manager has determined on the basis of available data that prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer
to the prices the Fund could realize on a current sale than are the prices of those securities established at the close
of the foreign markets in which the securities primarily trade. Please see the Fund's Statement of Additional Information for additional detail about the Fund's fair valuation practices.
The effect of using fair value pricing is that a portfolio security will be priced
based on the subjective judgment of the Manager, operating under procedures approved by the Manager, instead of being priced
using valuations from an independent pricing service. Fair value pricing can help to protect the Fund by reducing arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing
will completely prevent dilution of the Fund’s net asset value by such traders.
Trading in securities on many foreign exchanges is normally completed before the Fund
calculates its net asset value. In addition, foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed. As a result,
the value of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change at times or on days when the Fund’s net asset value
is not calculated, when Fund shares do not trade, and when sales and redemptions of Fund shares do not occur.
If you purchase Trust Class shares directly from the Distributor, you have access
to the services listed below. If you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, consult that provider for information about investment
services.
Systematic Investments—This plan lets you take advantage of dollar-cost averaging by establishing periodic
investments of $100 or more a month. You choose the schedule and amount. Your investment money may
come from an eligible money market fund outside the fund family or your bank account.
Systematic Withdrawals—This plan lets you arrange withdrawals of at least $100 from a fund in the fund family
on a periodic schedule. You can also set up payments to distribute the full value of an account
over a given time. While this service can be helpful to many investors, be aware that it could generate capital gains or losses.
Electronic Bank Transfers—When you sell Fund shares, you can have the money sent to your bank account electronically
rather than mailed to you as a check. Please note that your bank must be a member
of the Automated Clearing House, or ACH, system.
Internet Access—At www.nb.com, you can make transactions, check your account and access a wealth of
information.
FUNDfone®— Get up-to-date performance and account information through our 24-hour automated
service by calling 800-335-9366. If you already have an account with us, you can place orders to buy,
sell, or exchange fund shares.
Systematic investing allows you to take advantage of the principle of dollar-cost
averaging. When you make regular investments of a given amount—say, $100 a month—you will end up investing at different share prices over time. When the share price is high, your $100 buys fewer shares; when the share price is
low, your $100 buys more shares. Over time, this can help lower the average price you pay per share.
Dollar-cost averaging cannot guarantee you a profit or protect you from losses in
a declining market. But it can be beneficial over the long term.
Distributions and Taxes
Distributions—The Fund pays out to its shareholders any net investment income and net realized capital
gains. Ordinarily, the Fund declares income dividends daily and pays them monthly and declares and makes
any capital gain distributions once a year (usually in December). Gains from foreign currency transactions, if any, are normally
distributed in December. The Fund may make additional distributions, if necessary, to avoid federal income or excise taxes.
Unless you designate otherwise, your distributions, if any, from the Fund will be reinvested in additional Trust Class shares of the Fund. However, if you prefer, you may receive all distributions in cash or reinvest
capital gain distributions but receive income dividends in cash. Distributions taken in cash can be sent to you by check or by electronic
transfer to a designated bank account or invested in Trust Class shares of another fund in the fund family with the same
account registration. To take advantage of one of these options, indicate your choice on your application or contact the Fund in writing or by phone if you bought shares directly. If you use a financial intermediary, you must consult it about whether your
income dividends and capital gain distributions from the Fund will be reinvested in additional Trust Class shares of the Fund or paid to you
in cash.
How distributions are taxed—Except for tax-advantaged retirement plans and accounts and other tax-exempt investors
(collectively, “exempt investors”), all Fund distributions you receive are generally taxable to
you, regardless of whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares.
Fund distributions to individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), Roth IRAs, and qualified
retirement plans generally are tax-free. Eventual withdrawals from a Roth IRA also may be tax-free, while withdrawals from
other retirement plans and accounts are subject to federal income tax.
Distributions generally are taxable to shareholders other than exempt investors in
the year they are received. In some cases, however, distributions received in January are treated for federal income tax purposes
as if they had been paid the previous December 31. Your tax statement (see “Taxes and You”) will help clarify this for you.
Distributions of net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain
over net long-term capital loss (“dividends”) are taxed as ordinary income. It is not expected that any of the Fund's distributions will be attributable to “qualified dividend income” (generally, dividends the Fund receives on stock of most U.S. and certain foreign corporations), which are
subject to maximum federal income tax rates for individual and certain other non-corporate shareholders
(each, an “individual shareholder”) that are lower than the maximum rates for ordinary income (“lower maximum rates”).
Distributions of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain
over net short-term capital loss) are taxed as long-term capital gain and for individual shareholders are subject to the lower maximum rates.
The tax treatment of capital gain distributions from the Fund depends on how long the Fund held the securities it sold that generated the
gain, not on when you bought your shares of the Fund or whether you reinvested your distributions.
If, for any taxable year, the Fund distributes an amount that exceeds its current earnings and profits (generally,
the sum of its investment company taxable income plus net capital gain for that year)—which might result from, among other things, the difference between book and tax accounting treatment of certain derivatives and foreign
currency transactions—plus its accumulated earnings and profits, if any, that excess generally will be treated as
a return of capital, which will reduce your tax basis in your Fund shares. To the extent that excess is greater than your tax basis, it
will be treated as gain from a redemption of your shares (taxed as described below).
Shareholders should review any notice that accompanies a payment of dividends or other
distributions to determine whether any portion of the payment represents a return of capital rather than a distribution of
the Fund’s net income and/or gains.
How share transactions are taxed—When you sell (redeem) or exchange Fund shares, you generally will realize a taxable
gain or loss. An exception, once again, applies to exempt investors. For individual shareholders,
any capital gain recognized on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares that have been held for more than one year will
qualify for the lower maximum rates.
Additional tax—An individual shareholder’s distributions from the Fund and net gains recognized on redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares are subject to a 3.8% federal tax on the lesser of (1) the
individual’s “net investment income” (which generally includes distributions from the Fund and net gains from the disposition of Fund shares) or (2) the excess of the
individual’s “modified adjusted gross income” over a specified threshold amount. This
tax is in addition to any other taxes due on that income. You should consult your own tax professional regarding the effect, if
any, this provision may have on your investment in Fund shares.
Taxes and You
The taxes you actually owe on Fund distributions and share transactions can vary with
many factors, such as your marginal tax bracket, how long you held your shares and whether you owe federal alternative
minimum tax.
How can you figure out your tax liability on Fund distributions and share transactions?
One helpful tool is the tax statement that we or your financial intermediary sends you after the end of each calendar
year. It details the distributions you received during the past year and shows their tax status. That statement,
or a separate statement from us or your financial intermediary, also covers your share transactions.
Most importantly, consult your tax professional. Everyone’s tax situation is different,
and your tax professional should be able to help you answer any questions you may have.
The Fund is required to withhold at the backup withholding rate from the money you are
otherwise entitled to receive from its distributions and redemption proceeds (regardless of whether you realized
a gain or loss) if you are an individual shareholder who fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number
to the Fund. Withholding at that rate also is required from the Fund’s distributions to which you are otherwise entitled if you are an individual
shareholder and the Internal Revenue Service tells us that you are subject to backup
withholding (1) for failing to properly report the receipt of interest or dividend income or (2) for any other reason.
If you use a financial intermediary, you must supply your signed taxpayer identification
number form (generally, Form W-9) to your financial intermediary, and it must supply its taxpayer identification
number to us, in order to avoid backup withholding.
Buying Shares Before a Distribution
The money the Fund earns, either as net investment income or as net realized capital gains, is
reflected in its share price until it distributes the money. At that time, the amount of the distribution is deducted
from the share price. Because of this, if you buy shares of the Fund just before it makes such a distribution, you will end up getting some of your
investment back as a taxable distribution. You can avoid this situation by waiting
to invest until after the record date for the distribution.
Generally, if you are an exempt investor, there are no current tax consequences to
you from distributions.
Basis Determination and Reporting
Your basis in Fund shares that you acquired or acquire after December 31, 2011 (collectively,
“Covered Shares”), will be determined in accordance with the Fund's default basis determination method, which is average cost basis, unless you affirmatively elect in writing (which may be electronic) to use a different basis
determination method acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service. The basis determination method may not be changed with respect
to a redemption (including a redemption that is part of an exchange) of Covered Shares after the settlement date
of the redemption. The Fund must report to the Internal Revenue Service and furnish to its shareholders the basis
information for Covered Shares. See “Additional Tax Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for more
information about the rules regarding basis determination and the Fund’s reporting obligation. You should consult with your tax professional to determine the best basis determination method for your tax situation and to obtain
more information about how the basis determination and reporting rules apply to you.
When you buy shares — Instructions for buying shares from the Distributor are under “Buying Shares.” See
“Financial Intermediaries” if you are buying shares through a financial intermediary. Whenever
you make an initial investment in the Fund or add to your existing account (except with an automatic investment), you will be
sent a statement confirming your transaction if you bought shares directly. Investors who bought shares through a financial intermediary
should contact their financial intermediary for information regarding transaction statements. Investment checks must
be drawn on a U.S. bank. We cannot accept cash, money orders, starter checks, travelers checks, or other cash equivalents.
We do accept Bank Checks and Cashier’s Checks from U.S. Financial Institutions.
When you purchase shares, you will receive the next share price to be calculated after
your order has been received in proper form. Purchase orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Fund’s transfer agent has received payment for the shares. In the
case of certain institutional investors, the Distributor will process purchase orders
when received, on the basis of a pre-existing arrangement to make payment by the following morning. In addition, if you have established
a systematic investment program (SIP) with the Fund, your order is deemed “received in proper form” on the date you pre-selected on your
SIP application for the systematic investments to occur. Dividends are normally first earned the business
day after your purchase order is received in proper form.
Trust Class of the Fund is closed to new investors. Only certain investors are allowed to purchase Trust Class shares of the Fund, as follows:
■
Grandfathered Investors may purchase Trust Class shares of the Fund. “Grandfathered Investors” are investors in any fund in the Neuberger Berman family of funds who hold their shares directly with Neuberger
Berman, who established accounts in Investor Class or Trust Class shares prior to March 1, 2008, and who have continuously
maintained an account directly with Neuberger Berman since that date. A Grandfathered Investor's “immediate family” (his
or her spouse—or equivalent if recognized under local law—and his or her children under the age of 21) are also deemed “Grandfathered Investors.”
A Grandfathered Investor's mother, father, sister, or brother may open a custodial account
for the Grandfathered Investor's minor children. Grandfathered Investors do not include any financial intermediaries who
have accounts with the Fund or shareholders who invest through such financial intermediaries.
■
Financial intermediaries who established accounts in Trust Class shares of the Fund prior to March 1, 2008, and who have continuously maintained an account in Trust Class shares of the Fund, may continue
to purchase Trust Class shares of the Fund. Self-directed retail shareholders who hold their shares through a financial
intermediary’s account with Neuberger Berman must maintain such account in Trust Class shares of the Fund with the same
financial intermediary to continue to purchase Trust Class shares of the Fund.
Shareholders who, by virtue of an investment made through a financial intermediary,
are permitted to invest in a class that is generally closed to new investors may have to continue to participate in the same
program of fees and services at that financial intermediary to maintain their ability to purchase that class. Please check with your
financial intermediary for more information.
When you sell shares — If you bought your shares from the Distributor, instructions for selling shares are
under “Selling Shares.” See “Financial Intermediaries” if you want to sell shares you purchased through
a financial intermediary. You can place an order to sell some or all of your shares at any time. When you sell shares, you will
receive the next share price to be calculated after your order has been received in proper form. Redemption orders are deemed “received
in proper form” when the Fund’s transfer agent has received your order to sell.
In some cases, you will have to place your order to sell shares in writing, and you
will need a Medallion signature guarantee (see “Medallion Signature Guarantees”).
Dividends are earned through the business day on which your redemption order is received
in proper form. Investors redeeming in full will receive earned dividends on the day they sell their shares; investors
redeeming a portion of their shares will receive earned dividends on the next applicable monthly distribution date.
When selling shares in an account that you do not intend to close, remember to leave
at least $1,000 worth of shares in the account. Otherwise, the Fund has the right to request that you bring the balance back
up to the minimum level. If you have not done so within 60 days, we may close your account and redeem the proceeds.
The Fund reserves the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Fund does not redeem in kind under normal circumstances, but would do so when the Manager or the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the
best interests of the Fund’s shareholders as a whole or the transaction is otherwise effected in accordance with procedures adopted
by the Board of Trustees.
Uncashed checks — We do not pay interest on uncashed checks from Fund distributions or the sale of
Fund shares. We are not responsible for checks after they are sent to you. After allowing a reasonable time
for delivery, please call us if you have not received an expected check. While we cannot track a check, we may make arrangements
for a replacement. Your financial intermediary may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state
government under the state’s unclaimed or abandoned property law.
Statements and Confirmations—Please review your account statements and confirmations carefully as soon as you receive
them. You must contact us within 30 days if you have any questions or notice any discrepancies.
Otherwise, you may adversely affect your right to make a claim about the transaction(s).
When you exchange shares — You can move an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in
the fund family (or to an eligible money market fund outside the fund family) through an exchange
of shares, or by electing to use your cash distributions from one fund to purchase shares of the other fund. There are three
things to remember when making an exchange:
■
both accounts must have the same registration
■
you will need to observe any eligibility requirements, including minimum investment
and minimum account balance requirements for the fund accounts involved
■
because an exchange is treated as a sale (redemption) of the exchanged shares for
federal income tax purposes, consider any tax consequences before placing your order.
The exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor that we believe is trying
to “time the market” or is otherwise making exchanges that we judge to be excessive. Frequent exchanges can interfere with Fund
management and affect costs and performance for other shareholders. Contact your financial intermediary to see if
it allows you to take advantage of the fund exchange program and for its policies to affect an exchange.
In addition, Grandfathered Investors may exchange into Class A shares of a fund in
the fund family without paying any applicable sales charges.
See “Additional Exchange Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for
information regarding eligible money market funds outside the fund family.
Placing orders by telephone — If you use a financial intermediary, contact your financial intermediary for its
policies regarding telephone orders.
Fund investors have the option of placing telephone orders, subject to certain restrictions.
This option is available to you unless you indicate on your account application (or in a subsequent letter to us or to SS&C
Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.) that you do not want it.
Whenever we receive a telephone order, we take steps to make sure the order is legitimate.
These may include asking for identifying information and recording the call. As long as the Fund and its representatives take reasonable measures to verify the authenticity of calls, investors may be responsible for any losses caused by unauthorized
telephone orders.
In unusual circumstances, it may be difficult to place an order by phone. In these
cases, consider sending your order by express delivery. You may also use FUNDfone® or visit our website at www.nb.com.
Proceeds from the sale of shares — The proceeds from the shares you sell are typically sent out the next business day
after your order is executed, and nearly always within seven days regardless of payment type.
When you sell shares through your financial intermediary, contact your provider to find out when proceeds will be sent to you.
There are two cases in which proceeds may be delayed beyond this time:
■
in unusual circumstances where the law allows additional time if needed
■
if a check you wrote to buy shares has not cleared by the time you sell those shares;
clearance may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.
If you think you may need to sell shares soon after buying them, you can avoid the
check clearing time by investing by wire.
The Fund does not issue certificates for shares.
The Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests, under both normal and stressed market conditions, by
redeeming cash and cash equivalent portfolio holdings and/or selling portfolio securities or other
instruments. As described further above and in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, the Fund also reserves the right to redeem an investor’s shares in kind (i.e., providing investors with portfolio securities instead of cash), in whole or in part
to meet redemption requests in stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
The Fund reserves the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Fund also may elect to honor a shareholder’s request for the Fund to pay in kind for redemptions in an attempt to manage any liquidity needs, to
manage and optimize its portfolio composition, to offset transaction costs associated with portfolio transactions, and/or
to more efficiently manage its portfolio. The securities provided to investors in an in-kind redemption may be a pro-rata portion
of the Fund’s portfolio or a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio selected by the Manager based upon various circumstances
and subject to the Fund’s policies and
procedures and any applicable laws or regulations. If the securities provided to investors
in an in-kind redemption are a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio, it will only include securities that have been disclosed
in the Fund's most recent public portfolio holdings disclosure.
Redemptions in kind may cause you to incur transaction costs to the extent you dispose
of the securities redeemed in kind and the value of the securities redeemed in kind may decrease between the time of redemption
and the time of such sale. The Fund may also borrow under any available line of credit and other available methods to meet
redemption requests in both normal and stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
Other policies — Under certain circumstances, which may include normal and stressed market conditions,
the Fund reserves the right to:
■
suspend the offering of shares
■
reject any exchange or purchase order
■
suspend or reject future purchase orders from any investor who has not provided timely
payment to settle a purchase order
■
change, suspend, or revoke the exchange privilege
■
suspend the telephone order privilege
■
satisfy an order to sell Fund shares with securities rather than cash
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”) is restricted, or as
otherwise permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange or the bond market is closed
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange, the Federal Reserve or the bond market closes early (e.g.,
on the eve of a major holiday or because of a local emergency, such as a blizzard)
■
change investment minimums or other requirements for buying and selling, or waive
any minimums or requirements for certain investors
■
remain open and process orders to purchase or sell Fund shares when the Exchange is
closed.
Important information regarding unclaimed/abandoned property — If your financial intermediary (or, if you bought your shares directly, the Distributor) is unable to locate you, then it is required by
law to determine whether your account(s) must be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned.” Your financial intermediary (or the Distributor)
is required to transfer (or escheat) unclaimed or abandoned property to the appropriate state government in accordance
with state law. Your account(s) may also be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned” and subsequently transferred to the appropriate
state government if no activity (as defined by that state) occurs within the account(s) during the period of time specified by
state law or if checks related to the account(s) remain uncashed. Your last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your financial intermediary (or the Distributor)
maintains a correct address for your account(s). An incorrect address may cause your account statements and other mailings
to be returned as undeliverable. Neither the Distributor nor the Fund nor its transfer agent will be liable to investors or their representatives
for good faith compliance with state unclaimed or abandoned property (escheatment) laws. If you use a financial
intermediary, contact that provider regarding applicable state escheatment laws.
Medallion Signature Guarantees
You may need a Medallion signature guarantee when you sell shares directly or through
a financial intermediary. A Medallion signature guarantee is a guarantee that your signature is authentic.
Medallion signature guarantees are required for a variety of transactions including
requests for changes to your account or to the instructions for distribution of proceeds. We reserve the right
to require a Medallion signature guarantee on any transaction at our discretion.
Most banks, brokers, and other financial institutions can provide you with one. Some
may charge a fee; others may not, particularly if you are a customer of theirs.
A notarized signature from a notary public is not a Medallion signature guarantee.
Financial Intermediaries
The Trust Class shares available in this prospectus may be purchased through certain
financial intermediaries such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers.
The fees and policies outlined in this prospectus are set by the Fund and by the Distributor. However, if you use a financial intermediary, most of the information you will need for managing your investment
will come from that provider. This includes information on how to buy and sell shares, investor services,
and additional policies.
If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider to buy or sell shares of
the Fund described in this prospectus.
Most financial intermediaries allow you to take advantage of the fund exchange program,
which is designed for moving an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in the fund family
if made available by that financial intermediary through an exchange of shares.
In exchange for the services it offers, your financial intermediary may charge fees
that are in addition to those described in this prospectus.
Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries
The Distributor and/or its affiliates pay additional compensation, out of their own
resources and not as an expense of the Fund, to certain financial intermediaries, including affiliates, in connection with the
sale, distribution, retention and/or servicing of Fund shares. The amount of these payments may be substantial and
may differ among financial intermediaries based on, for example, the level or type of services provided by a
financial intermediary. These payments are in addition to any fees paid to compensate financial intermediaries for providing
distribution related services to the Fund and/or administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders. These arrangements
are separately negotiated between the Distributor and/or its affiliates, and the recipients of these payments
or their affiliates. If your financial intermediary receives such payments, these payments may provide an incentive for the
financial intermediary to make the Fund's shares available to you or recommend the Fund. If you have purchased shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, please speak with your financial intermediary to learn more about any
payments it receives from the Distributor and/or its affiliates, as well as fees and/or commissions the financial
intermediary charges. You should also consult disclosures made by your financial intermediary at the time of purchase. Any
such payments by the Distributor or its affiliates will not change the net asset value or the price of the Fund's shares. For more information, please see the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees
The Fund has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of
1940. Under the plan, the Fund’s Trust Class shares pays the Distributor a fee at an annual rate of 0.10% of
its average net assets to compensate financial intermediaries for providing distribution related services to the Fund and/or
administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The Distributor may also retain part of this fee as
compensation for providing these services. These fees increase the cost of investment. Because these fees are paid
out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over the long term they could result in higher overall costs than other types
of sales charges.
Information Required from New Accounts
To help the U.S. government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities,
federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each
person who opens an account.
When you open an account, we (which may include your financial intermediary acting
on our behalf) will require your name, address, date of birth, and social security number or other taxpayer identification
number. We may also require other identifying documents. If we cannot verify the information you supply to us
or if it is incomplete, we may be required to return your funds or redeem your account.
If you are a direct investor buying or selling shares, instructions are provided in
the following charts. Investors buying or selling shares through a financial intermediary should contact it for instructions.
|
|
|
|
Your first investment must be at least $2,000
Additional investments can be as little as $100
We cannot accept cash, money orders, starter checks,
travelers checks, or other cash equivalents
We do accept Bank Checks and Cashier’s Checks from U.S.
Financial Institutions
You will be responsible for any losses or fees resulting
from a bad check; if necessary, we may sell other shares
belonging to you in order to cover these losses
All checks must be made out to “Neuberger Berman
Funds”; we cannot accept checks made out to you or
other parties and signed over to us
|
Fill out the application and enclose your check
If regular first-class mail, send to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
P.O. Box 219189
Kansas City, MO 64121-9189
If express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail, send
to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407
|
|
All wires must be for at least $1,000
|
Before wiring any money, call 800-877-9700 for an order
confirmation
Have your financial institution send your wire to SS&C
Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
Include your name, the Fund name, your account number
and other information as requested
|
Exchanging from another
fund
|
All exchanges must be for at least $1,000
Both accounts involved must be registered in the same
name, address and taxpayer identification number
An exchange order cannot be cancelled or changed once it
has been placed
|
Call 800-877-9700 to place your order
To place an order using FUNDfone®, call 800-335-9366
or visit www.nb.com
|
|
We do not accept phone orders for a first investment
Additional investments must be for at least $1,000
Additional shares will be purchased when your order is
received in proper form
Not available on retirement accounts
|
Call 800-877-9700 to notify us of your purchase
Immediately follow up with a wire or electronic transfer
To add shares to an existing account using FUNDfone®,
call 800-335-9366 or visit www.nb.com
|
Setting up systematic
investments
|
All investments must be at least $100
|
Call 800-877-9700 for instructions
|
Selling Shares
|
|
|
|
Unless you instruct us otherwise, we will mail your
proceeds by check to the address of record, payable to the
registered owner(s)
If you have designated a bank account on your
application, you can request that we wire the proceeds to
this account; if the total balance of all of your Neuberger
Berman fund accounts is less than $100,000, you will be
charged an $8.00 wire fee
You can also request that we send the proceeds to your
designated bank account by electronic transfer (ACH)
without a fee
You may need a Medallion signature guarantee
Please also supply us with your e-mail address and
daytime telephone number when you write to us in the
event we need to reach you
|
Send us a letter requesting us to sell shares signed by all
registered owners; include your name, account number,
the Fund name, the dollar amount or number of shares
you want to sell, and any other instructions
If regular first-class mail, send to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
P.O. Box 219189
Kansas City, MO 64121-9189
If express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail, send
to:
Neuberger Berman Funds
430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407
|
|
For amounts of up to $100,000
Not available if you have changed the address on the
account in the past 15 days
|
Write a request to sell shares as described above
Call 800-877-9700 to obtain the appropriate fax number
|
|
All phone orders to sell shares must be for at least $1,000
unless you are closing out an account
Not available if you have declined the phone option or are
selling shares in certain retirement accounts (The only
exception is for those retirement shareholders who are at
least 59½ or older and have their birthdates on file)
Not available if you have changed the address on the
account in the past 15 days
|
Call 800-877-9700 to place your order
Give your name, account number, the Fund name, the
dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell, and
any other instructions
To place an order using FUNDfone®, call 800-335-9366
or visit www.nb.com
|
Exchanging into another
fund
|
All exchanges must be for at least $1,000
Both accounts involved must be registered in the same
name, address and taxpayer identification number
An exchange order cannot be cancelled or changed once it
has been placed
|
Call 800-877-9700 to place your order
To place an order using FUNDfone®, call 800-335-9366
or visit www.nb.com
|
Setting up systematic
withdrawals
|
Withdrawals must be at least $100
|
Call 800-877-9700 for instructions
|
Retirement Plans and Accounts
We offer investors a number of tax-advantaged plans and accounts for retirement saving:
Traditional IRAs allow money to grow tax-deferred until you take it out, usually at
or after retirement. Contributions are deductible for some investors, but even when they are not, an IRA can be beneficial.
Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth like a traditional IRA, but instead of tax-deductible
contributions, the withdrawals are tax-free for investors who meet certain requirements.
Also available: SEP-IRA, SIMPLE-IRA, Keogh, and other types of plans. Coverdell Education
Savings Accounts (formerly Education IRAs), though not for retirement savings, also are available. Consult your
tax professional to find out which types of plans or accounts may be beneficial for you. Call 800-366-6264 for information
on any Neuberger Berman retirement plan or account.
If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider about the services and
information it provides on the Internet.
Investors with Internet access can enjoy many valuable and time-saving features by
visiting us at www.nb.com.
The site offers more complete information on our funds, including current performance
data, portfolio manager interviews, tax information plus educational articles, news and analysis. You can
tailor the site so it serves up information that is most relevant to you.
As a Fund shareholder who bought shares directly from the Distributor, you can use
the web site to access account information and even make secure transactions—24 hours a day.
Frequent purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares (“market-timing activities”)
can interfere with effective Fund management and adversely affect Fund performance in various ways, including by requiring
a portfolio manager to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time or price, by increasing costs (such as
brokerage costs) to the Fund by requiring a portfolio manager to effect more frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
and possibly by requiring a portfolio manager to keep a larger portion of Fund assets in cash, all of which could adversely affect
the interests of long-term shareholders. To discourage market-timing activities by Fund shareholders, the Board of Trustees has
adopted market-timing policies and has approved the procedures of the principal underwriter for implementing those policies.
As described earlier in this prospectus, pursuant to such policies, the exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor
that is believed to be “timing the market” or is otherwise making exchanges judged to be excessive. In furtherance of these policies,
under certain circumstances, the Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange or purchase order; change, suspend or revoke the
exchange privilege; or suspend the telephone order privilege.
The Manager applies the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to market-timing activities by monitoring trading
activity in the Fund, identifying excessive trading patterns, and warning or prohibiting shareholders
who trade excessively from making further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares. These policies and procedures are applied
consistently to all shareholders. Although the Fund make efforts to monitor for market-timing activities, the ability of the Fund to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of omnibus accounts maintained by brokers, retirement plan
accounts and other approved financial intermediaries may be limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary
maintains the underlying shareholder accounts. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to eliminate all market-timing activities.
Portfolio Holdings Policy
A description of the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
The complete portfolio holdings for the Fund are available at www.nb.com/holdings (click on the tab with the name of the
relevant Fund). The complete portfolio holdings for the Fund are generally posted 15-30 days after each month-end.
The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings will remain available at this website until the
subsequent month-end holdings have been posted. Complete portfolio holdings for the Fund will also be available in reports on Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR filed with the SEC. Historical portfolio holdings are available upon request.
Generally, no earlier than five business days after month-end, the Fund may publicly disclose via various shareholder and public communications, such as portfolio manager commentaries, fact sheets or other marketing
materials, which will be publicly available at www.nb.com, certain portfolio characteristics and partial information
concerning portfolio holdings for the month as of month-end, including but not limited to: up to the top 10 holdings of the Fund
(if the Fund engages in short selling, it may also disclose up to the top 10 short positions); up to the top 10 holdings that contributed
to and/or detracted from performance or were the best and/or worst performers; sector breakdowns or changes to portfolio
composition (e.g., buys and sells). This information will typically remain available at this website until information for
the subsequent month has been posted; however, to comply with Rule 30e-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, quarter-end
information may be retained on this website for the Fund’s previous fiscal year. The Fund may also post intra-month updates to holdings and certain portfolio characteristics to www.nb.com. Any such intra-month update would be in addition to
and not in lieu of the holdings disclosure policies described above.
Fund Structure
The Fund offers one or more classes of shares that have identical investment programs,
but may have different fee waivers and different arrangements for distribution and shareholder servicing and, consequently,
different expenses. Shares of a class to which a fee waiver applies may not be available to all investors in the Fund. Rather, they will be made available to investors meeting eligibility criteria outlined in the Prospectuses for such share classes. This prospectus
relates solely to the Trust Class shares of the Fund.
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
If you would like further details on this Fund, you can request a free copy of the following documents:
Shareholder Reports and Form N-CSR. Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual
and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR. In the Fund’s annual report,
you will find the Fund’s performance data and a discussion by the Portfolio Managers about strategies and market conditions that
significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find the Fund’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The SAI contains more comprehensive information on the Fund, including: various types of securities and practices, and their risks, investment limitations and additional
policies and information about the Fund’s management and business structure. The SAI is hereby incorporated by reference into
this prospectus, making it legally part of the prospectus.
Investment Manager: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
You can obtain a shareholder report, SAI, and other information such as financial
statements from your financial intermediary, or from:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
800-366-6264
Website: www.nb.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and
copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request
at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
The Fund’s current net asset value per share is made available at: http://www.nb.com/performance.
The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC”
are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund name in this prospectus is either a service mark or a registered service mark of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. ©2025 Neuberger Berman BD LLC, distributor. All rights reserved.
SEC File Number: 811-03802
A0108 02/25
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
|
|
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
|
|
Prospectus February 28, 2025
These securities, like the securities of all mutual funds, have not been approved
or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has not determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Contents
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
Fund Summary
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
The Fund seeks high total return consistent with capital preservation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | |
| |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | |
| |
Total annual operating expenses | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that
the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. Actual performance
and expenses may be higher or lower.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 102% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests mainly in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. dollar-denominated, High-Yield Bonds (as defined below), with an emphasis on debt securities rated below investment grade (commonly
called “junk bonds”). For purposes of this Fund, High-Yield Bonds are generally defined as those debt securities that,
at the time of investment, are rated in the lowest investment grade category (BBB by S&P Global Ratings, Baa by Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or comparably rated by at least one independent credit rating agency) or lower or, if
unrated, determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in floating rate senior secured loans
issued in U.S. dollars by U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. The Fund considers floating
rate senior secured loans to be High-Yield Bonds. The Fund may invest a significant amount of its assets in loans, including
in participation interests in loans.
The Fund normally expects to have a weighted averaged maturity between five and ten
years. The Fund endeavors to manage credit risk through disciplined credit analysis and diversification of credit quality.
The Fund intends to opportunistically rotate quality and sector exposures throughout the credit cycle, maintaining a higher quality
bias in High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic downturn is underway and increasing lower quality
holdings of High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic expansion is underway. With regard to interest
rate risk, the Portfolio Managers are sensitive to the overall duration of the portfolio in relation to its benchmark and
evaluate the duration of potential new portfolio acquisitions in conjunction with their credit analysis. The Fund invests its assets
in a broad range of issuers and industries.
The Portfolio Managers will seek positive returns through in-depth credit research
utilizing proprietary analytics processes to assess the strength of a company’s credit profile, examples of which include but are not
limited to: their ability to pay principal and
interest, their cash flow and balance sheet composition, and their market position
relative to competitors. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social
and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information,
the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial
metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process.
As part of this analysis, the Portfolio Managers also regularly engage with the management teams of issuers on issues that the Portfolio
Managers believe are material to the credit risk of an issuer. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of
integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply
to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents.
The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact”
or “sustainable” investment strategy.
In addition, the Portfolio Managers analyze and adjust weightings based on general
and sector-specific economic and market conditions, while seeking to diversify across industries, companies and investment
size.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors, industries and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward
foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds
(“ETFs”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.
The Fund does not normally invest in or continue to hold securities that are in default
or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, but may do so depending on market,
company-specific or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe
have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments. The Fund may also invest in
restricted securities.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including obligations of issuers in emerging market countries, denominated in any
currency, but the Fund normally will not invest more than 20% of its net assets at the time of investment in non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes, in High-Yield Bonds (as defined above) and other investment companies that provide investment exposure
to such bonds. The Fund will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This
test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances
will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for high-yield debt and loan instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent the Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a
portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse
investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce
bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or
cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus.
Returns would have been lower/higher if Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-877-9700 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
| | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Joseph Lind (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield
of the Manager), and Christopher Kocinski (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield of the Manager). Mr. Lind
has co-managed the Fund since July 2018, and Mr. Kocinski has co-managed the Fund since May 2019.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form.
Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, retirement
plan administrators, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund's shares. See “Maintaining
Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Class R3 shares.
Tax Information
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial
intermediary, (such as a bank, brokerage firm, retirement plan administrator, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with
Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale
of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider
or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider
or visit its website for more information.
Descriptions of Certain Practices and Security Types
Derivatives. A derivative is generally a financial contract the value of which depends on, or
is derived from, changes in the value of one or more “reference instruments,” such as underlying assets (including securities),
reference rates, indices or events. Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, credit, interest rates, commodities, currencies
or currency exchange rates, or related indices. A derivative may also contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the reference
instrument. Derivatives may be traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations, or in private transactions
with other parties in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market with a single dealer or a prime broker acting as an intermediary with
respect to an executing dealer. Derivatives may be used for hedging purposes and non-hedging (or speculative) purposes. Some derivatives
require one or more parties to post “margin,” which means that a party must deposit assets with, or for the benefit of,
a third party, such as a futures commission merchant, in order to initiate and maintain the derivatives position. Margin is typically
adjusted daily, and adverse market movements may require a party to post additional margin.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts (“Forward Contracts”). A forward contract is a contract for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a future date at a fixed price. Forward contracts
are not required to be traded on organized exchanges or cleared through regulated clearing organizations.
Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying asset at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a securities index
or other reference instrument at a future date.
Swaps. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange one or more payments
based, for example, on the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined
reference instruments. Swap transactions generally may be used to obtain exposure to a reference instrument without
owning or taking physical custody of the reference instrument and generally do not involve delivery of the notional
amount of the agreement. Swaps have historically been OTC instruments; however, recent legislation requires
many swaps to be executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing
organization.
There are various types of swaps including, but not limited to, the following: interest
rate swaps (exchanging a floating interest rate for a fixed interest rate); total return swaps (exchanging a floating
interest rate for the total return of a reference instrument); credit default swaps (buying or selling protection against
certain designated credit events); and options on swaps (“swaptions”) (options to enter into a swap agreement).
Emerging Market Countries. Emerging market countries are generally considered to be those countries whose economies
are less developed than the economies of countries such as the United States or most nations
in Western Europe.
Fixed Income Securities. Debt securities may consist of fixed and floating rate obligations of various credit
quality and duration and may be issued by: corporate entities; trusts; domestic issuers, including securities
issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; foreign
issuers, including in emerging markets, and including foreign governments and supranational entities; and municipal issuers, including
within the U.S. and its territories. Such obligations may include: bonds, loans, inflation-linked debt securities, when-issued
and forward-settling securities, commercial paper, mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities, and
hybrid securities (including convertible securities).
Foreign Markets. There are many promising opportunities for investment outside the United States.
Foreign markets can respond to different factors and therefore may follow cycles that are different from
each other. For this reason, many investors put a portion of their portfolios in foreign investments as a way of gaining further diversification.
Loans. Loans are a type of debt security that may be made in connection with, among other
things, recapitalizations, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, dividend issuances and refinancings. The loans in which the Fund
typically invests are structured and administered by a third party that acts as agent for a group of lenders that make
or hold interests in the loan. The Fund may acquire interests in such loans by taking an assignment of all or a portion of a direct
interest in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a participation in an interest in a loan that continues
to be held by another institution.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) typically offer investors
higher yields than other fixed income securities. The higher yields are usually justified
by the weaker credit profiles of these issuers as compared to investment grade issuers. Lower-rated debt securities may include debt
obligations of all types issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporate and governmental entities, including bonds, debentures and notes,
loan interests and preferred stocks that have priority over any other class of stock of the entity as to the distribution of
assets or the payment of dividends.
Additional Information about Principal Investment Risks
This section provides additional information about the Fund’s principal investment
risks described in the Fund Summary section. The following risks are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed
importance or potential exposure.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a
security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, with a higher risk of default, or other less favorable characteristics. This may reduce the amount of the Fund’s
distributions. In addition, the Fund may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. The likelihood of a call also may impact the price of a security.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become
less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of
an issuer, factors affecting an issuer directly (such as management changes, labor relations, collapse of key suppliers or customers,
or material changes in overhead costs), factors affecting the industry in which a particular issuer operates (such as competition
or technological advances) and changes in general social, economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default
by an issuer, which may affect a security’s credit quality or value. A downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could
affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities.
Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security,
the more sensitive it is to credit risk. In addition, lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and
may negatively affect a security’s liquidity. Ratings represent a rating agency’s opinion regarding the quality of a security and are not
a guarantee of quality, and do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. In addition, rating agencies may fail
to make timely changes to credit ratings in response to subsequent events and a rating may become stale in that it fails to reflect
changes in an issuer’s financial condition. The credit quality of a security or instrument can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly,
which may negatively impact its liquidity and value. The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement
(for example, guarantees, letters of credit, or bond insurance). Entities providing credit or liquidity support also may be affected
by credit risk. Credit enhancement is designed to help assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against
losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative
to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign
currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Domestic
issuers that hold substantial foreign assets may be similarly affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to factors
external to a country’s economy, which makes the forecasting of currency market movements extremely difficult. Currency exchange
rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including
investor perception of a country’s economy and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign
governments, central banks, or supranational entities, such as the International Monetary Fund; or by currency controls or political
developments in the U.S. or abroad. To the extent the Fund invests or hedges based on the perceived relationship between two
currencies, there is a risk that the correlation between those currencies may not behave as anticipated.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing
in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in
unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, which can magnify the impact of a decline in the value of the reference
instrument underlying the derivative, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives can have the potential
for unlimited losses, for example, where the Fund may be called upon to deliver a security it does not own. Derivatives may at
times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated
price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative
instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There
may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative,
and the reference instrument may not perform as anticipated. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could
render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated
with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no
assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives may
involve fees, commissions, or other costs that may reduce the Fund’s gains or exacerbate losses from the derivatives. In addition,
the Fund’s use of derivatives may have different tax consequences for the Fund than an investment in the reference instruments,
and those differences may increase the
amount and affect the timing of income recognition and character of taxable distributions
payable to shareholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy
its distribution requirements. Certain aspects of the regulatory treatment of derivative instruments, including federal income tax,
are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. In October
2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act which regulates the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under
the Investment Company Act (‘‘Rule 18f-4’’). The Fund has adopted a Rule 18f-4 Policy which provides, among other things, that
unless the Fund qualifies as a ‘‘limited derivatives user’’ as defined in Rule 18f-4, the Fund is subject to a comprehensive
derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, and to provide additional
disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. If the Fund qualifies as a limited derivatives
user, Rule 18f-4 requires the Fund to have policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk.
Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the
derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. Counterparty risk may arise because
of market activities and developments, the counterparty’s financial condition (including financial difficulties, bankruptcy,
or insolvency), or other reasons. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund
to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. Counterparty risk is generally thought to be greater with OTC derivatives
than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. However, derivatives that are traded on organized exchanges
and/or through clearing organizations involve the possibility that the futures commission merchant or clearing organization
will default in the performance of its obligations. In addition, during periods of market volatility, such exchanges or clearing organizations
may suspend or limit trading in a derivative, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to
price.
When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral;
these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund
from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other
opportunities as they arise. Derivatives that have margin requirements involve the risk that if the Fund has insufficient cash or eligible
margin securities to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities or other instruments from its
portfolio at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. A relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in substantial losses
to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. The Fund normally will remain obligated to meet margin requirements until a derivatives
position is closed.
Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential
changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.
New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Although the Fund may use derivatives to attempt to hedge against certain risks, the
hedging instruments may not perform as expected and could produce losses.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in
foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward
contracts on currencies. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote
prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which
the counterparty is prepared to buy and the price at which it is prepared to sell).
Futures. There can be no assurance that, at all times, a liquid market will exist for offsetting
a futures contract that the Fund has previously bought or sold and this may result in the inability to close a
futures position when desired. This could be the case if, for example, a futures price has increased or decreased by the
maximum allowable daily limit and there is no buyer (or seller) willing to purchase (or sell) the futures contract that
the Fund needs to sell (or buy) at that limit price. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends
on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent the Fund
enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of
the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. Swap transactions generally do not involve delivery of reference instruments or payment
of the notional amount of the contract. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is
limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to
a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit
default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and
cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions
may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an
organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this
may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities are securities of companies that are in financial distress
and that may be in or about to enter bankruptcy or some other legal proceeding. The Fund may not receive
interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs
to protect its investment. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities
involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. The Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment in distressed
securities or may be required to accept cash, securities or other property with a value less than its original investment. The Fund
may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest
on its portfolio holdings. Distressed securities include loans, bonds and notes, many of which are not publicly traded, and may involve
a substantial degree of risk. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities
meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such
securities may be subject to restrictions on resale. In addition, the prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and
erratic market movements and above-average price volatility. It may be difficult to obtain information regarding the financial
condition of a borrower or issuer, and its financial condition may change rapidly. Also, it may be difficult to value such securities and
the spread between the bid-ask prices of such securities may be greater than expected.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks
in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure
to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and
other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries,
organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure;
fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization
or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or
other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. The Fund may have
limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities. In addition, key information about
the issuer, the markets or the local government or economy may be unavailable, incomplete, or inaccurate. As a result,
foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets,
or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, securities
issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory
conditions in foreign countries, as well as currency exchange rates. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is
traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it
conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than
those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may
be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on
foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or
impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars,
there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition,
the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible
to local and global changes, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Emerging market countries may
also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently
than U.S. law would. Shareholder claims and legal remedies that are common in the United States may be difficult or
impossible to pursue in many emerging market countries. In addition, due to jurisdictional limitations, matters of comity
and various other factors, U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-U.S. companies
and non-U.S. persons in certain emerging market countries. Most foreign and emerging market companies are not subject to the
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States, which may impact
the availability and quality of information about foreign and emerging market issuers. Securities markets in emerging market countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Additionally, in times of market stress, regulatory
authorities of different emerging market countries may apply varying techniques and degrees of intervention, which can have
an effect on prices. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of
issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings
in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the
issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities
of issuers in emerging or less-developed
market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions
may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied
broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods
of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments,
may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s
ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. market. Over a
given period of time, foreign securities may underperform U.S. securities—sometimes for years. The Fund could also underperform if it invests in countries or
regions whose economic performance falls short. To the extent that the Fund invests a portion of
its assets in one country, state, region or currency, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value
of the Fund’s investments more than if its investments were not so invested.
The effect of economic instability on specific foreign markets or issuers may be difficult
to predict or evaluate. Some national economies continue to show profound instability, which may in turn affect their international
trading and financial partners or other members of their currency bloc.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio
turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s
performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio
turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities,
will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such
securities may decline. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable and may be made in response to the supply and demand for credit, changes to government monetary policy and other initiatives, inflation rates, perceptions of risk and other factors. A changing interest rate environment increases certain risks, including the potential for periods of volatility. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration
(i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated
with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price.
For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, a debt security with a duration of two years will decrease in value by approximately 2%.
Thus, the Fund’s sensitivity to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the Fund’s overall duration. Short-term securities
tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates, and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates.
Short-term and long-term interest rates, and interest rates in different countries, do not necessarily move in the same direction
or by the same amount. The link between interest rates and debt security prices tends to be weaker with lower-rated debt securities
than with investment grade debt securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the
market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s securities may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including
disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against
the issuer, perceived poor management performance, changes in economic or political conditions or in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. Certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, may have a significant
adverse effect on the value of an issuer’s securities.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment or type of investment
in which the Fund invests is or may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently
can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time. An illiquid investment means any investment that the Fund
reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the
sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Judgment plays a greater role in pricing these investments
than it does in pricing investments having more active markets, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not
be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. The Fund may receive illiquid securities as a result of its investment
in securities involved in restructurings. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes
abruptly, particularly during periods of increased market volatility, adverse investor perception, economic uncertainty
or changes in interest rates. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of
securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time, which can be extensive.
An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage
of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. Market participants
attempting to sell the same or a similar investment at the same time as the Fund could decrease the liquidity of such investments,
especially during times of market volatility. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even
an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors,
instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption
proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced
to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may
be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to
sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests
may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established
uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds
7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available
to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow
money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer
or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower,
limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance
highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse
changes in economic or market conditions.
Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive
covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets, although many covenants may be waived or modified with
the consent of a certain percentage of the holders of the loans even if the Fund does not consent. There is a risk that the value
of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to
cover the amount owed on the loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In the
event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further,
in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value
of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral
may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. In addition, if a secured loan
is foreclosed, the Fund may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral
may be difficult to sell and the Fund would bear the risk that the collateral may decline in value while the Fund is holding it. Further,
there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may
need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation, which may increase
the Fund’s operating expenses. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose
the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining
an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee
or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and
obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired
by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor.
When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over
the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct
rights against the borrower. As a participant, the Fund also would be subject to the risk that the lending bank or other party selling
the participation interest would not remit the Fund’s pro rata share of loan payments to the Fund. It may be difficult for the
Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank’s financial condition. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or
may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which
it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
The liquidity of floating rate loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary
market trading in such loans, may vary, sometimes significantly, over time and among individual floating rate loans and loans
may be subject to wide bid/ask spreads. During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult;
and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.
Courts have held in some situations that loan interests are not “securities,” and
purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not have the benefit of the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Also,
if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer (which is not uncommon in the loan market), the Fund
may, as a result, be unable to sell the issuer’s securities.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities
determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade
debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes
in interest rates, market activity,
economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected
to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid and also may require a greater degree of judgment to
establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, and may carry higher transaction costs. In particular,
these securities may be issued by smaller companies or by highly indebted companies, which are generally less able than more
financially stable companies to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. Lower-rated debt securities are considered
by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal
and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and
interest. Such securities are susceptible to such a default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and business
developments relating to the issuer, the industry in general, market interest rates and market liquidity. Such securities may
be unsecured or have insufficient collateral and may be subordinated to other creditors, which increases the risk of loss on these
securities. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case
the Fund may lose its entire investment. Where it deems it appropriate and in the best interests of Fund shareholders, the Fund may
incur additional expenses to seek recovery on a defaulted security and/or to pursue litigation to protect the Fund’s investment.
The credit rating of a security may not accurately reflect the actual credit risk
associated with such a security. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers
of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, such as a high profile default, whether
or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of such securities, especially in a thinly traded
or illiquid market. To the extent the Fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted lower-rated debt securities or unrated debt securities
of comparable quality, these securities may involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities, costs, and liquidity and
valuation difficulties.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments,
including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political,
regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning
these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Changes in the financial condition of a single issuer
may impact a market as a whole. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods and may not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may
miss out on opportunities for better performance. Geopolitical risks, including terrorism, tensions or open conflict between
nations, or political or economic dysfunction within some nations that are major players on the world stage or major
producers of oil, may lead to overall instability in world economies and markets generally and have led, and may in the future lead,
to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects. Similarly, environmental and public health risks, such
as natural disasters or epidemics, or widespread fear that such events may occur, may impact markets and economies adversely and cause
market volatility in both the short- and long-term.
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may
be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems,
human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to
gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the
securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks (e.g., malicious software coding, ransomware,
or “hacking”) or unintentional events (e.g., inadvertent release of confidential information). A cybersecurity incident
could, among other things, result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, customers or employees being unable to access electronic
systems (“denial of services”), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer
or network system, or remediation costs associated with system repairs. A cybersecurity incident may not permit the Fund and
its service providers to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and calculating net
asset value. Any cybersecurity incident could have a substantial adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders.
The occurrence of any of these problems could result in a loss of information, regulatory
scrutiny, reputational damage and other consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund or its
shareholders. The Manager, through its monitoring and oversight of Fund service providers, endeavors to determine that service
providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to such problems. While the Manager has established
business continuity plans and risk management systems seeking to address these problems, there are inherent limitations
in such plans and systems, and it is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the
cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate
their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations,
and require ready access to the
internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect
issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial
intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational
efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their
business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or
services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal
liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with
or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of
data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's
effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized
and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and
competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise
significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale,
and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may
lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates
traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory
frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes
could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market
funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance
of those other investment companies and to the allocation of its assets among those other investment companies.
Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as
to the other investment companies’ expenses. If the Fund invests in other investment companies, the Fund may receive distributions
of taxable gains from portfolio transactions by that investment company and may recognize taxable gains from transactions in shares
of that investment company, which could be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders when distributed to them.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying
portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect
its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively
managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track because of, for example, the temporary
unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the
weighting of securities or the number of stocks held. A passively managed ETF may not be permitted to sell poorly performing
stocks that are included in its index. Investing in ETFs could incur brokerage and other trading costs for the Fund.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain
debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments,
shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt
security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity (i.e., a prepayment). As a result of prepayment,
the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value
that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Prepayments
could also create capital gains tax liability in some instances. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower
payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing
the magnitude of any resulting price declines. If the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period
of time, the Fund may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that
are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless
certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. These securities may not be listed
on an exchange and may have no active trading market. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these
securities may be more volatile and more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened
risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities
may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the
Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. A security that was
liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for private placements
and other restricted securities. The Fund may
have to bear the expense of registering such securities for sale and there may be
substantial delays in effecting the registration. If, during such a delay, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain
a less favorable price than prevailed at the time it decided to seek registration of the securities. In addition, the Fund may
get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security, so it may be less able to anticipate
a loss. Also, if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may, as a result, be legally prohibited
from selling the securities.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent
years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies
are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or
region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets
may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this
time.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad,
in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation.
The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their
approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in
interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating
economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market
value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce
liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets. Also, regulators have expressed concern that changes in
interest rates may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility.
Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility,
disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between
countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the
U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen
at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may
decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Regulators in the U.S. adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some
of which implicate a Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known.
Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit a Fund’s ability to pursue its
investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact its performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty
on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation
of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely,
the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen
and could adversely impact performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine,
in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of
ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and
risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of a Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely
affect the global economy. The impact of epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future could negatively affect the
economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity,
in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time and could last for an extended period of time.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market
risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling;
a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political,
regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact
financial markets and the broader economy.
China’s economy, which had been sustained through debt-financed spending on housing
and infrastructure, appears to be experiencing a significant slowdown and growing at a lower rate than prior years.
While the Chinese government appears to be taking measures to address these issues, due to the size of China’s economy, the resolution of these issues could impact a number of other countries.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen.
The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
A rise in sea levels, a change in weather patterns, including an increase in powerful
storms and large wildfires, and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause properties to lose value or become unmarketable
altogether. Unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected zones may not ever recover their value.
Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain
land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.
Losses related to climate change could adversely affect corporate issuers and mortgage
lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities that depend on tax or other revenues and tourist
dollars generated by affected properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate, municipal or mortgage-backed securities.
Since property and security values are driven largely by buyers’ perceptions, it is difficult to know the time period over
which these market effects might unfold.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause
the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity,
or at a loss or depressed value. The sale of assets to meet redemption requests may cause the Fund to realize capital gains, which
would result in the Fund having to distribute such gains. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries
control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable
cash flow needs. In addition, the risk is heightened if redemption requests are unusually large or frequent or occur
during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs and
create adverse tax consequences.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out
of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with
a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors
to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Risk Management. Management undertakes certain analyses with the intention of identifying particular
types of risks and reducing the Fund’s exposure to them. However, risk is an essential part of investing,
and the degree of return an investor might expect is often tied to the degree of risk the investor is willing to accept. By its
very nature, risk involves exposure to the possibility of adverse events. Accordingly, no risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s
exposure to such events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by adverse events, and
especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. While the prospectus describes material risk factors associated
with the Fund’s investment program, there is no assurance that as a particular situation unfolds in the markets, management
will identify all of the risks that might affect the Fund, rate their probability or potential magnitude correctly, or be able
to take appropriate measures to reduce the Fund’s exposure to them. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk
prove to be incorrect. Measures taken with the intention of decreasing exposure to identified risks might have the unintended
effect of increasing exposure to other risks.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant
positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector,
industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect
those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market may be more volatile, and
may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic,
political or regulatory events. The Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors, industries, or sub-sectors
do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or industries may adversely affect performance.
For information about the risks of investing in particular sectors, see the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has
valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities
that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult
to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value
methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an
investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. Investors who purchase or
redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is
holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher
redemption proceeds, than they would have received if the Fund had not held fair-valued securities or had used a different methodology.
The value of foreign securities, certain futures, fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected
by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded but before the Fund determines its net asset value. The Fund uses
pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment
at the price established by such pricing services. Different pricing services use different valuation methodologies, potentially resulting
in different values for the same investments. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if a pricing service
were to change its valuation methodology, the value of the Fund’s investments could be impacted. The Fund’s ability to value its investments
in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers,
such as pricing services or accounting agents.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments
with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest
rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments will not generally rise
in value if market interest rates decline. Thus, investing in variable and floating rate instruments generally allows less opportunity
for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in instruments with a fixed interest rate. Certain types of floating rate
instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions
on resale and may lack an active market, which may make them more difficult to value or sell.
Certain variable and floating rate instruments have an interest rate floor feature,
which prevents the interest rate payable by the instrument from dropping below a specified level as compared to a reference interest
rate (the “reference rate”), such as SOFR. Such a floor is designed to protect the Fund from a decrease in the reference rate below the specified level. However, if the reference rate is below the floor, there will be a lag between a rise in the reference
rate and a rise in the interest rate payable by the instrument, and the Fund may not benefit from increasing interest rates for a significant
period of time. Rates on certain variable rate instruments typically only reset periodically.
Information about Additional Risks and Other Practices
As discussed in the Statement of Additional Information, the Fund may engage in certain
practices and invest in certain securities in addition to those described as its “principal investment strategies” in the Fund
Summary section. For example, should the Fund engage in borrowing or securities lending, or should the Fund use derivatives or invest
in foreign securities, it will be subject to the additional risks associated with these practices and securities, some or all of which
may already be included in its “principal investment strategies.”
Borrowing money, securities lending, or using derivatives would create investment
leverage, meaning that certain gains or losses would be amplified, increasing share price movements.
Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in
addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities, and can fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid,
than comparable U.S. securities. Securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating
to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries.
As part of its liquidity management practices, including for cash management purposes
or to facilitate short-term liquidity, the Fund may invest in reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement,
the Fund sells portfolio securities to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase
the securities at an agreed-upon price and date, which reflects an interest payment to that party. Reverse repurchase agreements involve
the risk that the other party will fail to return the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to
the Fund. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the cash collateral held by the
Fund is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to the Fund. Reverse repurchase
agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated
to repurchase them. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing by the Fund. When the Fund enters
into a reverse repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party
or the securities in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During the term of the
agreement, the Fund may also be obligated to pledge additional cash and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair value
of the transferred security. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements.
In addition, the Fund may be an investment option for a Neuberger Berman mutual fund
that is managed as a “fund of funds.” As a result, from time to time, the Fund may experience relatively large redemptions
or investments and could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it is not advantageous to do so.
In anticipation of adverse or uncertain market, economic, political, or other temporary
conditions, including during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, the Fund may temporarily depart from its goal and use
a different investment strategy (including leaving a significant portion of its assets uninvested) for defensive purposes. Doing
so could help the Fund avoid losses, but may mean lost opportunities. In addition, in doing so different factors could affect the
Fund’s performance and the Fund may not achieve its goal. In addition, to the extent the Fund is undergoing a transition (such as a change in
strategy, rebalancing, reorganization, liquidation or experiencing large inflows or outflows) or takes a
temporary defensive position, it may deviate from its principal investment strategies during such period.
The Fund may change its goal without shareholder approval.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information.
The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, taxable bond
market and includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed
securities (MBS) (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) pass-throughs), asset-backed securities
(ABS), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) (agency and nonagency).
The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated below investment grade corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. In addition to meeting
other criteria, qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch ratings),
and have risk exposure to countries that are members of the FX-G10, Western Europe or territories of the U.S. and Western Europe.
Securities in legal default are excluded from the index. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, provided
the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. Transaction costs will be incorporated into the calculation of total
return for ICE fixed income indices beginning in July 2022.
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”), located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is the Fund’s investment manager and administrator. Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“Distributor”),
located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is the Fund’s distributor. Pursuant to an investment
advisory agreement, the Manager is responsible for choosing the Fund’s investments and handling its day-to-day business.
The services provided by the Manager as the investment manager and administrator include, among others, overall responsibility
for providing all supervisory, management, and administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of
the Fund, which may include, among others, compliance monitoring, operational and investment risk management, legal and administrative
services and portfolio accounting services. The Manager carries out its duties subject to the policies established by
the Board of Trustees. The investment advisory agreement establishes the fees the Fund pays to the Manager for its services as the
Fund’s investment manager and the expenses paid directly by the Fund. Together, the Neuberger Berman affiliates manage approximately
$508 billion in total assets (as of 12/31/2024) and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.
NBIA may engage one or more of foreign affiliates that are not registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“participating affiliates”) in accordance with applicable SEC no-action letters.
As participating affiliates, whether or not registered with the SEC, the affiliates may provide designated investment personnel to associate
with NBIA as “associated persons” of NBIA and perform specific services for NBIA, including services for the Fund, which may involve, among other
services, advisory services and portfolio management, research and/or placing orders for securities and other instruments. The designated employees
of a participating affiliate act for NBIA and are subject to certain NBIA policies
and procedures as well as supervision and periodic monitoring by NBIA. The Fund will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result
of any such arrangements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund's
investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund's Form N-CSR for the period ending October 31, 2024.
Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended to
give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state
securities laws that have not been waived. The Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others,
the Manager, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third party beneficiaries
of, those contractual arrangements. Where
shareholders are not third party beneficiaries of contractual arrangements, those
contractual arrangements cannot be enforced by shareholders acting on their own behalf.
For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager
were 0.75% of average daily net assets for Class R3.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about
each Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager, and each Portfolio Manager’s ownership
of Fund shares.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
Joseph Lind, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He has co-managed the Fund since July 2018
and is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he served as a high yield strategy
portfolio manager at another asset manager from 2012 to 2018.
Christopher Kocinski, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Kocinski joined the firm in 2006 and
is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Before being named co-portfolio manager to the Fund in 2019, Mr.
Kocinski was co-director of non-investment grade credit research and a senior research analyst for the Manager.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund's Class R3 shares
for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund—Class R3 Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gains (losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how
they would have been if certain expense reimbursement/repayment and/or offset arrangements
had not been in
effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all
distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought
and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
Your Investment
Class R3 shares described in this prospectus are available only through financial
intermediaries, such as banks, brokerage firms, retirement plan administrators, and financial advisers.
Class R3 shares generally are available only to 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored
403(b) plans, profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation
plans where shares are held on the books of the Fund through omnibus accounts (either at the plan level or at the level
of the financial intermediary).
Class R3 shares generally are not available to retail non-retirement accounts, traditional
individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), Roth IRAs, Coverdell education savings accounts, SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs, individual
403(b) plans or 529 college savings plans.
Eligible retirement plans generally may open an account and purchase Class R3 shares
by contacting a financial intermediary authorized to sell the Fund's shares. Class R3 shares may not be available through
certain financial intermediaries.
Plan participants who are considering an investment in the Fund should contact their
employer, retirement plan administrator, or service agent that provides shareholder servicing, record keeping, account maintenance
or other services for their retirement plan (“Plan Service Provider”) for details about the Fund that are available under their
retirement plan and the procedures for buying and selling shares.
The Fund does not impose minimum purchase requirements for Class R3 shares. However,
you should contact your Plan Service Provider to determine whether it imposes minimum purchase requirements.
The Fund does not issue certificates for shares.
Most financial intermediaries allow you to take advantage of the fund exchange program,
which is designed for moving an investment from the Class R3 shares of one fund in the fund family to the Class R3
shares of another through an exchange of shares. However, this privilege can be withdrawn from any investor that we believe
is trying to “time the market” or is otherwise making exchanges that we judge to be excessive. Frequent exchanges can interfere with
Fund management and affect costs and performance for other shareholders. Your ability to exchange to another fund in the
fund family may be limited by the availability of a given fund in your retirement plan as determined by your Plan Service Provider.
Every buy or sell order will be processed at the next share price to be calculated
after the order has been received in proper form. Purchase orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Fund's transfer agent
has received payment for the shares. Redemption orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Fund's transfer agent
has received your order to sell Fund shares. In the case of certain institutional investors, the Distributor will process
purchase orders when received, on the basis of a pre-existing arrangement to make payment by the following morning. These policies
apply to the financial intermediaries who invest in the Fund. Please contact your financial intermediary for its policies.
The Fund typically expect to meet redemption requests, under both normal and stressed
market conditions, by redeeming cash and cash equivalent portfolio holdings and/or selling portfolio securities or other
instruments. As described further above and in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information, the Fund also reserves the right to
redeem an investor’s shares in kind (i.e., providing investors with portfolio securities instead of cash), in whole or in part
to meet redemption requests in stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
The Fund reserves the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Fund also may elect
to honor a shareholder’s request for the Fund to pay in kind for redemptions in an attempt to manage any liquidity needs, to
manage and optimize its portfolio composition, to offset transaction costs associated with portfolio transactions, and/or
to more efficiently manage its portfolio. The securities provided to investors in an in-kind redemption may be a pro-rata portion
of the Fund's portfolio or a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund's portfolio selected by the Manager based upon various circumstances
and subject to the Fund's policies and procedures and any applicable laws or regulations. If the securities provided to investors
in an in-kind redemption are a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund's portfolio, it will only include securities that have been disclosed
in the Fund's most recent public portfolio holdings disclosure.
Redemptions in kind may cause you to incur transaction costs to the extent you dispose
of the securities redeemed in kind and the value of the securities redeemed in kind may decrease between the time of redemption
and the time of such sale. The Fund may also borrow under any available line of credit and other available methods to meet
redemption requests in both normal and stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
Under certain circumstances, which may include normal and stressed market conditions,
the Fund reserves the right to:
■
suspend the offering of shares
■
reject any exchange or purchase order
■
suspend or reject future purchase orders from any investor who has not provided timely
payment to settle a purchase order
■
change, suspend, or revoke the exchange privilege
■
satisfy an order to sell Fund shares with securities rather than cash
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”) is restricted, or as
otherwise permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange or the bond market is closed
■
suspend or postpone investors' ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on
redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange, the Federal Reserve or the bond market closes early (e.g.,
on the eve of a major holiday or because of a local emergency, such as a blizzard)
■
remain open and process orders to purchase or sell Fund shares when the Exchange is
closed.
Dividends are first earned the business day after your purchase order is received
in proper form. The Fund reserves the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Fund does not redeem in kind under normal circumstances,
but would do so when the Manager or the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders
as a whole or the transaction is otherwise effected in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.
Proceeds from the sale of shares. The proceeds from the shares you sell are typically sent out the next business day
after your order is executed, and nearly always within seven days regardless of payment type.
Proceeds may be delayed beyond this time in unusual circumstances where the law allows additional time if needed. Proceeds may
be sent by wire or by check. These policies apply to the financial intermediaries who invest in the Fund. Please contact your
financial intermediary for its policies.
Dividends are earned through the business day on which your redemption order is received
in proper form. Investors redeeming in full will receive earned dividends on the day they sell their shares; investors
redeeming a portion of their shares will receive earned dividends on the next applicable monthly distribution date.
Uncashed checks — We do not pay interest on uncashed checks from Fund distributions or the sale of
Fund shares. We are not responsible for checks after they are sent to you. After allowing a reasonable time
for delivery, please call us if you have not received an expected check. While we cannot track a check, we may make arrangements
for a replacement. Your financial intermediary may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state
government under the state’s unclaimed or abandoned property law.
Important information regarding unclaimed/abandoned property — If your financial intermediary is unable to locate you, then it is required by law to determine whether your account(s) must be deemed “unclaimed”
or “abandoned.” Your financial intermediary is required to transfer (or escheat) unclaimed or abandoned property
to the appropriate state government in accordance with state law. Your account(s) may also be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned”
and subsequently transferred to the appropriate state government if no activity (as defined by that state) occurs within
the account(s) during the period of time specified by state law or if checks related to the account(s) remain uncashed. Your
last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your financial intermediary maintains a correct
address for your account(s). An incorrect address may cause your account statements and other mailings to be returned as undeliverable.
Neither the Distributor nor the Fund nor its transfer agent will be liable to investors or their representatives for
good faith compliance with state unclaimed or abandoned property (escheatment) laws. Please contact your financial intermediary
regarding applicable state escheatment laws.
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees
The Fund has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940. Under the plan, the Fund’s Class R3 shares pays the Distributor a fee at an annual rate of 0.50% of its
average net assets to compensate financial intermediaries for providing distribution related services to the Fund and/or
administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The Distributor may also retain part of this fee as
compensation for providing these
services. These fees increase the cost of investment. Because these fees are paid
out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over the long term they could result in higher overall costs than other types
of sales charges.
Class R3 shares described in this prospectus are available only through financial
intermediaries, such as banks, brokerage firms, retirement plan administrators, and financial advisers.
The fees and policies outlined in this prospectus are set by the Fund and by the Distributor.
However, most of the information you will need for managing your investment will come from your financial
intermediary. This includes information on how to buy and sell Class R3 shares, investor services, and additional
policies.
In exchange for the services it offers, your financial intermediary may charge fees
that are in addition to those described in this prospectus.
A Plan Service Provider or an employee benefits office can provide plan participants
with detailed information on how to participate in the plan, elect the Fund as an investment option, elect different
investment options, alter the amounts contributed to the plan, or change allocations among investment options. For questions
about participant accounts, plan participants should contact their Plan Service Provider or their employee benefits
office.
Financial intermediaries may provide some of the shareholder servicing and account
maintenance services required by plan accounts and their plan participants, including transfers of registration, dividend
payee changes and generation of confirmation statements, and may arrange for Plan Service Providers to provide other
investment or administrative services. Financial intermediaries may charge plans and plan participants transaction
fees and/or other additional amounts for such services. Similarly, plans may charge plan participants for certain
expenses, which are in addition to those described in this prospectus. These fees and additional amounts could reduce
an investment return in Class R3 shares of the Fund.
Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries
The Distributor and/or its affiliates pay additional compensation, out of their own
resources and not as an expense of the Fund, to certain financial intermediaries, including affiliates, in connection
with the sale, distribution, retention and/or servicing of Fund shares. The amount of these payments may be substantial and
may differ among financial intermediaries based on, for example, the level or type of services provided by a
financial intermediary. These payments are in addition to any fees paid to compensate financial intermediaries for providing
distribution related services to the Fund and/or administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders. These arrangements
are separately negotiated between the Distributor and/or its affiliates, and the recipients of these payments
or their affiliates. If your financial intermediary receives such payments, these payments may provide an incentive for the
financial intermediary to make the Fund's shares available to you or recommend the Fund. Please speak with your financial
intermediary to learn more about any payments it receives from the Distributor and/or its affiliates, as well
as fees and/or commissions the financial intermediary charges. You should also consult disclosures made by your financial
intermediary at the time of purchase. Any such payments by the Distributor or its affiliates will not change the
net asset value or the price of the Fund's shares. For more information, please see the Fund's Statement of Additional
Information.
Information Required from New Accounts
To help the U.S. government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities,
federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each
person who opens an account.
When you open an account, we (which may include your financial intermediary acting
on our behalf) will require your name, address, date of birth, and social security number or other taxpayer identification
number. We may also require other identifying documents. If we cannot verify the information you supply to us
or if it is incomplete, we may be required to return your funds or redeem your account.
Because Class R3 shares of the Fund do not have a sales charge, the price you pay
for each share of the Fund is the Fund’s net asset value per share. Similarly, because the Fund does not charge fees for selling shares,
the Fund pays you the full share price (net asset value) when you sell shares. Remember that your financial intermediary may charge
fees for its services.
The Fund is generally open for business every day the Exchange is open. The Exchange
is generally closed on all national holidays and Good Friday; Fund shares will not be priced on those days or other days on which
the Exchange is scheduled to be closed. When the Exchange is closed for unusual reasons, Fund shares will generally not be
priced although the Fund may decide to remain open and price Fund shares and in such a case, the Fund would post a notice
on www.nb.com.
The Fund normally calculates its share price on each day the Exchange is open once
daily as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In the event of an emergency or other disruption in trading on the Exchange, the Fund’s share
price would still normally be determined as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In general, every buy or sell order you place will
go through at the next share price calculated after your order has been received in proper form (see “Maintaining Your Account” for information
on placing orders). Check with your financial intermediary to find out by what time your order must be received so
that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when your financial intermediary accepts orders, it is possible that
the Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to buy or sell shares.
Because foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed, the value
of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change on days when you cannot buy or sell Fund shares. Remember, though, any
purchase or sale takes place at the next share price calculated after your order is received in proper form.
The net asset value per share of Class R3 of the Fund is the total value of Fund assets
attributable to shares of that class minus the liabilities attributable to that class, divided by the total number
of shares outstanding for that class. Because the value of the Fund's portfolio securities changes every business day, its
share price usually changes as well.
The Fund generally values its investments based upon their last reported sale prices,
market quotations, or estimates of value provided by an independent pricing service as of the time as of which the Fund’s
share price is calculated. Debt securities and certain derivative instruments that do not trade on an exchange generally
are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager on the basis of market quotations
and in the case of derivatives, market data about the underlying investments. Short-term securities held
by the Fund may be valued on the basis of amortized cost, unless other factors indicate that amortized cost is
not an accurate estimate of the security’s value. Equity securities (including securities issued by ETFs) and exchange-traded
derivative instruments held by the Fund generally are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved
by the Manager at the last reported sale price or official closing price or, if there is no reported sale quoted
on a principal exchange or market for that security or official closing price, on the basis of market quotations.
Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective
fund’s daily calculated net asset value per share. The prospectuses for these funds explain the circumstances
under which the funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
If a valuation for a security is not available from an independent pricing service
or if the Manager believes in good faith that the valuation does not reflect the amount the Fund would receive on a current
sale of that security, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available,
the Fund may use a fair value estimate made according to methods approved by the Manager. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Board of Trustees designated the Manager as the Fund’s
valuation designee. As the Fund’s valuation designee, the Manager is responsible for determining fair value in good
faith for any and all Fund investments. The Fund may also use these methods to value certain types of illiquid
securities. Fair value pricing generally will be used if the market in which a portfolio security trades closes early
or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time as of which the Fund’s
share price is calculated.
The Fund may also fair value securities that trade in a foreign market if significant
events that appear likely to affect the value of those securities occur between the time the foreign market closes and
the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. Significant events may include (1) corporate actions or
announcements that affect a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or
region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts that affect a country or region, or (4) significant domestic or foreign
market fluctuations.
For certain foreign assets, after the relevant foreign markets have closed, a third-party
vendor supplies evaluated, systematic fair value pricing based upon analysis of historical correlation of multiple
factors. In the case of both foreign equity and foreign income securities, in the absence of precise information about
the market values of these foreign securities as of the time as of which the Fund's share price is calculated, the Manager
has determined on the basis of available data that prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer
to the prices the Fund could realize on a current sale than are the prices of those securities established at the close
of the foreign markets in which the
securities primarily trade. Please see the Fund's Statement of Additional Information
for additional detail about the Fund's fair valuation practices.
The effect of using fair value pricing is that a portfolio security will be priced
based on the subjective judgment of the Manager, operating under procedures approved by the Manager, instead of being priced
using valuations from an independent pricing service. Fair value pricing can help to protect the Fund by reducing
arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing
will completely prevent dilution of the Fund’s net asset value by such traders.
Trading in securities on many foreign exchanges is normally completed before the Fund
calculates its net asset value. In addition, foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed. As a result,
the value of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change at times or on days when the Fund’s net asset value
is not calculated, when Fund shares do not trade, and when sales and redemptions of Fund shares do not occur.
Distributions—The Fund pays out to its shareholders any net investment income and net realized capital
gains. Ordinarily, the Fund declares income dividends daily and pays them monthly and declares and makes
any capital gain distributions once a year (usually in December). Gains from foreign currency transactions, if any, are normally
distributed in December. The Fund may make additional distributions, if necessary, to avoid federal income or excise taxes.
Consult your Plan Service Provider about whether your income dividends and capital
gain distributions from the Fund will be reinvested in additional Class R3 shares of the Fund or paid to you in cash.
How distributions are taxed — Fund distributions to your retirement plan generally are not taxable to you, although
withdrawals from your retirement plan generally are subject to tax.
How share transactions are taxed — Your retirement plan’s sale (redemption) of Fund shares also generally will not result
in a realized taxable gain or loss.
Frequent purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares (“market-timing activities”)
can interfere with effective Fund management and adversely affect Fund performance in various ways, including by requiring
a portfolio manager to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time or price, by increasing costs (such as
brokerage costs) to the Fund by requiring a portfolio manager to effect more frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
and possibly by requiring a portfolio manager to keep a larger portion of Fund assets in cash, all of which could adversely affect
the interests of long-term shareholders. To discourage market-timing activities by Fund shareholders, the Board of Trustees has
adopted market-timing policies and has approved the procedures of the principal underwriter for implementing those policies.
As described earlier in this prospectus, pursuant to such policies, the exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor
that is believed to be “timing the market” or is otherwise making exchanges judged to be excessive. In furtherance of these policies,
under certain circumstances, the Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange or purchase order, or change, suspend or
revoke the exchange privilege.
The Manager applies the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to market-timing
activities by monitoring trading activity in the Fund, identifying excessive trading patterns, and warning or prohibiting shareholders
who trade excessively from making further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares. These policies and procedures are applied
consistently to all shareholders. Although the Fund makes efforts to monitor for market-timing activities, the ability of the
Fund to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of omnibus accounts maintained by brokers, retirement plan
accounts and other approved financial intermediaries may be limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary
maintains the underlying shareholder accounts. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to eliminate
all market-timing activities.
Portfolio Holdings Policy
A description of the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure
of the Fund's portfolio holdings is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
The complete portfolio holdings for the Fund are available at www.nb.com/holdings
(click on the tab with the name of the relevant Fund). The complete portfolio holdings for the Fund are generally posted
15-30 days after each month-end.
The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings will remain available at this website until
the subsequent month-end holdings have been posted. Complete portfolio holdings for the Fund will also be available in reports
on Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR filed with the SEC. Historical portfolio holdings are available upon request.
Generally, no earlier than five business days after month-end, the Fund may publicly
disclose via various shareholder and public communications, such as portfolio manager commentaries, fact sheets or other marketing
materials, which will be publicly available at www.nb.com, certain portfolio characteristics and partial information
concerning portfolio holdings for the month as of month-end, including but not limited to: up to the top 10 holdings of the Fund
(if the Fund engages in short selling, it may also disclose up to the top 10 short positions); up to the top 10 holdings that contributed
to and/or detracted from performance or were the best and/or worst performers; sector breakdowns or changes to portfolio
composition (e.g., buys and sells). This information will typically remain available at this website until information for
the subsequent month has been posted; however, to comply with Rule 30e-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, quarter-end
information may be retained on this website for the Fund’s previous fiscal year. The Fund may also post intra-month
updates to holdings and certain portfolio characteristics to www.nb.com. Any such intra-month update would be in addition to
and not in lieu of the holdings disclosure policies described above.
The Fund offers one or more classes of shares that have identical investment programs,
but may have different fee waivers and different arrangements for distribution and shareholder servicing and, consequently,
different expenses. Shares of a class to which a fee waiver applies may not be available to all investors in the Fund. Rather, they
will be made available to investors meeting eligibility criteria outlined in the Prospectuses for such share classes. This prospectus
relates solely to the Class R3 shares of the Fund.
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
If you would like further details on this Fund, you can request a free copy of the
following documents:
Shareholder Reports and Form N-CSR. Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual
and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR. In the Fund’s annual report,
you will find the Fund’s performance data and a discussion by the Portfolio Managers about strategies and market conditions that
significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find the Fund’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The SAI contains more comprehensive information on the Fund, including: various types of securities and practices, and their risks, investment limitations and additional
policies and information about the Fund’s management and business structure. The SAI is hereby incorporated by reference into
this prospectus, making it legally part of the prospectus.
Investment Manager: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
You can obtain a shareholder report, SAI, and other information such as financial
statements from your financial intermediary, or from:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
877-628-2583
Website: www.nb.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on
the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request
at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
The Fund’s current net asset value per share is made available at: http://www.nb.com/performance.
The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC”
are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund name in this prospectus is either a service mark or a registered service
mark of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. ©2025 Neuberger Berman BD LLC, distributor. All rights reserved.
SEC File Number: 811-03802
J0101 02/25
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
|
|
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
|
|
Prospectus February 28, 2025
These securities, like the securities of all mutual funds, have not been approved
or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has not determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Contents
Neuberger Berman Income Funds
Fund Summary
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
The Fund seeks high total return consistent with capital preservation.
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment) | |
| |
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees | |
| |
Total annual operating expenses | |
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement | |
Total annual operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement1 | |
The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes
that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that
the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. Actual performance
and expenses may be higher or lower.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 102% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests mainly in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. dollar-denominated, High-Yield Bonds (as defined below), with an emphasis on debt securities rated below investment grade (commonly
called “junk bonds”). For purposes of this Fund, High-Yield Bonds are generally defined as those debt securities that,
at the time of investment, are rated in the lowest investment grade category (BBB by S&P Global Ratings, Baa by Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or comparably rated by at least one independent credit rating agency) or lower or, if
unrated, determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in floating rate senior secured loans
issued in U.S. dollars by U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. The Fund considers floating
rate senior secured loans to be High-Yield Bonds. The Fund may invest a significant amount of its assets in loans, including
in participation interests in loans.
The Fund normally expects to have a weighted averaged maturity between five and ten
years. The Fund endeavors to manage credit risk through disciplined credit analysis and diversification of credit quality.
The Fund intends to opportunistically rotate quality and sector exposures throughout the credit cycle, maintaining a higher quality
bias in High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic downturn is underway and increasing lower quality
holdings of High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic expansion is underway. With regard to interest
rate risk, the Portfolio Managers are sensitive to the overall duration of the portfolio in relation to its benchmark and
evaluate the duration of potential new portfolio acquisitions in conjunction with their credit analysis. The Fund invests its assets
in a broad range of issuers and industries.
The Portfolio Managers will seek positive returns through in-depth credit research
utilizing proprietary analytics processes to assess the strength of a company’s credit profile, examples of which include but are not
limited to: their ability to pay principal and interest, their cash flow and balance sheet composition, and their market position
relative to competitors. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social
and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information,
the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial
metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process.
As part of this analysis, the Portfolio Managers also regularly engage with the management teams of issuers on issues that the Portfolio
Managers believe are material to the credit risk of an issuer. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of
integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply
to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents.
The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact”
or “sustainable” investment strategy.
In addition, the Portfolio Managers analyze and adjust weightings based on general
and sector-specific economic and market conditions, while seeking to diversify across industries, companies and investment
size.
The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or
for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies,
interest rates, inflation, sectors, industries and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward
foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds
(“ETFs”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.
The Fund does not normally invest in or continue to hold securities that are in default
or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, but may do so depending on market,
company-specific or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe
have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments. The Fund may also invest in
restricted securities.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including obligations of issuers in emerging market countries, denominated in any
currency, but the Fund normally will not invest more than 20% of its net assets at the time of investment in non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities.
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes, in High-Yield Bonds (as defined above) and other investment companies that provide investment exposure
to such bonds. The Fund will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This
test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances
will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS
Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for high-yield debt and loan instruments, the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund's investment strategies. The market's behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.
The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers' evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.
The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.
Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default and may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent the Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted
may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is
difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors or sub-sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:
Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad based market index and additional indices. The broad-based market index is required by regulation. The additional index or indices have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. The indices are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus.
The performance prior to January 11, 2022 is that of the Fund’s Investor Class, which is not offered through this prospectus. Class E would have substantially similar performance to Investor Class because the classes invest in the same portfolio of securities. Because Investor Class has higher expenses than Class E, its performance would have been lower than that of Class E. Returns would have been lower/higher if Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.
Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-877-9700 for updated performance information.
year-by-year % Returns as of 12/31 each year
average annual total % returns as of 12/31/24
| | | |
| | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | | | |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | | | |
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | | | |
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares. |
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.
The Fund is managed by Joseph Lind (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield
of the Manager), and Christopher Kocinski (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield of the Manager). Mr. Lind
has co-managed the Fund since July 2018, and Mr. Kocinski has co-managed the Fund since May 2019.
Buying and Selling Shares
You may purchase or redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock
Exchange is open, at the Fund's net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form. See “Maintaining
Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Class E shares.
The Fund does not impose minimum purchase requirements for Class E shares.
Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account
or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital
gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from
certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.
Payments to Investment Providers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of another class of the Fund through an investment provider
or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may
be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary
for the sale of shares of those other classes of the Fund and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest
by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund or those other classes
of the Fund over another investment. To the extent the Fund makes such payments with respect to another class, they can come
only out of the assets of that other class.
Descriptions of Certain Practices and Security Types
Derivatives. A derivative is generally a financial contract the value of which depends on, or
is derived from, changes in the value of one or more “reference instruments,” such as underlying assets (including securities),
reference rates, indices or events. Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, credit, interest rates, commodities, currencies
or currency exchange rates, or related indices. A derivative may also contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the reference
instrument. Derivatives may be traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations, or in private transactions
with other parties in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market with a single dealer or a prime broker acting as an intermediary with
respect to an executing dealer. Derivatives may be used for hedging purposes and non-hedging (or speculative) purposes. Some derivatives
require one or more parties to post “margin,” which means that a party must deposit assets with, or for the benefit of,
a third party, such as a futures commission merchant, in order to initiate and maintain the derivatives position. Margin is typically
adjusted daily, and adverse market movements may require a party to post additional margin.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts (“Forward Contracts”). A forward contract is a contract for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a future date at a fixed price. Forward contracts
are not required to be traded on organized exchanges or cleared through regulated clearing organizations.
Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an
underlying asset at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a securities index
or other reference instrument at a future date.
Swaps. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange one or more payments
based, for example, on the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined
reference instruments. Swap transactions generally may be used to obtain exposure to a reference instrument without
owning or taking physical custody of the reference instrument and generally do not involve delivery of the notional
amount of the agreement. Swaps have historically been OTC instruments; however, recent legislation requires
many swaps to be executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing
organization.
There are various types of swaps including, but not limited to, the following: interest
rate swaps (exchanging a floating interest rate for a fixed interest rate); total return swaps (exchanging a floating
interest rate for the total return of a reference instrument); credit default swaps (buying or selling protection against
certain designated credit events); and options on swaps (“swaptions”) (options to enter into a swap agreement).
Emerging Market Countries. Emerging market countries are generally considered to be those countries whose economies
are less developed than the economies of countries such as the United States or most nations
in Western Europe.
Fixed Income Securities. Debt securities may consist of fixed and floating rate obligations of various credit
quality and duration and may be issued by: corporate entities; trusts; domestic issuers, including securities
issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; foreign
issuers, including in emerging markets, and including foreign governments and supranational entities; and municipal issuers, including
within the U.S. and its territories. Such obligations may include: bonds, loans, inflation-linked debt securities, when-issued
and forward-settling securities, commercial paper, mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities, and
hybrid securities (including convertible securities).
Foreign Markets. There are many promising opportunities for investment outside the United States.
Foreign markets can respond to different factors and therefore may follow cycles that are different from
each other. For this reason, many investors put a portion of their portfolios in foreign investments as a way of gaining further diversification.
Loans. Loans are a type of debt security that may be made in connection with, among other
things, recapitalizations, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, dividend issuances and refinancings. The loans in which the Fund
typically invests are structured and administered by a third party that acts as agent for a group of lenders that make
or hold interests in the loan. The Fund may acquire interests in such loans by taking an assignment of all or a portion of a direct
interest in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a participation in an interest in a loan that continues
to be held by another institution.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) typically offer investors
higher yields than other fixed income securities. The higher yields are usually justified
by the weaker credit profiles of these issuers as compared to investment grade issuers. Lower-rated debt securities may include debt
obligations of all types issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporate and governmental entities, including bonds, debentures and notes,
loan interests and preferred stocks that have priority over any other class of stock of the entity as to the distribution of
assets or the payment of dividends.
Additional Information about Principal Investment Risks
This section provides additional information about the Fund’s principal investment
risks described in the Fund Summary section. The following risks are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed
importance or potential exposure.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a
security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early. When this occurs, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, with a higher risk of default, or other less favorable characteristics. This may reduce the amount of the Fund’s
distributions. In addition, the Fund may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment. The likelihood of a call also may impact the price of a security.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become
less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of
an issuer, factors affecting an issuer directly (such as management changes, labor relations, collapse of key suppliers or customers,
or material changes in overhead costs), factors affecting the industry in which a particular issuer operates (such as competition
or technological advances) and changes in general social, economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default
by an issuer, which may affect a security’s credit quality or value. A downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could
affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities.
Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security,
the more sensitive it is to credit risk. In addition, lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and
may negatively affect a security’s liquidity. Ratings represent a rating agency’s opinion regarding the quality of a security and are not
a guarantee of quality, and do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. In addition, rating agencies may fail
to make timely changes to credit ratings in response to subsequent events and a rating may become stale in that it fails to reflect
changes in an issuer’s financial condition. The credit quality of a security or instrument can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly,
which may negatively impact its liquidity and value. The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement
(for example, guarantees, letters of credit, or bond insurance). Entities providing credit or liquidity support also may be affected
by credit risk. Credit enhancement is designed to help assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against
losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative
to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign
currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Domestic
issuers that hold substantial foreign assets may be similarly affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to factors
external to a country’s economy, which makes the forecasting of currency market movements extremely difficult. Currency exchange
rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including
investor perception of a country’s economy and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign
governments, central banks, or supranational entities, such as the International Monetary Fund; or by currency controls or political
developments in the U.S. or abroad. To the extent the Fund invests or hedges based on the perceived relationship between two
currencies, there is a risk that the correlation between those currencies may not behave as anticipated.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing
in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in
unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, which can magnify the impact of a decline in the value of the reference
instrument underlying the derivative, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives can have the potential
for unlimited losses, for example, where the Fund may be called upon to deliver a security it does not own. Derivatives may at
times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated
price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative
instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There
may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative,
and the reference instrument may not perform as anticipated. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could
render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated
with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no
assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives may
involve fees, commissions, or other costs that may reduce the Fund’s gains or exacerbate losses from the derivatives. In addition,
the Fund’s use of derivatives may have different tax consequences for the Fund than an investment in the reference instruments,
and those differences may increase the
amount and affect the timing of income recognition and character of taxable distributions
payable to shareholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy
its distribution requirements. Certain aspects of the regulatory treatment of derivative instruments, including federal income tax,
are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. In October
2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act which regulates the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under
the Investment Company Act (‘‘Rule 18f-4’’). The Fund has adopted a Rule 18f-4 Policy which provides, among other things, that
unless the Fund qualifies as a ‘‘limited derivatives user’’ as defined in Rule 18f-4, the Fund is subject to a comprehensive
derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, and to provide additional
disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. If the Fund qualifies as a limited derivatives
user, Rule 18f-4 requires the Fund to have policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk.
Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the
derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. Counterparty risk may arise because
of market activities and developments, the counterparty’s financial condition (including financial difficulties, bankruptcy,
or insolvency), or other reasons. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund
to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. Counterparty risk is generally thought to be greater with OTC derivatives
than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. However, derivatives that are traded on organized exchanges
and/or through clearing organizations involve the possibility that the futures commission merchant or clearing organization
will default in the performance of its obligations. In addition, during periods of market volatility, such exchanges or clearing organizations
may suspend or limit trading in a derivative, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to
price.
When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral;
these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund
from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other
opportunities as they arise. Derivatives that have margin requirements involve the risk that if the Fund has insufficient cash or eligible
margin securities to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities or other instruments from its
portfolio at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. A relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in substantial losses
to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. The Fund normally will remain obligated to meet margin requirements until a derivatives
position is closed.
Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential
changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies.
New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Although the Fund may use derivatives to attempt to hedge against certain risks, the
hedging instruments may not perform as expected and could produce losses.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in
foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward
contracts on currencies. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote
prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which
the counterparty is prepared to buy and the price at which it is prepared to sell).
Futures. There can be no assurance that, at all times, a liquid market will exist for offsetting
a futures contract that the Fund has previously bought or sold and this may result in the inability to close a
futures position when desired. This could be the case if, for example, a futures price has increased or decreased by the
maximum allowable daily limit and there is no buyer (or seller) willing to purchase (or sell) the futures contract that
the Fund needs to sell (or buy) at that limit price. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends
on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent the Fund
enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of
the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Swaps. Swap transactions generally do not involve delivery of reference instruments or payment
of the notional amount of the contract. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is
limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to
a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit
default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and
cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions
may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an
organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this
may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities are securities of companies that are in financial distress
and that may be in or about to enter bankruptcy or some other legal proceeding. The Fund may not receive
interest payments on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs
to protect its investment. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Distressed securities
involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. The Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment in distressed
securities or may be required to accept cash, securities or other property with a value less than its original investment. The Fund
may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest
on its portfolio holdings. Distressed securities include loans, bonds and notes, many of which are not publicly traded, and may involve
a substantial degree of risk. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities
meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such
securities may be subject to restrictions on resale. In addition, the prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and
erratic market movements and above-average price volatility. It may be difficult to obtain information regarding the financial
condition of a borrower or issuer, and its financial condition may change rapidly. Also, it may be difficult to value such securities and
the spread between the bid-ask prices of such securities may be greater than expected.
Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks
in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure
to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and
other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries,
organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure;
fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization
or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or
other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. The Fund may have
limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities. In addition, key information about
the issuer, the markets or the local government or economy may be unavailable, incomplete, or inaccurate. As a result,
foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets,
or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, securities
issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory
conditions in foreign countries, as well as currency exchange rates. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is
traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it
conducts significant operations.
Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than
those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may
be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on
foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or
impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars,
there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition,
the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible
to local and global changes, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Emerging market countries may
also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently
than U.S. law would. Shareholder claims and legal remedies that are common in the United States may be difficult or
impossible to pursue in many emerging market countries. In addition, due to jurisdictional limitations, matters of comity
and various other factors, U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-U.S. companies
and non-U.S. persons in certain emerging market countries. Most foreign and emerging market companies are not subject to the
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States, which may impact
the availability and quality of information about foreign and emerging market issuers. Securities markets in emerging market countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Additionally, in times of market stress, regulatory
authorities of different emerging market countries may apply varying techniques and degrees of intervention, which can have
an effect on prices. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of
issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings
in those countries.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the
issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities
of issuers in emerging or less-developed
market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions
may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied
broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods
of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments,
may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s
ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. market. Over a
given period of time, foreign securities may underperform U.S. securities—sometimes for years. The Fund could also underperform if it invests in countries or
regions whose economic performance falls short. To the extent that the Fund invests a portion of
its assets in one country, state, region or currency, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value
of the Fund’s investments more than if its investments were not so invested.
The effect of economic instability on specific foreign markets or issuers may be difficult
to predict or evaluate. Some national economies continue to show profound instability, which may in turn affect their international
trading and financial partners or other members of their currency bloc.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio
turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s
performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio
turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities,
will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such
securities may decline. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable and may be made in response to the supply and demand for credit, changes to government monetary policy and other initiatives, inflation rates, perceptions of risk and other factors. A changing interest rate environment increases certain risks, including the potential for periods of volatility. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration
(i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated
with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price.
For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, a debt security with a duration of two years will decrease in value by approximately 2%.
Thus, the Fund’s sensitivity to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the Fund’s overall duration. Short-term securities
tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates, and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates.
Short-term and long-term interest rates, and interest rates in different countries, do not necessarily move in the same direction
or by the same amount. The link between interest rates and debt security prices tends to be weaker with lower-rated debt securities
than with investment grade debt securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the
market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s securities may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including
disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against
the issuer, perceived poor management performance, changes in economic or political conditions or in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. Certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, may have a significant
adverse effect on the value of an issuer’s securities.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment or type of investment
in which the Fund invests is or may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently
can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time. An illiquid investment means any investment that the Fund
reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the
sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Judgment plays a greater role in pricing these investments
than it does in pricing investments having more active markets, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not
be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. The Fund may receive illiquid securities as a result of its investment
in securities involved in restructurings. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes
abruptly, particularly during periods of increased market volatility, adverse investor perception, economic uncertainty
or changes in interest rates. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of
securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time, which can be extensive.
An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage
of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. Market participants
attempting to sell the same or a similar investment at the same time as the Fund could decrease the liquidity of such investments,
especially during times of market volatility. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even
an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors,
instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows or other factors, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption
proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced
to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may
be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to
sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests
may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets, there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established
uniform settlement standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds
7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available
to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow
money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer
or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower,
limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance
highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse
changes in economic or market conditions.
Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive
covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets, although many covenants may be waived or modified with
the consent of a certain percentage of the holders of the loans even if the Fund does not consent. There is a risk that the value
of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to
cover the amount owed on the loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In the
event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further,
in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value
of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral
may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. In addition, if a secured loan
is foreclosed, the Fund may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral
may be difficult to sell and the Fund would bear the risk that the collateral may decline in value while the Fund is holding it. Further,
there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may
need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation, which may increase
the Fund’s operating expenses. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose
the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining
an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee
or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and
obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired
by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor.
When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over
the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct
rights against the borrower. As a participant, the Fund also would be subject to the risk that the lending bank or other party selling
the participation interest would not remit the Fund’s pro rata share of loan payments to the Fund. It may be difficult for the
Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank’s financial condition. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or
may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which
it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.
The liquidity of floating rate loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary
market trading in such loans, may vary, sometimes significantly, over time and among individual floating rate loans and loans
may be subject to wide bid/ask spreads. During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult;
and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.
Courts have held in some situations that loan interests are not “securities,” and
purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not have the benefit of the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Also,
if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer (which is not uncommon in the loan market), the Fund
may, as a result, be unable to sell the issuer’s securities.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities
determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade
debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes
in interest rates, market activity,
economic conditions, such as when economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected
to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may be less liquid and also may require a greater degree of judgment to
establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, and may carry higher transaction costs. In particular,
these securities may be issued by smaller companies or by highly indebted companies, which are generally less able than more
financially stable companies to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. Lower-rated debt securities are considered
by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal
and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and
interest. Such securities are susceptible to such a default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and business
developments relating to the issuer, the industry in general, market interest rates and market liquidity. Such securities may
be unsecured or have insufficient collateral and may be subordinated to other creditors, which increases the risk of loss on these
securities. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case
the Fund may lose its entire investment. Where it deems it appropriate and in the best interests of Fund shareholders, the Fund may
incur additional expenses to seek recovery on a defaulted security and/or to pursue litigation to protect the Fund’s investment.
The credit rating of a security may not accurately reflect the actual credit risk
associated with such a security. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers
of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.
Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, such as a high profile default, whether
or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of such securities, especially in a thinly traded
or illiquid market. To the extent the Fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted lower-rated debt securities or unrated debt securities
of comparable quality, these securities may involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities, costs, and liquidity and
valuation difficulties.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments,
including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political,
regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning
these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Changes in the financial condition of a single issuer
may impact a market as a whole. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods and may not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may
miss out on opportunities for better performance. Geopolitical risks, including terrorism, tensions or open conflict between
nations, or political or economic dysfunction within some nations that are major players on the world stage or major
producers of oil, may lead to overall instability in world economies and markets generally and have led, and may in the future lead,
to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects. Similarly, environmental and public health risks, such
as natural disasters or epidemics, or widespread fear that such events may occur, may impact markets and economies adversely and cause
market volatility in both the short- and long-term.
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may
be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems,
human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to
gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the
securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks (e.g., malicious software coding, ransomware,
or “hacking”) or unintentional events (e.g., inadvertent release of confidential information). A cybersecurity incident
could, among other things, result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, customers or employees being unable to access electronic
systems (“denial of services”), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer
or network system, or remediation costs associated with system repairs. A cybersecurity incident may not permit the Fund and
its service providers to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and calculating net
asset value. Any cybersecurity incident could have a substantial adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders.
The occurrence of any of these problems could result in a loss of information, regulatory
scrutiny, reputational damage and other consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund or its
shareholders. The Manager, through its monitoring and oversight of Fund service providers, endeavors to determine that service
providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to such problems. While the Manager has established
business continuity plans and risk management systems seeking to address these problems, there are inherent limitations
in such plans and systems, and it is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the
cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate
their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations,
and require ready access to the
internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect
issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.
Artificial Intelligence. The Fund and its service providers, including its adviser, may utilize artificial
intelligence (“AI”) technologies, including machine learning models and generative AI, to improve operational
efficiency and in connection with research. In addition, counterparties used by the Fund may utilize AI in their
business activities. The Fund and its adviser are not in a position to control the use of AI in third-party products or
services. The use of AI introduces numerous potential challenges and the use of AI can lead to reputational damage, legal
liabilities, and competitive disadvantages, as well as negatively impact business operations, which may occur with
or without mismanagement in the use of the AI. AI requires the collection and processing of substantial amounts of
data, which poses risks of data inaccuracies, incompleteness, and inherent biases, and which can degrade the technology's
effectiveness and reliability. Such data can include proprietary information, the use of which by AI may be unauthorized
and subject to potential liability. Rapid technological advancements further complicate risk predictions, and
competitors who adopt AI more swiftly may gain a competitive edge. The complexity and opacity of AI systems raise
significant accountability and ethical concerns. AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale,
and speed of cybersecurity attacks. AI's role in increasing automation raises concerns about job displacement and may
lead to economic and social disruptions. The unpredictable nature of AI's impact on market dynamics complicates
traditional risk assessment models, making it challenging to identify risks and opportunities using historical data. Regulatory
frameworks governing AI's use, particularly concerning data privacy and protection, are evolving rapidly. These changes
could materially alter how AI is used, which may negatively impact the Fund.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market
funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance
of those other investment companies and to the allocation of its assets among those other investment companies.
Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as
to the other investment companies’ expenses. If the Fund invests in other investment companies, the Fund may receive distributions
of taxable gains from portfolio transactions by that investment company and may recognize taxable gains from transactions in shares
of that investment company, which could be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders when distributed to them.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying
portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect
its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively
managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track because of, for example, the temporary
unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the
weighting of securities or the number of stocks held. A passively managed ETF may not be permitted to sell poorly performing
stocks that are included in its index. Investing in ETFs could incur brokerage and other trading costs for the Fund.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain
debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments,
shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt
security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity (i.e., a prepayment). As a result of prepayment,
the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value
that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Prepayments
could also create capital gains tax liability in some instances. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower
payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing
the magnitude of any resulting price declines. If the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period
of time, the Fund may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that
are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless
certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. These securities may not be listed
on an exchange and may have no active trading market. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these
securities may be more volatile and more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened
risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities
may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the
Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. A security that was
liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for private placements
and other restricted securities. The Fund may
have to bear the expense of registering such securities for sale and there may be
substantial delays in effecting the registration. If, during such a delay, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain
a less favorable price than prevailed at the time it decided to seek registration of the securities. In addition, the Fund may
get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security, so it may be less able to anticipate
a loss. Also, if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may, as a result, be legally prohibited
from selling the securities.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent
years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies
are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or
region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets
may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this
time.
Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad,
in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation.
The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their
approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in
interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating
economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market
value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce
liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets. Also, regulators have expressed concern that changes in
interest rates may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility.
Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility,
disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between
countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the
U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen
at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues to be strong, it may
decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Regulators in the U.S. adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some
of which implicate a Fund. The full effect of various newly adopted regulations is not currently known.
Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation could limit a Fund’s ability to pursue its
investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact its performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty
on their impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation
of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is used more widely,
the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen
and could adversely impact performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine,
in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. The duration of
ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and
risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of a Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely
affect the global economy. The impact of epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future could negatively affect the
economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity,
in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time and could last for an extended period of time.
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market
risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling;
a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political,
regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact
financial markets and the broader economy.
China’s economy, which had been sustained through debt-financed spending on housing
and infrastructure, appears to be experiencing a significant slowdown and growing at a lower rate than prior years.
While the Chinese government appears to be taking measures to address these issues, due to the size of China’s economy, the resolution of these issues could impact a number of other countries.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen.
The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries and regions.
A rise in sea levels, a change in weather patterns, including an increase in powerful
storms and large wildfires, and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause properties to lose value or become unmarketable
altogether. Unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected zones may not ever recover their value.
Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain
land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.
Losses related to climate change could adversely affect corporate issuers and mortgage
lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities that depend on tax or other revenues and tourist
dollars generated by affected properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate, municipal or mortgage-backed securities.
Since property and security values are driven largely by buyers’ perceptions, it is difficult to know the time period over
which these market effects might unfold.
Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause
the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity,
or at a loss or depressed value. The sale of assets to meet redemption requests may cause the Fund to realize capital gains, which
would result in the Fund having to distribute such gains. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries
control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable
cash flow needs. In addition, the risk is heightened if redemption requests are unusually large or frequent or occur
during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs and
create adverse tax consequences.
A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out
of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from open-end funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with
a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors
to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Risk Management. Management undertakes certain analyses with the intention of identifying particular
types of risks and reducing the Fund’s exposure to them. However, risk is an essential part of investing,
and the degree of return an investor might expect is often tied to the degree of risk the investor is willing to accept. By its
very nature, risk involves exposure to the possibility of adverse events. Accordingly, no risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s
exposure to such events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by adverse events, and
especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. While the prospectus describes material risk factors associated
with the Fund’s investment program, there is no assurance that as a particular situation unfolds in the markets, management
will identify all of the risks that might affect the Fund, rate their probability or potential magnitude correctly, or be able
to take appropriate measures to reduce the Fund’s exposure to them. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk
prove to be incorrect. Measures taken with the intention of decreasing exposure to identified risks might have the unintended
effect of increasing exposure to other risks.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant
positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector,
industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect
those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market may be more volatile, and
may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic,
political or regulatory events. The Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors, industries, or sub-sectors
do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or industries may adversely affect performance.
For information about the risks of investing in particular sectors, see the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has
valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities
that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult
to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value
methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an
investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. Investors who purchase or
redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is
holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher
redemption proceeds, than they would have received if the Fund had not held fair-valued securities or had used a different methodology.
The value of foreign securities, certain futures, fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected
by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded but before the Fund determines its net asset value. The Fund uses
pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment
at the price established by such pricing services. Different pricing services use different valuation methodologies, potentially resulting
in different values for the same investments. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if a pricing service
were to change its valuation methodology, the value of the Fund’s investments could be impacted. The Fund’s ability to value its investments
in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers,
such as pricing services or accounting agents.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments
with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest
rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments will not generally rise
in value if market interest rates decline. Thus, investing in variable and floating rate instruments generally allows less opportunity
for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in instruments with a fixed interest rate. Certain types of floating rate
instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions
on resale and may lack an active market, which may make them more difficult to value or sell.
Certain variable and floating rate instruments have an interest rate floor feature,
which prevents the interest rate payable by the instrument from dropping below a specified level as compared to a reference interest
rate (the “reference rate”), such as SOFR. Such a floor is designed to protect the Fund from a decrease in the reference rate below the specified level. However, if the reference rate is below the floor, there will be a lag between a rise in the reference
rate and a rise in the interest rate payable by the instrument, and the Fund may not benefit from increasing interest rates for a significant
period of time. Rates on certain variable rate instruments typically only reset periodically.
Information about Additional Risks and Other Practices
As discussed in the Statement of Additional Information, the Fund may engage in certain
practices and invest in certain securities in addition to those described as its “principal investment strategies” in the Fund
Summary section. For example, should the Fund engage in borrowing or securities lending, or should the Fund use derivatives or invest
in foreign securities, it will be subject to the additional risks associated with these practices and securities, some or all of which
may already be included in its “principal investment strategies.”
Borrowing money, securities lending, or using derivatives would create investment
leverage, meaning that certain gains or losses would be amplified, increasing share price movements.
Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in
addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities, and can fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid,
than comparable U.S. securities. Securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating
to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries.
As part of its liquidity management practices, including for cash management purposes
or to facilitate short-term liquidity, the Fund may invest in reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement,
the Fund sells portfolio securities to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase
the securities at an agreed-upon price and date, which reflects an interest payment to that party. Reverse repurchase agreements involve
the risk that the other party will fail to return the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to
the Fund. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the cash collateral held by the
Fund is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to the Fund. Reverse repurchase
agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated
to repurchase them. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing by the Fund. When the Fund enters
into a reverse repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party
or the securities in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During the term of the
agreement, the Fund may also be obligated to pledge additional cash and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair value
of the transferred security. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements.
In addition, the Fund may be an investment option for a Neuberger Berman mutual fund
that is managed as a “fund of funds.” As a result, from time to time, the Fund may experience relatively large redemptions
or investments and could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it is not advantageous to do so.
In anticipation of adverse or uncertain market, economic, political, or other temporary
conditions, including during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, the Fund may temporarily depart from its goal and use
a different investment strategy (including leaving a significant portion of its assets uninvested) for defensive purposes. Doing
so could help the Fund avoid losses, but may mean lost opportunities. In addition, in doing so different factors could affect the
Fund’s performance and the Fund may not achieve its goal. In addition, to the extent the Fund is undergoing a transition (such as a change in
strategy, rebalancing, reorganization, liquidation or experiencing large inflows or outflows) or takes a
temporary defensive position, it may deviate from its principal investment strategies during such period.
The Fund may change its goal without shareholder approval.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information.
The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, taxable bond
market and includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed
securities (MBS) (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) pass-throughs), asset-backed securities
(ABS), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) (agency and nonagency).
The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated below investment grade corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. In addition to meeting
other criteria, qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch ratings),
and have risk exposure to countries that are members of the FX-G10, Western Europe or territories of the U.S. and Western Europe.
Securities in legal default are excluded from the index. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, provided
the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. Transaction costs will be incorporated into the calculation of total
return for ICE fixed income indices beginning in July 2022.
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”), located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is the Fund’s investment manager and administrator. Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“Distributor”),
located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is the Fund’s distributor. Pursuant to an investment
advisory agreement, the Manager is responsible for choosing the Fund’s investments and handling its day-to-day business.
The services provided by the Manager as the investment manager and administrator include, among others, overall responsibility
for providing all supervisory, management, and administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of
the Fund, which may include, among others, compliance monitoring, operational and investment risk management, legal and administrative
services and portfolio accounting services. The Manager carries out its duties subject to the policies established by
the Board of Trustees. The investment advisory agreement establishes the fees the Fund pays to the Manager for its services as the
Fund’s investment manager and the expenses paid directly by the Fund. Together, the Neuberger Berman affiliates manage approximately
$508 billion in total assets (as of 12/31/2024) and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.
NBIA may engage one or more of foreign affiliates that are not registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“participating affiliates”) in accordance with applicable SEC no-action letters.
As participating affiliates, whether or not registered with the SEC, the affiliates may provide designated investment personnel to associate
with NBIA as “associated persons” of NBIA and perform specific services for NBIA, including services for the Fund, which may involve, among other
services, advisory services and portfolio management, research and/or placing orders for securities and other instruments. The designated employees
of a participating affiliate act for NBIA and are subject to certain NBIA policies
and procedures as well as supervision and periodic monitoring by NBIA. The Fund will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result
of any such arrangements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund's
investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund's Form N-CSR for the period ending October 31, 2024.
Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended to
give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state
securities laws that have not been waived. The Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others,
the Manager, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third party beneficiaries
of, those contractual arrangements. Where
shareholders are not third party beneficiaries of contractual arrangements, those
contractual arrangements cannot be enforced by shareholders acting on their own behalf.
For the 12 months ended 10/31/2024, the management fees paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.48% of its average daily
net assets. Class E of the Fund will not pay the Manager fees for administrative services
provided to Class E of the Fund except for certain technology costs that are annually approved by the Board of Trustees and are
typically not material. The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its management fee for the Fund’s Class E shares. This
undertaking lasts until 10/31/2026 and may not be terminated during its term without the consent of the Board of Trustees.
Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about
each Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager, and each Portfolio Manager’s ownership
of Fund shares.
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
Joseph Lind, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He has co-managed the Fund since July 2018
and is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he served as a high yield strategy
portfolio manager at another asset manager from 2012 to 2018.
Christopher Kocinski, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Kocinski joined the firm in 2006 and
is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Before being named co-portfolio manager to the Fund in 2019, Mr.
Kocinski was co-director of non-investment grade credit research and a senior research analyst for the Manager.
Financial Highlights
These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class E shares for
the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund's most
recent Form N-CSR (see back cover).
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund— Class E Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the
Fund earned (or lost), what it
distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(7)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain/(losses)—realized and unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share price (NAV) at end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss)—as they actually are as well as how they would
have been if certain expense offset arrangements had not been in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)—actual
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year,
assuming all distributions were
reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate (%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Period from 1/11/2022 (beginning of operations) to 10/31/2022.
(2)
Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(3)
Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(6)
Portfolio turnover is calculated at the Fund level. Percentage indicated was calculated
for the fiscal year ended 10/31/2022.
(7)
The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding
during each fiscal period.
Your Investment
Class E shares are not offered for sale directly to the general public and may be
purchased only by the Neuberger Berman Group LLC 401(k) plan on behalf of the plan participants. The information in this section
pertains to plan participants (i.e., eligible investors). Class E shares of the Fund may be held only by eligible investors and
cannot be transferred or exchanged. The Fund reserves the right to redeem Class E shares of any investor if the investor ceases
to be an eligible investor.
For more information with regard to Class E shares, please call the Fund at 800.877.9700.
The Fund does not issue certificates for shares.
Every buy or sell order will be processed at the next share price to be calculated
after the order has been received in proper form. Purchase orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Fund's transfer agent
has received payment for the shares. Redemption orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Fund's transfer agent
has received your order to sell Fund shares.
The Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests, under both normal and stressed
market conditions, by redeeming cash and cash equivalent portfolio holdings and/or selling portfolio securities or other
instruments. As described further below and in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information, the Fund also reserves the right to
redeem an investor’s shares in kind (i.e., providing investors with portfolio securities instead of cash), in whole or in part
to meet redemption requests in stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
The Fund reserves the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Fund also may elect
to honor a shareholder’s request for the Fund to pay in kind for redemptions in an attempt to manage any liquidity needs, to
manage and optimize its portfolio composition, to offset transaction costs associated with portfolio transactions, and/or
to more efficiently manage its portfolio. The securities provided to investors in an in-kind redemption may be a pro-rata portion
of the Fund's portfolio or a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund's portfolio selected by the Manager based upon various circumstances
and subject to the Fund's policies and procedures and any applicable laws or regulations. If the securities provided to investors
in an in-kind redemption are a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund's portfolio, it will only include securities that have been disclosed
in the Fund's most recent public portfolio holdings disclosure.
Redemptions in kind may cause you to incur transaction costs to the extent you dispose
of the securities redeemed in kind and the value of the securities redeemed in kind may decrease between the time of redemption
and the time of such sale. The Fund may also borrow under any available line of credit and other available methods to meet
redemption requests in both normal and stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.
A redemption can be part of an exchange into (1) another fund available through your
Employee Benefit Plan or (2) another account or IRA.
If you are married, and all or part of your investment is attributable to purchases
made under either (i) an employer plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) or (ii) an employer
plan that provides for spousal rights to benefits, then to the extent required by the Code or ERISA or the terms of your employer
plan, your rights to make certain redemptions may be restricted by the rights of your spouse to such benefits.
Other policies — Under certain circumstances, which may include normal and stressed market conditions,
the Fund reserves the right to:
■
suspend the offering of shares
■
reject any exchange or purchase order
■
suspend or reject future purchase orders from any investor who has not provided timely
payment to settle a purchase order
■
change, suspend, or revoke the exchange privilege
■
suspend the telephone order privilege
■
satisfy an order to sell Fund shares with securities rather than cash
■
suspend or postpone your ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on redemptions
for more than seven days, on days when trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”) is restricted, or as otherwise
permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
■
suspend or postpone your ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on redemptions
for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange or the bond market is closed
■
suspend or postpone your ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on redemptions
for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange, the Federal Reserve or the bond market closes early (e.g., on the
eve of a major holiday or because of a local emergency, such as a blizzard)
■
change investment minimums or other requirements for buying and selling, or waive
any minimums or requirements for certain investors
■
remain open and process orders to purchase or sell Fund shares when the Exchange is
closed.
Dividends are first earned the business day after your purchase order is received
in proper form. The Fund reserves the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Fund does not redeem in kind under normal circumstances,
but would do so when the Manager or the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders
as a whole or the transaction is otherwise effected in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.
Proceeds from the sale of shares—The proceeds from the shares you sell are typically sent out the next business day
after your order is executed, and nearly always within seven days regardless of payment type.
When you sell shares through your financial intermediary, contact your provider to find out when proceeds will be sent to you.
There are two cases in which proceeds may be delayed beyond this time:
■
in unusual circumstances where the law allows additional time if needed
■
if a check you wrote to buy shares has not cleared by the time you sell those shares;
clearance may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.
If you think you may need to sell shares soon after buying them, you can avoid the
check clearing time by investing by wire.
Statements and Confirmations—Please review your account statements and confirmations carefully as soon as you receive
them. You must contact us within 30 days if you have any questions or notice any discrepancies.
Otherwise, you may adversely affect your right to make a claim about the transaction(s).
Important information regarding unclaimed/abandoned property — If your financial intermediary is unable to locate you, then it is required by law to determine whether your account(s) must be deemed “unclaimed”
or “abandoned.” Your financial intermediary is required to transfer (or escheat) unclaimed or abandoned property
to the appropriate state government in accordance with state law. Your account(s) may also be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned”
and subsequently transferred to the appropriate state government if no activity (as defined by that state) occurs within
the account(s) during the period of time specified by state law or if checks related to the account(s) remain uncashed. Your
last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your financial intermediary maintains a correct
address for your account(s). An incorrect address may cause your account statements and other mailings to be returned as undeliverable.
Neither the Distributor nor the Fund nor its transfer agent will be liable to investors or their representatives for
good faith compliance with state unclaimed or abandoned property (escheatment) laws. If you use a financial intermediary, contact
that provider regarding applicable state escheatment laws.
Class E shares described in this prospectus may be purchased by the Neuberger Berman
Group LLC 401(k) plan on behalf of the plan participants.
The fees and policies outlined in this prospectus are set by the Fund and by the Distributor.
However, most of the information you will need for managing your investment will come from your financial
intermediary. This includes information on how to buy and sell Class E shares, investor services, and additional
policies.
In exchange for the services it offers, your financial intermediary may charge fees
that are in addition to those described in this prospectus.
A Plan Service Provider or an employee benefits office can provide plan participants
with detailed information on how to participate in the plan, elect the Fund as an investment option, elect different
investment options, alter the amounts contributed to the plan, or change allocations among investment options. For questions
about participant accounts, plan participants should contact their Plan Service Provider or their employee benefits
office.
Financial intermediaries may provide some of the shareholder servicing and account
maintenance services required by plan accounts and their plan participants, including transfers of registration, dividend
payee changes and generation of confirmation statements, and may arrange for Plan Service Providers to provide other
investment or administrative services. Financial intermediaries may charge plans and plan participants transaction
fees and/or other additional amounts for such services. Similarly, plans may charge plan participants for certain
expenses, which are in addition to those described in this prospectus. These fees and additional amounts could reduce
an investment return in Class E shares of the Fund. Please contact your financial intermediary regarding whether any
fees or expenses apply to your investment in the Fund.
Class E shares do not pay any service, distribution, or administrative fees to financial
intermediaries on Class E shares.
Information Required from New Accounts
To help the U.S. government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities,
federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each
person who opens an account.
When you open an account, we (which may include your financial intermediary acting
on our behalf) will require your name, address, date of birth, and social security number or other taxpayer identification
number. We may also require other identifying documents. If we cannot verify the information you supply to us
or if it is incomplete, we may be required to return your funds or redeem your account.
Because Class E shares of the Fund do not have a sales charge, the price you pay for
each share of the Fund is the Fund’s net asset value per share. Similarly, because the Fund does not charge fees for selling shares,
the Fund pays you the full share price (net asset value) when you sell shares. Remember that your financial intermediary may charge
fees for its services.
If you use a financial intermediary, that provider may charge fees that are in addition
to those described in this prospectus.
The Fund is generally open for business every day the Exchange is open. The Exchange
is generally closed on all national holidays and Good Friday; Fund shares will not be priced on those days or other days on which
the Exchange is scheduled to be closed. When the Exchange is closed for unusual reasons, Fund shares will generally not be
priced although the Fund may decide to remain open and price Fund shares and in such a case, the Fund would post a notice
on www.nb.com.
The Fund normally calculates its share price on each day the Exchange is open once
daily as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In the event of an emergency or other disruption in trading on the Exchange, the Fund’s share
price would still normally be determined as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In general, every buy or sell order you place will
go through at the next share price calculated after your order has been received in proper form (see “Maintaining Your Account” for information
on placing orders). Check with your financial intermediary to find out by what time your order must be received so
that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when your financial intermediary accepts orders, it is possible that
the Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to buy or sell shares.
Because foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed, the value
of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change on days when you cannot buy or sell Fund shares. Remember, though, any
purchase or sale takes place at the next share price calculated after your order is received in proper form.
The net asset value per share of Class E shares of the Fund is the total value of
Fund assets attributable to Class E minus the liabilities attributable to that class, divided by the total number of shares
outstanding for that class. Because the value of the Fund's portfolio securities changes every business day, its share
price usually changes as well.
The Fund generally values its investments based upon their last reported sale prices,
market quotations, or estimates of value provided by an independent pricing service as of the time as of which the Fund’s
share price is calculated. Debt securities and certain derivative instruments that do not trade on an exchange generally
are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager on the basis of market quotations
and in the case of derivatives, market data about the underlying investments. Short-term securities held
by the Fund may be valued on the basis of amortized cost, unless other factors indicate that amortized cost is
not an accurate estimate of the security’s value. Equity securities (including securities issued by ETFs) and exchange-traded
derivative instruments held by the Fund generally are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved
by the Manager at the last
reported sale price or official closing price or, if there is no reported sale quoted
on a principal exchange or market for that security or official closing price, on the basis of market quotations.
Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective
fund’s daily calculated net asset value per share. The prospectuses for these funds explain the circumstances
under which the funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
If a valuation for a security is not available from an independent pricing service
or if the Manager believes in good faith that the valuation does not reflect the amount the Fund would receive on a current
sale of that security, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available,
the Fund may use a fair value estimate made according to methods approved by the Manager. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Board of Trustees designated the Manager as the Fund’s
valuation designee. As the Fund’s valuation designee, the Manager is responsible for determining fair value in good
faith for any and all Fund investments. The Fund may also use these methods to value certain types of illiquid
securities. Fair value pricing generally will be used if the market in which a portfolio security trades closes early
or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time as of which the Fund’s
share price is calculated.
The Fund may also fair value securities that trade in a foreign market if significant
events that appear likely to affect the value of those securities occur between the time the foreign market closes and
the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. Significant events may include (1) corporate actions or
announcements that affect a single issuer, (2) governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or
region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts that affect a country or region, or (4) significant domestic or foreign
market fluctuations.
For certain foreign assets, after the relevant foreign markets have closed, a third-party
vendor supplies evaluated, systematic fair value pricing based upon analysis of historical correlation of multiple
factors. In the case of both foreign equity and foreign income securities, in the absence of precise information about
the market values of these foreign securities as of the time as of which the Fund's share price is calculated, the Manager
has determined on the basis of available data that prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer
to the prices the Fund could realize on a current sale than are the prices of those securities established at the close
of the foreign markets in which the securities primarily trade. Please see the Fund's Statement of Additional Information
for additional detail about the Fund's fair valuation practices.
The effect of using fair value pricing is that a portfolio security will be priced
based on the subjective judgment of the Manager, operating under procedures approved by the Manager, instead of being priced
using valuations from an independent pricing service. Fair value pricing can help to protect the Fund by reducing
arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing
will completely prevent dilution of the Fund’s net asset value by such traders.
Trading in securities on many foreign exchanges is normally completed before the Fund
calculates its net asset value. In addition, foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed. As a result,
the value of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change at times or on days when the Fund’s net asset value
is not calculated, when Fund shares do not trade, and when sales and redemptions of Fund shares do not occur.
Distributions—The Fund pays out to its shareholders any net investment income and net realized capital
and foreign currency gains. Ordinarily, the Fund declares income dividends daily and pays them monthly
and declares and makes any capital gain distributions once a year (usually in December). Gains from foreign currency transactions,
if any, are normally distributed in December. The Fund may make additional distributions, if necessary, to avoid federal
income or excise taxes.
Consult your Plan Service Provider about whether your income dividends and capital
gain distributions from the Fund will be reinvested in additional Class E shares of the Fund or paid to you in cash.
How distributions are taxed—Except for tax-advantaged retirement plans and accounts and other tax-exempt investors
(collectively, “exempt investors”), all Fund distributions you receive are generally taxable to
you, regardless of whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares.
Fund distributions to individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), Roth IRAs, and qualified
retirement plans generally are tax-free. Eventual withdrawals from a Roth IRA also may be tax-free, while withdrawals from
other retirement plans and accounts are subject to federal income tax.
Distributions generally are taxable to shareholders other than exempt investors in
the year they are received. In some cases, however, distributions received in January are treated for federal income tax purposes
as if they had been paid the previous December 31. Your tax statement (see “Taxes and You”) will help clarify this for you.
Distributions of net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain
over net long-term capital loss (“dividends”) are taxed as ordinary income. It is not expected that any of the Fund's distributions will be attributable to “qualified dividend income” (generally, dividends the Fund receives on stock of most U.S. and certain
foreign corporations), which are subject to maximum federal income tax rates for individual and certain other non-corporate shareholders
(each, an “individual shareholder”) that are lower than the maximum rates for ordinary income (“lower maximum rates”).
Distributions of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain
over net short-term capital loss) are taxed as long-term capital gain and for individual shareholders are subject to the lower maximum rates.
The tax treatment of capital gain distributions from the Fund depends on how long the Fund held the securities it sold
that generated the gain, not on when you bought your shares of the Fund or whether you reinvested your distributions.
If, for any taxable year, the Fund distributes an amount that exceeds its current
earnings and profits (generally, the sum of its investment company taxable income plus net capital gain for that year)—which might result from, among other things, the difference between book and tax accounting treatment of certain derivatives and foreign
currency transactions—plus its accumulated earnings and profits, if any, that excess generally will be treated as
a return of capital, which will reduce your tax basis in your Fund shares. To the extent that excess is greater than your tax basis, it
will be treated as gain from a redemption of your shares (taxed as described below).
Shareholders should review any notice that accompanies a payment of dividends or other
distributions to determine whether any portion of the payment represents a return of capital rather than a distribution of
the Fund’s net income and/or gains.
How share transactions are taxed—When you sell (redeem) or exchange Fund shares, you generally will realize a taxable
gain or loss. An exception, once again, applies to exempt investors. For individual shareholders,
any capital gain recognized on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares that have been held for more than one year will
qualify for the lower maximum rates.
Additional tax—An individual shareholder’s distributions from the Fund and net gains recognized on
redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares are subject to a 3.8% federal tax on the lesser of (1) the
individual’s “net investment income” (which generally includes distributions from the Fund and net gains from the disposition
of Fund shares) or (2) the excess of the individual's “modified adjusted gross income” over a specified threshold amount. This
tax is in addition to any other taxes due on that income. You should consult your own tax professional regarding the effect, if
any, this tax may have on your investment in Fund shares.
The taxes you actually owe on Fund distributions and share transactions can vary with
many factors, such as your marginal tax bracket, how long you held your shares, and whether you owe federal alternative
minimum tax.
How can you figure out your tax liability on Fund distributions and share transactions?
One helpful tool is the tax statement that we or your financial intermediary sends you after the end of each calendar
year. It details the distributions you received during the past year and shows their tax status. That statement,
or a separate statement from us or your financial intermediary, also covers your share transactions.
Most importantly, consult your tax professional. Everyone’s tax situation is different,
and your tax professional should be able to help you answer any questions you may have.
The Fund is required to withhold at the backup withholding rate from the money you
are otherwise entitled to receive from its distributions and redemption proceeds (regardless of whether you realized
a gain or loss) if you are an individual shareholder who fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number
to the Fund. Withholding at that rate also is required from the Fund’s distributions to which you are otherwise entitled
if you are an individual shareholder and the Internal Revenue Service tells us that you are subject to backup
withholding (1) for failing to properly report the receipt of interest or dividend income or (2) for any other reason.
If you use a financial intermediary, you must supply your signed taxpayer identification
number form (generally, Form W-9) to your financial intermediary, and it must supply its taxpayer identification
number to us, in order to avoid backup withholding.
Buying Shares Before a Distribution
The money the Fund earns, either as net investment income or as net realized capital
gains, is reflected in its share price until it distributes the money. At that time, the amount of the distribution is deducted
from the share price. Because of this, if you buy shares of the Fund just before it makes such a distribution, you
will end up getting some of your investment back as a taxable distribution. You can avoid this situation by waiting
to invest until after the record date for the distribution.
Generally, if you are an exempt investor, there are no current tax consequences to
you from distributions.
Basis Determination and Reporting
Your basis in Fund shares that you acquired or acquire after December 31, 2011 (collectively,
“Covered Shares”), will be determined in accordance with the Fund’s default basis determination method, which
is average cost basis, unless you affirmatively elect in writing (which may be electronic) to use a different basis
determination method acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service. The basis determination method may not be changed with respect
to a redemption (including a redemption that is part of an exchange) of Covered Shares after the settlement date
of the redemption. The Fund must report to the Internal Revenue Service and furnish to you the basis information
for Covered Shares. See “Additional Tax Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for more information
about the rules regarding basis determination and the Fund’s reporting obligation. You should consult with your
tax professional to determine the best basis determination method for your tax situation and to obtain more information
about how the basis determination and reporting rules apply to you.
Frequent purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares (“market-timing activities”)
can interfere with effective Fund management and adversely affect Fund performance in various ways, including by requiring
a portfolio manager to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time or price, by increasing costs (such as
brokerage costs) to the Fund by requiring a portfolio manager to effect more frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities,
and possibly by requiring a portfolio manager to keep a larger portion of Fund assets in cash, all of which could adversely affect
the interests of long-term shareholders. To discourage market-timing activities by Fund shareholders, the Board of Trustees has
adopted market-timing policies and has approved the procedures of the principal underwriter for implementing those policies.
As described earlier in this prospectus, pursuant to such policies, the exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor
that is believed to be “timing the market” or is otherwise making exchanges judged to be excessive. In furtherance of these policies,
under certain circumstances, the Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange or purchase order, or change, suspend or
revoke the exchange privilege.
The Manager applies the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to market-timing
activities by monitoring trading activity in the Fund, identifying excessive trading patterns, and warning or prohibiting shareholders
who trade excessively from making further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares. These policies and procedures are applied
consistently to all shareholders. Although the Fund makes efforts to monitor for market-timing activities, the ability of the
Fund to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of omnibus accounts maintained by brokers, retirement plan
accounts and other approved financial intermediaries may be limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary
maintains the underlying shareholder accounts. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to eliminate
all market-timing activities.
Portfolio Holdings Policy
A description of the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure
of the Fund's portfolio holdings is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
The complete portfolio holdings for the Fund are available at www.nb.com/holdings
(click on the tab with the name of the relevant Fund). The complete portfolio holdings for the Fund are generally posted
15-30 days after each month-end.
The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings will remain available at this website until
the subsequent month-end holdings have been posted. Complete portfolio holdings for the Fund will also be available in reports
on Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR filed with the SEC. Historical portfolio holdings are available upon request.
Generally, no earlier than five business days after month-end, the Fund may publicly
disclose via various shareholder and public communications, such as portfolio manager commentaries, fact sheets or other marketing
materials, which will be publicly available at www.nb.com, certain portfolio characteristics and partial information
concerning portfolio holdings for the month as of month-end, including but not limited to: up to the top 10 holdings of the Fund
(if the Fund engages in short selling, it may
also disclose up to the top 10 short positions); up to the top 10 holdings that contributed
to and/or detracted from performance or were the best and/or worst performers; sector breakdowns or changes to portfolio
composition (e.g., buys and sells). This information will typically remain available at this website until information for
the subsequent month has been posted; however, to comply with Rule 30e-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, quarter-end
information may be retained on this website for the Fund’s previous fiscal year. The Fund may also post intra-month
updates to holdings and certain portfolio characteristics to www.nb.com. Any such intra-month update would be in addition to
and not in lieu of the holdings disclosure policies described above.
The Fund offers one or more classes of shares that have identical investment programs,
but may have different fee waivers and different arrangements for distribution and shareholder servicing and, consequently,
different expenses. Shares of a class to which a fee waiver applies may not be available to all investors in the Fund. Rather, they
will be made available to investors meeting eligibility criteria outlined in the Prospectuses for such share classes. This prospectus
relates solely to the Class E shares of the Fund.
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
If you would like further details on this Fund, you can request a free copy of the
following documents:
Shareholder Reports and Form N-CSR. Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual
and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR. In the Fund’s annual report,
you will find the Fund’s performance data and a discussion by the Portfolio Managers about strategies and market conditions that
significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find the Fund’s annual and semi-annual financial statements.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The SAI contains more comprehensive information on the Fund, including: various types of securities and practices, and their risks, investment limitations and additional
policies and information about the Fund’s management and business structure. The SAI is hereby incorporated by reference into
this prospectus, making it legally part of the prospectus.
Investment Manager: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
You can obtain a shareholder report, SAI, and other information such as financial
statements from your financial intermediary, or from:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
877-628-2583
Website: www.nb.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on
the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request
at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
The Fund’s current net asset value per share is made available at: http://www.nb.com/performance.
The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC”
are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund name in this prospectus is either a service mark or a registered service
mark of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. ©2025 Neuberger Berman BD LLC, distributor. All rights reserved.
SEC File Number: 811-03802
W0121 02/25
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Investor Class Shares, Trust Class Shares, Institutional
Class Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, Class R3 Shares, Class R6 Shares, and Class E Shares
DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2025
Fund |
Investor
Class |
Trust
Class |
Institutional
Class |
Class A |
Class C |
Class R3 |
Class R6 |
Class E |
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund |
NCRIX |
|
NCRLX |
NCRAX |
NCRCX |
|
NRCRX |
|
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
|
|
NERIX |
NERAX |
NERCX |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund |
|
|
NFIIX |
NFIAX |
NFICX |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund |
NHINX |
|
NHILX |
NHIAX |
NHICX |
NHIRX |
NRHIX |
NHIEX |
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund |
|
|
NMHIX |
NMHAX |
NMHCX |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund |
|
|
NMIIX |
NIMAX |
NIMCX |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund |
NMUIX |
|
NMNLX |
NMNAX |
NMNCX |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund |
|
NSTTX |
NSTLX |
NSTAX |
NSTCX |
|
NRSIX |
|
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
Shareholder Services: 800.877.9700
Institutional Services: 800.366.6264
www.nb.com
Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman
High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund (each, a “Fund” and collectively,
the “Funds”) are mutual funds that offer shares pursuant to prospectuses dated February 28, 2025.
The prospectus and summary
prospectus (together, the “Prospectus”) for your share class provide more information about your Fund that you should know
before investing. You can get a free copy of the Prospectus, annual report and/or semi-annual report for your share class from Neuberger
Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA” or the “Manager”), 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, or
by calling the appropriate number listed above for your share class. You should read the Prospectus for your share class and consider
the investment objective, risks, and fees and expenses of your Fund carefully before investing.
This Statement of Additional
Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for your share class. This SAI
is not an offer to sell any shares of any class of the Funds. A written offer can be made only by a Prospectus.
Each Fund’s financial
statements, notes thereto and the report of its independent registered public accounting firm are incorporated by reference from the Fund’s
annual report to shareholders into (and are therefore legally part of) this SAI.
No person has been authorized
to give any information or to make any representations not contained in the Prospectuses or in this SAI in connection with the offering
made by the Prospectuses, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by a Fund or its distributor. The Prospectuses and this SAI do not constitute an offering by a Fund or its distributor in any jurisdiction
in which such offering may not lawfully be made.
The “Neuberger
Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC” are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman
Group LLC. The individual Fund names in this SAI are either service marks or registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Investment
Advisers LLC. ©2025 Neuberger Berman BD LLC, distributor. All rights reserved. ©2025 Neuberger Berman Europe Limited. All rights
reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INVESTMENT INFORMATION
Each Fund is a separate operating
series of Neuberger Berman Income Funds (“Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust established on December 29, 1992. The Trust
is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an open-end management investment company.
At the close of business on
June 10, 2005, Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund acquired all the assets and assumed all the liabilities of Ariel Premier Bond Fund,
a series of Ariel Investment Trust. Prior to that date, Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund had no operations. Financial and performance
information in this SAI prior to June 10, 2005, for each class of the Fund is that of each respective class of the Ariel Premier Bond
Fund, the predecessor to Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund for performance and accounting purposes.
Neuberger Berman Emerging
Markets Debt Fund commenced operations as a separate series of the Trust on September 27, 2013.
Neuberger Berman Floating
Rate Income Fund commenced operations as a separate series of the Trust on December 29, 2009.
At the close of business
on September 6, 2002, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund acquired all the assets and assumed all the liabilities of Lipper
High Income Bond Fund, a series of The Lipper Funds, Inc., and Neuberger Berman High Yield Bond Fund, a prior series of the Trust. Prior
to that date, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund had no operations.
Neuberger Berman Municipal
High Income Fund commenced operations as a separate series of the Trust on June 22, 2015.
Through February 9,
2001, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund was organized as a feeder fund in a master-feeder structure rather than
as a fund in a multiple-class structure. As a feeder fund, it was a series of the Trust and Neuberger Berman Income Trust. As of that
date, this feeder fund reorganized into the Fund’s Investor Class units of beneficial interest (“shares”).
At the close of business on
March 8, 2013, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund acquired all the assets and assumed all the liabilities of The Empire Builder
Tax Free Bond Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”) (the “Reorganization”), and shareholders of the Predecessor Fund received
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund shares in exchange for their Predecessor Fund shares. Prior to that date, Neuberger Berman
Municipal Impact Fund had no operations. Financial information in this SAI prior to March 8, 2013, for the Institutional Class
of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund is that of the Builder Class of the Predecessor Fund, the predecessor to Neuberger Berman
Municipal Impact Fund for accounting purposes.
Neuberger Berman Strategic
Income Fund commenced operations as a separate series of the Trust on July 11, 2003.
The following information
supplements the discussion of the Funds’ investment objectives, policies, and limitations in the Prospectuses.
The investment objective
and, unless otherwise specified, the investment policies and limitations of each Fund are not fundamental. Any investment objective, policy,
or limitation that is not fundamental may be changed by the trustees of the Trust (“Fund Trustees”) without shareholder approval.
The fundamental investment policies and limitations of a Fund may not be changed without the approval of the lesser of:
(1) 67%
of the shares of the Fund present at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented,
or
(2) a
majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
These percentages are required
by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), and are referred to in this SAI as a “1940 Act majority
vote.”
The policy of a Fund permitting
it to operate as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act may also change by operation of law. Specifically, Rule 13a-1
under the 1940 Act provides in effect that, if a fund’s investment portfolio actually meets the standards of a diversified fund
for three consecutive years, the fund’s status will change to that of a diversified fund.
Each Fund operates as a diversified
investment company.
NBIA is responsible for
the day-to-day management of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman
High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Throughout this SAI, the term “Manager”
refers to NBIA with respect to each of these Funds. NBIA has delegated to Neuberger Berman Europe Limited (“NBEL”) day-to-day
investment business of Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund. Throughout this SAI, the term “Manager” refers
to NBIA or NBEL, as appropriate, with respect to each of these Funds.
Investment Policies and Limitations
Except as set forth in the
investment limitation on borrowing and the investment limitation on illiquid securities, any investment policy or limitation that involves
a maximum percentage of securities or assets will not be considered exceeded unless the percentage limitation is exceeded immediately
after, and because of, a transaction by a Fund. If events subsequent to a transaction result in a Fund exceeding the percentage limitation
on illiquid securities, the Manager will take appropriate steps to reduce the percentage held in illiquid securities, as may be required
by law, within a reasonable amount of time.
The following investment
policies and limitations are fundamental and apply to all Funds unless otherwise indicated:
1. Borrowing.
A Fund may not borrow money except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or
other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.
2. Commodities.
A Fund may purchase or sell commodities or contracts related to commodities to the extent permitted by (i) the 1940 Act or interpretations
or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission
from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.
3. Diversification
(All Funds except Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund). No Fund may,
with respect to 75% of the value of its total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities (“U.S. Government and Agency Securities”), or securities
issued by other investment companies) if, as a result, (i) more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested
in the securities of that issuer or (ii) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.
4. Industry
Concentration. A Fund may not make any investment if, as a result, the Fund’s investments will be concentrated in any one industry
except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate
jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority. This limitation does not apply
to U.S. Government and Agency Securities, securities of other investment companies, and state, territorial or municipal securities or
such other securities as may be excluded for this purpose under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable
exemptive relief or SEC or SEC staff interpretations.
5. Lending.
A Fund may lend money or other assets to the extent permitted by (i) the 1940 Act or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC
staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other
authority.
6. Real
Estate. A Fund may not purchase or sell real estate except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act or interpretations or modifications by
the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC
staff or other authority.
7. Senior
Securities. A Fund may not issue senior securities except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act or interpretations or modifications by
the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC
staff or other authority.
8. Underwriting.
A Fund may not engage in the business of underwriting the securities of other issuers except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act or interpretations
or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission
from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.
9. Municipal
Securities (Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund). A Fund normally
invests at least 80% of its net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in securities of municipal issuers that
provide interest income that is exempt from federal income tax and other investments that provide investment exposure to such securities;
however, the Fund may invest without limit in municipal securities the interest on which may be an item of tax preference for purposes
of the federal alternative minimum tax (“Tax Preference Item”).
Municipal Securities (Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund). The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities of municipal
issuers.
A Fund’s limitation
on investments in any one issuer does not limit the Fund’s ability to invest up to 100% of its total assets in a master portfolio
with the same investment objective, policies and limitations as the Fund.
Each Fund (except Neuberger
Berman Floating Rate Income Fund) has the following additional fundamental investment policy:
Accordingly, notwithstanding
any other investment policy of the Fund, the Fund may invest all of its investable assets (cash, securities, and receivables relating
to securities) in an open-end management investment company having substantially the same investment objective, policies, and limitations
as the Fund.
Neuberger Berman Floating
Rate Income Fund has the following fundamental investment policy:
Accordingly, notwithstanding
any other investment policy of the Fund, the Fund may invest all of its investable assets in an open-end management investment company
having substantially the same investment objective, policies, and limitations as the Fund.
With respect to the fundamental
policy relating to borrowing set forth in (1) above, Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt
Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal
Impact Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund may pledge assets in connection with permitted borrowings.
With respect to the fundamental
policy relating to borrowing set forth in (1) above, the 1940 Act permits a Fund to borrow money in amounts of up to one-third of the
Fund’s total assets from banks for any purpose, and to borrow up to 5% of the Fund’s total assets from banks or other lenders
for temporary purposes. (The Fund’s total assets include the amounts being borrowed.) To limit the risks attendant to borrowing,
the 1940 Act requires the Fund to maintain an “asset coverage” of at least 300% of the amount of its borrowings, provided
that in the event that the Fund’s asset coverage falls below 300%, the Fund is required to reduce the amount of its borrowings so
that it meets the 300% asset coverage threshold within three days (not including Sundays and holidays). Asset coverage means the ratio
that the value of the Fund’s total assets (including amounts borrowed), minus liabilities other than borrowings, bears to the aggregate
amount of all borrowings. Certain trading practices and investments, such as reverse repurchase agreements, may be considered to be borrowings
and thus subject to the 1940 Act restrictions. Each Fund also has obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit it to borrow money
from other funds for temporary purposes.
For purposes of the fundamental
policy relating to commodities set forth in (2) above, a Fund does not consider foreign currencies or forward contracts to be physical
commodities. This limitation does not prohibit a Fund from purchasing securities backed by physical commodities, including interests in
exchange-traded investment trusts and other similar entities, or derivative instruments. In addition, this limitation does not prohibit
any Fund from purchasing physical commodities.
None of the foregoing fundamental
policies shall be construed to prevent a Fund from purchasing, holding or selling all or a portion of any issuance of sukuk or similarly
structured investments.
The more narrowly industries
are defined, the more likely it is that multiple industries will be affected in a similar fashion by a single economic or regulatory development.
With respect to the fundamental
policy relating to industry concentration set forth in (4) above, the 1940 Act does not define what constitutes “concentration”
in an industry. The SEC staff has taken the position that investment of 25% or more of a fund’s total assets in one or more issuers
conducting their principal activities in the same industry or group of industries constitutes concentration. It is possible that interpretations
of concentration could change in the future. The policy in (4) above will be interpreted to refer to concentration as that term may be
interpreted from time to time by the SEC, SEC staff or other relevant authority. The policy also will be interpreted to permit investment
without limit in the following: securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities; securities of state, territory,
possession or municipal governments and their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; securities of foreign
governments; and repurchase agreements collateralized by any such obligations. Accordingly, issuers of the foregoing securities will not
be considered to be members of any industry and there will be no limit on investment in issuers domiciled in a single jurisdiction or
country. The policy also will be interpreted to give broad authority to a Fund as to how to classify issuers within or among industries.
Also for purposes of the fundamental policy relating to industry concentration, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are grouped
according to the nature of their collateral, and certificates of deposit (“CDs”) are interpreted to include similar types
of time deposits.
For purposes of the fundamental
policy relating to industry concentration set forth in (4) above, each of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging
Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund determines
the “issuer” of a municipal obligation that is not a general obligation note or bond based on the obligation’s characteristics.
The most significant of these characteristics is the source of funds for the repayment of principal and payment of interest on the obligation.
If an obligation is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or other guarantee, without which the obligation would not qualify for
purchase under a Fund’s quality restrictions, the issuer of the letter of credit or the guarantee is considered an issuer of the
obligation. If an obligation meets a Fund’s quality restrictions without credit support, the Fund treats the commercial developer
or the industrial user, rather than the governmental entity or the guarantor, as the only issuer of the obligation, even if the obligation
is backed by a letter of credit or other guarantee.
Also, for purposes of the
fundamental policy relating to industry concentration set forth in (4) above, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund will not exclude securities the interest
on which is exempt from federal income tax (“tax-exempt securities”) that are issued by municipalities to finance non-governmental
projects, such as hospitals (i.e., private activity bonds (“PABs”)), from the investment limitation.
With respect to the fundamental
policy relating to industry concentration set forth in (4) above, if an investment company in which a Fund invests has an industry concentration
policy, the Fund will consider that investment company for purposes of the Fund’s industry concentration policy.
With respect to the fundamental
policy relating to lending set forth in (5) above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a Fund from making loans; however, SEC staff interpretations
currently prohibit funds from lending more than one-third of their total assets, except through the purchase of debt obligations or the
use of repurchase agreements. (A repurchase agreement is an agreement to purchase a security, coupled with an agreement to sell that security
back to the original seller on an agreed-upon date at a price that reflects current interest rates. The SEC frequently treats repurchase
agreements as loans.) The Fund also will be permitted by this policy to make loans of money, including to other funds. The Fund has obtained
exemptive relief from the SEC to make loans to other funds for temporary purposes. The policy in (5) above will be interpreted not to
prevent the Fund from purchasing or investing in debt obligations and loans. In addition, collateral arrangements with respect to options,
forward currency and futures transactions and other derivative instruments, as well as delays in the settlement of securities transactions,
will not be considered loans.
With respect to the fundamental
policy relating to real estate set forth in (6) above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a Fund from owning real estate; however, the Fund
could lose favorable tax treatment if too much of its income is from sources other than investments in securities. This does not prevent
the Fund from investing in securities of companies that invest in real estate or real estate-related activities.
With respect to the fundamental
policy relating to issuing senior securities set forth in (7) above, “senior securities” are defined as Fund obligations that
have a priority over the Fund’s shares with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of Fund assets. The 1940 Act
prohibits a Fund from issuing senior securities except that the Fund may borrow money in amounts of up to one-third of the Fund’s
total assets from banks for any purpose. The Fund may also borrow up to 5% of the Fund’s total assets from banks or other lenders
for temporary purposes, and these borrowings are not considered senior securities. The policy in (7) above will be interpreted not to
prevent collateral arrangements with respect to swaps, options, forward or futures contracts or other derivatives, or the posting of initial
or variation margin.
With respect to the fundamental
policy relating to underwriting set forth in (8) above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a Fund from engaging in the underwriting business
or from underwriting the securities of other issuers; in fact, the 1940 Act permits the Fund to have underwriting commitments of up to
25% of its assets under certain circumstances. Those circumstances currently are that the amount of the Fund’s underwriting commitments,
when added to the value of the Fund’s investments in issuers where the Fund owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities
of those issuers, cannot exceed the 25% cap. A fund engaging in transactions involving the acquisition or disposition of portfolio securities
may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act. Although it is not believed that the application of the 1933 Act provisions
described above would cause the Fund to be engaged in the business of underwriting, the policy in (8) above will be interpreted not to
prevent the Fund from engaging in transactions involving the acquisition or disposition of portfolio securities, regardless of whether
the fund may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act.
A Fund’s fundamental
policies will be interpreted broadly. For example, the policies will be interpreted to refer to the 1940 Act and the related rules as
they are in effect from time to time, and to interpretations and modifications of or relating to the 1940 Act by the SEC and others as
they are given from time to time. When a policy provides that an investment practice may be conducted as permitted by the 1940 Act, the
policy will be interpreted to mean either that the 1940 Act expressly permits the practice or that the 1940 Act does not prohibit the
practice.
The following investment
policies and limitations are non-fundamental and apply to all Funds unless otherwise indicated:
1. Illiquid
Securities. No Fund may purchase any security if, as a result, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid securities.
An illiquid investment means any investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions
in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.
2. Lending
(Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund). Except for the purchase of
debt securities and engaging in repurchase agreements, the Funds may not make any loans other than securities loans.
Lending (Neuberger Berman
Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund).
Except for the purchase of debt securities, loans, loan participations or other forms of direct debt instruments and engaging in repurchase
agreements, the Funds may not make any loans other than securities loans.
3. Margin Transactions.
No Fund may purchase securities on margin from brokers or other lenders, except that a Fund may obtain such short-term credits as
are necessary for the clearance of securities transactions. Margin posted as collateral in connection with derivatives transactions and
short sales shall not constitute the purchase of securities on margin and shall not be deemed to violate the foregoing limitation.
4. Investments
in Any One Issuer (Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund). At the close
of each quarter of each Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented
by cash and cash items, Government securities (as defined for purposes of Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”)), securities of other “regulated investment companies” (as defined in section
851(a) of the Code) (each, a “RIC”), and other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not
exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the issuer’s outstanding voting
securities, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in (a) securities (other than Government
securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, (b) securities (other than securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers
the Fund controls that are determined to be engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or in the case of Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund (c) securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined
in the Code).
5. Geographic
Concentration (Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund). The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities issued by governmental
units located in any one state, territory, or possession of the United States (but this limitation does not apply to project notes backed
by the full faith and credit of the United States).
6. Bonds
and Other Debt Securities (Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund). The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus
the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in bonds and other debt securities and other investment companies that provide
investment exposure to such debt securities. Although this is a non-fundamental policy, the Fund Trustees will not change this policy
without at least 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
High-Yield Bonds (Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund). The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes, in high-yield bonds (generally defined as those debt securities that, at the time of investment, are rated in
the lowest investment grade category (BBB by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Baa by Moody’s Investors Service
(“Moody’s”), or comparably rated by at least one independent credit rating agency) or lower or, if unrated, deemed by
the portfolio managers to be of comparable quality) and other investment companies that provide investment exposure to such bonds. Although
this is a non-fundamental policy, the Fund Trustees will not change this policy without at least 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Floating Rate Investments
(Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund). The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of
any borrowings for investment purposes, in floating rate securities (including loans) and other investment companies that provide investment
exposure to such floating rate securities. Although this is a non-fundamental policy, the Fund Trustees will not change this policy without
at least 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
Emerging Market Debt and
Other Instruments (Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund). The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets,
plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in debt and other instruments of issuers that are tied economically to emerging
market countries and other investments that provide investment exposure to such debt instruments. Although this is a non-fundamental policy,
the Fund Trustees will not change this policy without at least 60 days’ notice to shareholders.
7. Investment
by a Fund of Funds. If shares of a Fund are purchased by another fund in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act, for so long
as shares of the Fund are held by such fund, the Fund will not purchase securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered
unit investment trusts in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.
For purposes of a Fund’s
non-fundamental policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets in debt securities or debt instruments, as applicable, convertible debt
securities are considered to be debt. A Fund currently considers preferred securities and contingent convertible securities to be either
debt or equity based on the recommendation of an independent third party.
Senior Securities.
Section 18(f)(1) of the 1940 Act prohibits an open-end investment company from issuing any class of senior security, or selling any class
of senior security of which it is the issuer, except that the investment company may borrow from a bank provided that immediately after
any such borrowing there is asset coverage of at least 300% for all of its borrowings. Rule 18f-4 permits funds to engage in “derivatives
transactions” as defined by that rule that would otherwise be subject to the restrictions of Section 18 of the 1940 Act on their
issuance of “senior securities.” For information on Rule 18f-4, see “Additional Investment Information -- Futures Contracts,
Options on Futures Contracts, Options on Securities and Indices, Forward Currency Contracts, Options on Foreign Currencies, and Swap
Agreements” below.
Cash Management and Temporary Defensive Positions
For temporary defensive
purposes, or to manage cash pending investment or payout, each of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating
Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman
Municipal Impact Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income
Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in cash or cash equivalents, U.S. Government and Agency Securities, commercial paper,
money market funds and certain other money market instruments, as well as repurchase agreements collateralized by the foregoing, the
income from which generally will be subject to federal, state, and local income taxes and may adopt shorter than normal weighted average
maturities or durations. Yields on these securities are generally lower than yields available on certain other investments and debt securities
in which Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond
Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund normally invest. These investments will produce taxable income for Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate
Bond Fund and may produce after-tax yields that are lower than the tax-equivalent yields available on municipal securities at the
time.
For temporary defensive purposes,
or to manage cash pending investment or payout, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund may invest up to 100% of its total
assets in short-term foreign or U.S. investments, such as cash or cash equivalents, commercial paper, short-term bank obligations, U.S.
Government and Agency Securities, and repurchase agreements collateralized by the foregoing, the income from which generally will be subject
to federal, state, and local income taxes and may adopt shorter than normal weighted average maturities or durations. Yields on these
securities are generally lower than yields available on certain other investments and debt securities in which each Fund normally invests.
A Fund may also invest in
such instruments to increase liquidity or to provide collateral to be segregated. These investments may prevent a Fund from achieving
its investment objective.
In reliance on an SEC exemptive
rule, a Fund may invest an unlimited amount of its uninvested cash and cash collateral received in connection with securities lending
in shares of money market funds and unregistered funds that operate in compliance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, whether or not advised
by NBIA or an affiliate, under specified conditions. Among other things, the conditions preclude an investing Fund from paying a sales
charge, as defined in rule 2830(b) of the NASD Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”)
(“sales charge”), or a service fee, as defined in that rule, in connection with its purchase or redemption of the money market
fund’s or unregistered fund’s shares, or the Fund’s investment adviser must waive a sufficient amount of its advisory
fee to offset any such sales charge or service fee.
Additional Investment Information
Unless otherwise indicated,
the Funds may buy the types of securities and use the investment techniques described below, subject to any applicable investment policies
and limitations. However, the Funds may not buy all of the types of securities or use all of the investment techniques described below.
In addition, certain securities and investment techniques may produce taxable income for the Funds. Each Fund’s principal investment
strategies and the principal risks of each Fund’s principal investment strategies are discussed in the Prospectuses.
Pursuant to Rule 12d1-4 under
the 1940 Act, each Fund may invest in both affiliated and unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”),
(“underlying funds”) in excess of the limits in Section 12 of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. When
a Fund invests in underlying funds, it is indirectly exposed to the investment practices of the underlying funds and, therefore, is subject
to all the risks associated with the practices of the underlying funds. This SAI is not an offer to sell shares of any underlying fund.
Shares of an underlying fund are sold only through the currently effective prospectus for that underlying fund. Unless otherwise noted
herein, the investment practices and associated risks detailed below also include those to which a Fund indirectly may be exposed through
its investment in an underlying fund. Unless otherwise noted herein, any references to investments made by a Fund include those that may
be made both directly by the Fund and indirectly by the Fund through its investments in underlying funds.
Asset-Backed Securities.
Asset-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as, among
other things, motor vehicle installment sales contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property,
and receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements, or a combination of the foregoing. These assets are securitized through
the use of trusts and special purpose corporations. Credit enhancements, such as various forms of cash collateral accounts or letters
of credit, may support payments of principal and interest on asset-backed securities. Although these securities may be supported by letters
of credit or other credit enhancements, payment of interest and principal ultimately depends upon individuals paying the underlying loans,
which may be affected adversely by general downturns in the economy. Asset-backed securities are subject to the same risk of prepayment
described with respect to mortgage-backed securities and to extension risk (the risk that an issuer of a security will make principal
payments slower than anticipated by the investor, thus extending the securities’ duration). The risk that recovery on repossessed
collateral might be unavailable or inadequate to support payments, however, is greater for asset-backed securities than for mortgage-backed
securities.
Certificates for Automobile
ReceivablesSM (“CARSSM”) represent undivided fractional interests in a trust whose assets consist of
a pool of motor vehicle retail installment sales contracts and security interests in the vehicles securing those contracts. Payments of
principal and interest on the underlying contracts are passed through monthly to certificate holders and are guaranteed up to specified
amounts by a letter of credit issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trustee or originator of the trust. Underlying installment
sales contracts are subject to prepayment, which may reduce the overall return to certificate holders. Certificate holders also may experience
delays in payment or losses on CARSSM if the trust does not realize the full amounts due on underlying installment sales contracts
because of unanticipated legal or administrative costs of enforcing the contracts; depreciation, damage, or loss of the vehicles securing
the contracts; or other factors.
Credit card receivable securities
are backed by receivables from revolving credit card agreements (“Accounts”). Credit balances on Accounts are generally paid
down more rapidly than are automobile contracts. Most of the credit card receivable securities issued publicly to date have been pass-through
certificates. In order to lengthen their maturity or duration, most such securities provide for a fixed period during which only interest
payments on the underlying Accounts are passed through to the security holder; principal payments received on the Accounts are used to
fund the transfer of additional credit card charges made on the Accounts to the pool of assets supporting the securities. Usually, the
initial fixed period may be shortened if specified events occur which signal a potential deterioration in the quality of the assets backing
the security, such as the imposition of a cap on interest rates. An issuer’s ability to extend the life of an issue of credit card
receivable securities thus depends on the continued generation of principal amounts in the underlying Accounts and the non-occurrence
of the specified events. The non-deductibility of consumer interest, as well as competitive and general economic factors, could adversely
affect the rate at which new receivables are created in an Account and conveyed to an issuer, thereby shortening the expected weighted
average life of the related security and reducing its yield. An acceleration in cardholders’ payment rates or any other event that
shortens the period during which additional credit card charges on an Account may be transferred to the pool of assets supporting the
related security could have a similar effect on its weighted average life and yield.
Credit cardholders are entitled
to the protection of state and federal consumer credit laws. Many of those laws give a holder the right to set off certain amounts against
balances owed on the credit card, thereby reducing amounts paid on Accounts. In addition, unlike the collateral for most other asset-backed
securities, Accounts are unsecured obligations of the cardholder.
Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman
High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, and
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund each may invest in trust preferred securities, which are a type of asset-backed security.
Trust preferred securities represent interests in a trust formed by a parent company to finance its operations. The trust sells preferred
shares and invests the proceeds in debt securities of the parent. This debt may be subordinated and unsecured. Dividend payments on the
trust preferred securities match the interest payments on the debt securities; if no interest is paid on the debt securities, the trust
will not make current payments on its preferred securities. Unlike typical asset-backed securities, which have many underlying payors
and are usually overcollateralized, trust preferred securities have only one underlying payor and are not overcollateralized. Issuers
of trust preferred securities and their parents currently enjoy favorable tax treatment. If the tax characterization of trust preferred
securities were to change, they could be redeemed by the issuers, which could result in a loss to a Fund.
Banking and Savings
Institution Securities. These include CDs, time deposits, bankers’ acceptances, and other short-term and long-term debt
obligations issued by commercial banks and savings institutions. The CDs, time deposits, and bankers’ acceptances in which the Funds
invest typically are not covered by deposit insurance.
A certificate of deposit is
a short-term negotiable certificate issued by a commercial bank against funds deposited in the bank and is either interest-bearing or
purchased on a discount basis. A bankers’ acceptance is a short-term draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower, usually in
connection with an international commercial transaction. The borrower is liable for payment as is the bank, which unconditionally guarantees
to pay the draft at its face amount on the maturity date. Fixed time deposits are obligations of branches of U.S. banks or foreign banks
that are payable at a stated maturity date and bear a fixed rate of interest. Although fixed time deposits do not have a market, there
are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in the deposit to a third party. Deposit notes are notes
issued by commercial banks that generally bear fixed rates of interest and typically have original maturities ranging from eighteen months
to five years.
Banks are subject to extensive
governmental regulations that may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments that may be made and the interest
rates and fees that may be charged. The profitability of this industry is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of capital,
which can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change. Also, general economic conditions, consolidation and competition among banking
and savings institutions play an important part in the operations of this industry and exposure to credit losses arising from possible
financial difficulties of borrowers might affect a bank’s ability to meet its obligations. Bank obligations may be general obligations
of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulation.
In 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was passed, which significantly impacted the financial services
industry, including more stringent regulation of depository institutions and their holding companies. Federal regulatory agencies are
still implementing many of the Dodd-Frank Act’s provisions but increased regulation could impact the operations and profitability
of depository institutions and their holding companies.
In addition, for Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund,
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact
Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, securities of foreign banks and foreign branches of U.S. banks may involve
investment risks in addition to those relating to domestic bank obligations. Such risks include future political and economic developments,
the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, and the possible adoption of foreign governmental restrictions that might
adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on such obligations. In addition, foreign banks and foreign branches of U.S. banks
may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and non-U.S. issuers generally are subject to different accounting, auditing, reporting
and recordkeeping standards than those applicable to U.S. issuers.
In March 2023, the shut-down
of certain financial institutions raised economic concerns over disruption in the U.S. banking system. There can be no certainty that
the actions taken by the U.S. government to strengthen public confidence in the U.S. banking system will be effective in mitigating the
effects of financial institution failures on the economy and restoring public confidence in the U.S. banking system.
Catastrophe Bonds. Catastrophe
Bonds (“CAT Bonds”) are a form of insurance-linked securities that are sold in the capital markets. CAT Bonds are a
way for insurers, reinsurers, corporations and government entities that have risks associated with natural catastrophe events and disasters
to transfer those risks to the capital market in securities format. They are often structured as floating rate bonds whose principal
is lost if specified trigger conditions are met. If the triggered conditions are met, the principal is paid to the sponsor and
the purchaser of the CAT Bond may lose all or a portion of the principal. If the triggered conditions are not met, the purchaser
of the CAT Bond will receive its principal plus interest. CAT Bonds are generally exposed to what are believed to be relatively
low probability, large-scale natural catastrophe events in the United States, Japan, Europe and elsewhere. CAT Bonds may also be
structured as derivatives that are triggered by amounts actually lost by the protected counterparty, modeled losses (determined pursuant
to predetermined algorithms or models), losses incurred by a specified industry, one or more event parameters or combinations of the
foregoing. Certain CAT Bonds may cover the risk that multiple loss events will occur.
To issue a CAT Bond, the
sponsor creates a special purpose vehicle that issues individual notes to capital markets investors. The special purpose vehicle provides
protection to the sponsor against the risk of specified natural or non-natural catastrophes or events. More specifically, the obligation
of the special purpose vehicle to repay principal is contingent on the occurrence or non-occurrence of whatever catastrophic event or
events are specified. In the event that the specific natural catastrophe mentioned in the CAT Bond occurs, the bond is “triggered”
and all or a portion of the original principal can be used to pay the approved claims from the trigger event. CAT Bonds may provide
for extensions of maturity that are mandatory, or optional, at the discretion of the issuer, in order to process and audit loss claims
in those cases where a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An investment in CAT Bonds may be subject to counterparty
party risk, adverse regulatory and jurisdictional interpretations, adverse tax consequences, liquidity risk and foreign currency risk.
In addition, an investment in CAT Bonds is subject to the following additional risks:
• Limited
Resources of Issuers. The issuers of CAT Bonds often are thinly capitalized, special purpose entities that do not have ready
access to additional capital. In the event of unanticipated expenses or liabilities, such entities may not have the resources available
to pay such expenses or liabilities or the required interest and/or principal on their issued securities.
• Investments
of Issuers. The ability of issuers of CAT Bonds to provide the expected investment returns on their issued securities is based
in part on such entities’ investments, which may be subject to credit default risk, interest rate risk and other risks.
• Regulation. Entities
that issue CAT Bonds may be subject to substantial regulation of their insurance and other activities. Such regulation can lead to unanticipated
expenses that may result in such an entity being unable to satisfy its obligations, including those related to its issued securities.
Conversely, because such entities often are domiciled in non-U.S. jurisdictions, such entities may not be subject to the same degree
of regulatory oversight to which investors may be accustomed to seeing in issuers and insurance companies in the U.S. Similarly,
because such entities often are subject only to the laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions, it could be difficult for an investor in such an
entity to make a claim or enforce a judgment against the entity or its directors or officers.
• Subordination;
No Recourse. CAT Bonds often are subordinated to other obligations of the issuer, such as those obligations to a ceding insurer.
Consequently, if such an entity incurs unexpected expenses or liabilities in connection with its activities, the entity may be unable
to pay the required interest and/or principal on its issued securities. In particular, CAT Bonds are issued without recourse.
As a result, if an issuer of a CAT Bond defaulted on its obligations under the CAT Bond, an investor would have no recourse to recover
any amount of the principal invested to purchase the CAT Bond.
• Lower or
No Ratings. CAT Bonds may receive low ratings or be unrated by rating agencies. Consequently, such securities may be relatively
illiquid and subject to adverse publicity and investor perceptions, any of which may act to depress prices.
Collateralized Loan
Obligations. A Fund also may invest in collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), which are another type of asset-backed
security. A CLO is a trust or other special purpose entity that is comprised of or collateralized by a pool of loans, including domestic
and non-U.S. senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment
grade or equivalent unrated loans. The loans generate cash flow that is allocated among one or more classes of securities (“tranches”)
that vary in risk and yield. The most senior tranche has the best credit quality and the lowest yield compared to the other tranches.
The equity tranche has the highest potential yield but also has the greatest risk, as it bears the bulk of defaults from the underlying
loans and helps to protect the more senior tranches from risk of these defaults. However, despite the protection from the equity and other
more junior tranches, more senior tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults and decreased market value due to
collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CLO securities as
a class.
Normally, CLOs are privately
offered and sold and are not registered under state or federal securities laws. Therefore, investments in CLOs may be characterized by
a Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market may exist for CLOs allowing a CLO to qualify for transactions pursuant
to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. CLOs normally charge management fees and administrative expenses, which are in addition to those of a
Fund.
The riskiness of investing
in CLOs depends largely on the quality and type of the collateral loans and the tranche of the CLO in which a Fund invests. In addition
to the normal risks associated with fixed-income securities discussed elsewhere in this SAI and a Fund’s Prospectus (such as interest
rate risk and credit risk), CLOs carry risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from the collateral
will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the
Fund may invest in CLO tranches that are subordinate to other tranches; and (iv) the complex structure of the CLO may not be fully understood
at the time of investment or may result in the quality of the underlying collateral not being fully understood and may produce disputes
with the issuer or unexpected investment results. In addition, interest on certain tranches of a CLO may be paid in-kind (meaning that
unpaid interest is effectively added to principal), which involves continued exposure to default risk with respect to such payments. Certain
CLOs may receive credit enhancement in the form of a senior-subordinate structure, over-collateralization or bond insurance, but such
enhancement may not always be present and may fail to protect a Fund against the risk of loss due to defaults on the collateral. Certain
CLOs may not hold loans directly, but rather, use derivatives such as swaps to create “synthetic” exposure to the collateral
pool of loans. Such CLOs entail the risks of derivative instruments described elsewhere in this SAI.
Commercial Paper.
Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer, usually for purposes such
as financing current operations. A Fund may invest in commercial paper that cannot be resold to the public without an effective registration
statement under the 1933 Act. While some restricted commercial paper normally is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine
that such paper is liquid.
Commodities Related
Investments. A Fund may purchase securities backed by physical commodities, including interests in exchange-traded investment
trusts and other similar entities, the value of the shares of which relates directly to the value of physical commodities held by such
an entity. As an investor in such an entity, a Fund would indirectly bear its pro rata share of the entity’s expenses, which
may include storage and other costs relating to the entity’s investments in physical commodities.
In addition, a Fund will
not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year in which more than 10% of its gross income consists of “non-qualifying” income,
which includes gains from selling physical commodities (or options or futures contracts thereon unless the gain is realized from certain
hedging transactions) and certain other non-passive income. A Fund’s investment in securities backed by, or in such entities that
invest in, physical commodities would produce non-qualifying income, although investments in stock of a “controlled foreign corporation”
that invests in physical commodities and annually distributes its net income and gains generally should not produce such income. To remain
within the 10% limitation, a Fund may need to hold such an investment or sell it at a loss, or sell other investments, when for investment
reasons it would not otherwise do so. The availability of such measures does not guarantee that a Fund would be able to satisfy that limitation.
Exposure to physical commodities
may subject a Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of such investments may be affected by
overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity,
such as supply and demand, drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.
Their value may also respond to investor perception of instability in the national or international economy, whether or not justified
by the facts. However, these investments may help to moderate fluctuations in the value of a Fund’s other holdings, because these
investments may not correlate with investments in traditional securities. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce
the demand for commodities, which may reduce market prices and cause the value of a Fund’s shares to fall. No active trading market
may exist for certain commodities investments, which may impair the ability of a Fund to sell or realize the full value of such investments
in the event of the need to liquidate such investments. Certain commodities are subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply
and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials
and the instability of the supplies of other materials. These additional variables may create additional investment risks and result in
greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. Because physical commodities do not generate investment income, the return
on such investments will be derived solely from the appreciation or depreciation on such investments. Certain types of commodities instruments
(such as commodity-linked swaps and commodity-linked structured notes) are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the instrument
will not perform or will be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument.
Policies and Limitations.
For the Funds’ policies and limitations on commodities, see “Investment Policies and Limitations -- Commodities” above.
In addition, a Fund does not intend to sell commodities related investments when doing so would cause it to fail to qualify as a RIC.
Contingent Convertible
Securities. Contingent convertible securities (“CoCos”) are a form of hybrid security that are intended to either
convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain triggers. The triggers are generally linked to
regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuer’s continued viability as a going concern. The
unique equity conversion or principal write-down features of CoCos are tailored to the issuer and its regulatory requirements. CoCos typically
will be issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital treatment prior to
a conversion. One type of CoCo provides for mandatory conversion of the security into common stock of the issuer under certain circumstances.
The mandatory conversion might relate, for example, to the issuer’s failure to maintain a capital minimum required by regulations.
Because the common stock of the issuer may not pay a dividend, investors in such securities could experience reduced yields (or no yields
at all) and conversion would worsen the investor’s standing in the case of an issuer’s insolvency. Another type of CoCo has
characteristics designed to absorb losses, where the liquidation value of the security may be adjusted downward to below the original
par value or written off entirely under certain circumstances. For instance, in the event that losses have eroded the issuer’s capital
levels to below a specified threshold, the liquidation value of the security may be reduced in whole or in part. The write-down of the
security’s par value may occur automatically and would not entitle holders to institute bankruptcy proceedings against the issuer.
In addition, an automatic write-down could result in a reduced income rate if the dividend or interest payment associated with the security
is based on the security’s par value. Such securities may, but are not required to, provide for circumstances under which the liquidation
value of the security may be adjusted back up to par, such as an improvement in capitalization or earnings. In addition, CoCos may have
no stated maturity and may have fully discretionary coupons that can potentially be cancelled at the issuer’s discretion or may
be prohibited by the relevant regulatory authority from being paid in order to help the issuer absorb losses.
Convertible Securities.
A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock, or other security or debt obligation that may be converted into or
exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified
price or formula. Convertible securities generally have features of, and risks associated with, both equity and fixed income instruments.
As such, the value of most convertible securities will vary with changes in the price of, and will be subject to the risks associated
with, the underlying common stock. Additionally, convertible securities are also subject to the risk that the issuer may not be able to
pay principal or interest when due and the value of the convertible security may change based on the issuer’s credit rating.
A convertible security entitles
the holder to receive the interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures
or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, such securities ordinarily provide a stream of income with generally higher
yields than common stocks of the same or similar issuers, but lower than the yield on non-convertible debt. Convertible securities are
usually subordinated to comparable-tier non-convertible securities and other senior debt obligations of the issuer, but rank senior to
common stock in a company’s capital structure. The value of a convertible security is a function of (1) its yield in comparison
to the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege and (2) its worth if converted
into the underlying common stock.
The price of a convertible
security often reflects variations in the price of the underlying common stock in a way that non-convertible debt may not. Convertible
securities may be issued by smaller capitalization companies whose stock prices may be more volatile than larger capitalization companies.
A convertible security may have a mandatory conversion feature or a call feature that subjects it to redemption at the option of the issuer
at a price established in the security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption,
the Fund will be required to convert it into the underlying common stock, sell it to a third party or permit the issuer to redeem the
security. Any of these actions could have an adverse effect on a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives.
Direct Debt Instruments
including Loans, Loan Assignments, and Loan Participations. Direct debt includes interests in loans, notes and other interests
in amounts owed to financial institutions by borrowers, such as companies and governments, including emerging market countries. Direct
debt instruments are interests in amounts owed by corporate, governmental, or other borrowers (including emerging market countries) to
lenders or lending syndicates. Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of
the borrower for payment of principal and interest. The borrower may be in financial distress or may default. If a Fund does not receive
scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the Fund’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Participations
in debt instruments may involve a risk of insolvency of the selling bank. In addition, there may be fewer legal protections for owners
of participation interests than for direct lenders. Direct indebtedness of developing countries involves a risk that the governmental
entities responsible for the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. See the additional
risks described under “Foreign Securities” in this SAI.
Direct debt instruments may
have floating interest rates. These interest rates will vary depending on the terms of the underlying loan and market conditions.
Loans, Loan Assignments,
and Loan Participations. Floating rate securities, including loans, provide for automatic adjustment of the interest rate at
fixed intervals (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, or semi-annually) or automatic adjustment of the interest rate whenever a specified
interest rate or index changes. The interest rate on floating rate securities ordinarily is determined by reference to LIBOR (London
Interbank Offered Rate), a particular bank’s prime rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury Department Bill rate, the rate of return on commercial
paper or bank CDs, an index of short-term tax-exempt rates or some other objective measure. A Fund may invest in secured and unsecured
loans.
A Fund may invest in direct
debt instruments by direct investment as a lender, by taking an assignment of all or a portion of an interest in a loan previously held
by another institution or by acquiring a participation interest in a loan that continues to be held by another institution. It also may
be difficult for a Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a selling bank’s financial condition. Loans are subject to the same risks
as other direct debt instruments discussed above and carry additional risks described in this section.
Direct Investments.
When a Fund invests as an initial investor in a new loan, the investment is typically made at par value. Secondary purchases of loans
may be made at a premium to par, at par, or at a discount to par. Therefore, a Fund’s return on a secondary investment may be lower,
equal, or higher than if the Fund had made a direct investment. As an initial investor in a new loan, the Fund may be paid a commitment
fee.
Assignments. When a
Fund purchases a loan by assignment, the Fund typically succeeds to the rights of the assigning lender under the loan agreement and becomes
a lender under the loan agreement. Subject to the terms of the loan agreement, a Fund typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations
under the loan agreement of the assigning lender. However, assignments may be arranged through private negotiations between potential
assignees and potential assignors, and the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of an assignment may differ from, and be more
limited than, those held by the assigning lender.
Participation Interests.
A Fund’s rights under a participation interest with respect to a particular loan may be more limited than the rights of original
lenders or of investors who acquire an assignment of that loan. In purchasing participation interests, a Fund will have the right to receive
payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the participation interest (the “participating
lender”) and only when the participating lender receives the payments from the borrower.
In a participation interest,
a Fund will usually have a contractual relationship only with the selling institution and not the underlying borrower. A Fund normally
will have to rely on the participating lender to demand and receive payments in respect of the loans, and to pay those amounts on to the
Fund; thus, a Fund will be subject to the risk that the lender may be unwilling or unable to do so. In such a case, a Fund would not likely
have any rights against the borrower directly. In addition, a Fund generally will have no right to object to certain changes to the loan
agreement agreed to by the participating lender.
In buying a participation
interest, a Fund might not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the related loan and may be subject to any rights of set off
the borrower has against the selling institution. In the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of the borrower, the obligation of the borrower
to repay the loan may be subject to certain defenses that can be asserted by the borrower as a result of any improper conduct of the participating
lender. As a result, a Fund may be subject to delays, expenses and risks that are greater than those that exist when the Fund is an original
lender or assignee.
Creditworthiness. A
Fund’s ability to receive payments in connection with loans depends on the financial condition of the borrower. The Manager will
not rely solely on another lending institution’s credit analysis of the borrower, but will perform its own investment analysis of
the borrower. The Manager’s analysis may include consideration of the borrower’s financial strength, managerial experience,
debt coverage, additional borrowing requirements or debt maturity schedules, changing financial conditions, and responsiveness to changes
in business conditions and interest rates. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks
and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only
a small fraction of the amount owed. In connection with the restructuring of a loan or other direct debt instrument outside of bankruptcy
court in a negotiated work-out or in the context of bankruptcy proceedings, equity securities or junior debt securities may be received
in exchange for all or a portion of an interest in the security.
In buying a participation
interest, a Fund assumes the credit risk of both the borrower and the participating lender. If the participating lender fails to perform
its obligations under the participation agreement, a Fund might incur costs and delays in realizing payment and suffer a loss of principal
and/or interest. If a participating lender becomes insolvent, a Fund may be treated as a general creditor of that lender. As a general
creditor, a Fund may not benefit from a right of set off that the lender has against the borrower. A Fund will acquire a participation
interest only if the Manager determines that the participating lender or other intermediary participant selling the participation interest
is creditworthy.
Ratings. Loan interests
may not be rated by independent rating agencies and therefore, investments in a particular loan participation may depend almost exclusively
on the credit analysis of the borrower performed by the Manager.
Agents. Loans are typically
administered by a bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the “agent”) for a lending syndicate
of financial institutions. In a typical loan, the agent administers the terms of the loan agreement and is responsible for the collection
of principal and interest and fee payments from the borrower and the apportionment of these payments to all lenders that are parties to
the loan agreement. In addition, an institution (which may be the agent) may hold collateral on behalf of the lenders. Typically, under
loan agreements, the agent is given broad authority in monitoring the borrower’s performance and is obligated to use the same care
it would use in the management of its own property. In asserting rights against a borrower, a Fund normally will be dependent on the willingness
of the lead bank to assert these rights, or upon a vote of all the lenders to authorize the action.
If an agent becomes insolvent,
or has a receiver, conservator, or similar official appointed for it by the appropriate regulatory authority, or becomes a debtor in a
bankruptcy proceeding, the agent’s appointment may be terminated and a successor agent would be appointed. If an appropriate regulator
or court determines that assets held by the agent for the benefit of the purchasers of loans are subject to the claims of the agent’s
general or secured creditors, a Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a loan or suffer a loss of principal
and/or interest. A Fund may be subject to similar risks when it buys a participation interest or an assignment from an intermediary.
Collateral. Although
most of the loans in which a Fund invests are secured, there is no assurance that the collateral can be promptly liquidated, or that its
liquidation value will be equal to the value of the debt. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional
collateral if the value of the initial collateral declines. As a result, a loan may not always be fully collateralized and can decline
significantly in value.
If a borrower becomes insolvent,
access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy may pay only a small portion of the
amount owed, if they are able to pay at all. In addition, if a secured loan is foreclosed, a Fund may bear the costs and liabilities associated
with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral may be difficult to sell and a Fund would bear the risk that the collateral
may decline in value while the Fund is holding it. There is also a possibility that a Fund will become the owner of its pro rata share
of the collateral which may carry additional risks and liabilities. In addition, under legal theories of lender liability, a Fund potentially
might be held liable as a co-lender. In the event of a borrower’s bankruptcy or insolvency, the borrower’s obligation to repay
the loan may be subject to certain defenses that the borrower can assert as a result of improper conduct by the Agent.
Some loans are unsecured.
If the borrower defaults on an unsecured loan, a Fund will be a general creditor and will not have rights to any specific assets of the
borrower.
Liquidity. Loans are
generally subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Loans are not currently listed on any securities exchange or automatic
quotation system. As a result, there may not be a recognized, liquid public market for loan interests.
Prepayment Risk and Maturity.
Because many loans are repaid early, the actual maturity of loans is typically shorter than their stated final maturity calculated solely
on the basis of the stated life and payment schedule. The degree to which borrowers prepay loans, whether as a contractual requirement
or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions, market interest rates, the borrower’s financial condition
and competitive conditions among lenders. Such prepayments may require a Fund to replace an investment with a lower yielding security
which may have an adverse effect on a Fund’s share price. Prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. Floating rate loans can
be less sensitive to prepayment risk, but a Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) may still fluctuate in response to interest
rate changes because variable interest rates may reset only periodically and may not rise or decline as much as interest rates in general.
Restrictive Covenants.
A borrower must comply with various restrictive covenants in a loan agreement such as restrictions on dividend payments and limits on
total debt. The loan agreement may also contain a covenant requiring the borrower to prepay the loan with any free cash flow. A breach
of a covenant is normally an event of default, which provides the agent or the lenders the right to call the outstanding loan.
Fees and Expenses.
A Fund may be required to pay and receive various fees and commissions in the process of purchasing, selling, and holding loans. The fee
component may include any, or a combination of, the following elements: assignment fees, arrangement fees, non-use fees, facility fees,
letter of credit fees, and ticking fees. Arrangement fees are paid at the commencement of a loan as compensation for the initiation of
the transaction. A non-use fee is paid based upon the amount committed but not used under the loan. Facility fees are on-going annual
fees paid in connection with a loan. Letter of credit fees are paid if a loan involves a letter of credit. Ticking fees are paid from
the initial commitment indication until loan closing if for an extended period. The amount of fees is negotiated at the time of closing.
In addition, a Fund incurs expenses associated with researching and analyzing potential loan investments, including legal fees.
Available Information.
Loans normally are not registered with the SEC or any state securities commission or listed on any securities exchange. As a result,
the amount of public information available about a specific loan historically has been less extensive than if the loan were registered
or exchange traded. They may also not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Funds, therefore may not be
entitled to rely on the strong anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.
Leveraged Buy-Out Transactions.
Loans purchased by a Fund may represent interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged corporate acquisitions, known as “leveraged
buy-out” transactions, leveraged recapitalization loans and other types of acquisition financing. The highly leveraged capital structure
of the borrowers in such transactions may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions.
Junior Loans. A Fund
may invest in second lien secured loans and secured and unsecured subordinated loans, including bridge loans (“Junior Loans”).
In the event of a bankruptcy or liquidation, second lien secured loans are generally paid only if the value of the borrower’s collateral
is sufficient to satisfy the borrower’s obligations to the first lien secured lenders and even then, the remaining collateral may
not be sufficient to cover the amount owed to a Fund. Second lien secured loans give investors priority over general unsecured creditors
in the event of an asset sale.
Junior Loans are subject to
the same general risks inherent to any loan investment, including credit risk, market and liquidity risk, and interest rate risk. Due
to their lower place in the borrower’s capital structure, Junior Loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than senior loans
of the same borrower.
Bridge Loans. Bridge
loans or bridge facilities are short-term loan arrangements (e.g., 12 to 18 months) typically made by a borrower in anticipation
of intermediate-term or long-term permanent financing. Most bridge loans are structured as floating-rate debt with step-up provisions
under which the interest rate on the bridge loan rises over time. Thus, the longer the loan remains outstanding, the more the interest
rate increases. In addition, bridge loans commonly contain a conversion feature that allows the bridge loan investor to convert its loan
interest into senior exchange notes if the loan has not been prepaid in full on or prior to its maturity date. Bridge loans may be subordinate
to other debt and may be secured or unsecured. Like any loan, bridge loans involve credit risk. Bridge loans are generally made with
the expectation that the borrower will be able to obtain permanent financing in the near future. Any delay in obtaining permanent financing
subjects the bridge loan investor to increased risk. A borrower’s use of bridge loans also involves the risk that the borrower
may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the borrower’s perceived creditworthiness.
Delayed draw term loans.
A Fund may be obligated under the terms of the relevant loan documents to advance additional funds after the initial disbursement that
it makes at the time of its investment. For example, the loan may not have been “fully funded” at that time or the lenders
may have ongoing commitments to make further advances up to a stated maximum. When a loan has been fully funded, however, repaid principal
amounts normally may not be reborrowed. Interest accrues on the outstanding principal amount of the loan. The borrower normally may pay
a fee during any commitment period.
Policies and Limitations.
The Funds do not intend to invest in loan instruments that could require additional investments upon the borrower’s demand, but
may invest in loans that require funding at a later date following the initial investment in the loan.
Each Fund’s policies
limit the percentage of its assets that can be invested in the securities of one issuer or in issuers primarily involved in one industry.
Legal interpretations by the SEC staff may require a Fund to treat both the lending bank and the borrower as “issuers” of
a loan participation by the Fund. In combination, a Fund’s policies and the SEC staff’s interpretations may limit the amount
the Fund can invest in loan participations.
For purposes of determining
its dollar-weighted average maturity or duration, each Fund calculates the remaining maturity or duration of loans on the basis of the
stated life and payment schedule.
Distressed Securities.
A Fund may invest in distressed securities, including loans, bonds and notes may involve a substantial degree of risk. Distressed securities
include securities of companies that are in financial distress and that may be in or about to enter bankruptcy.
A Fund may invest in issuers
of distressed securities that the Manager expects will make an exchange offer or will be the subject of a plan of reorganization that
a Fund will receive new securities in return for the distressed securities. A significant period of time may pass between the time at
which a Fund makes its investment in these distressed securities and the time that any exchange offer or plan of reorganization is completed
and there can be no assurance that such an exchange offer will be made or that such a plan of reorganization will be adopted. During this
period, it is unlikely that a Fund will receive any interest payments on the distressed securities, the Fund will be subject to significant
uncertainty as to whether or not the exchange offer or plan of reorganization will be completed and the Fund may be required to bear certain
extraordinary expenses to protect and recover its investment. Therefore, to the extent a Fund seeks capital appreciation through investment
in distressed securities, the Fund’s ability to achieve current income for its shareholders may be diminished.
A Fund also will be subject
to significant uncertainty as to when and in what manner and for what value the obligations evidenced by the distressed securities will
eventually be satisfied (e.g., through a liquidation of the obligor’s assets, an exchange offer or plan of reorganization involving
the distressed securities or a payment of some amount in satisfaction of the obligation). Even if an exchange offer is made or plan of
reorganization is adopted with respect to distressed securities held by a Fund, there can be no assurance that the securities or other
assets received by the Fund in connection with such exchange offer or plan of reorganization will not have a lower value or income potential
than may have been anticipated when the investment was made or no value. Moreover, any securities received by a Fund upon completion of
an exchange offer or plan of reorganization may be restricted as to resale. Similarly, if a Fund participates in negotiations with respect
to any exchange offer or plan of reorganization with respect to an issuer of distressed securities, the Fund may be restricted from disposing
of such securities. To the extent that a Fund becomes involved in such proceedings, the Fund may have a more active participation in the
affairs of the issuer than that assumed generally by an investor. The Funds, however, will not make investments for the purpose of exercising
day-to-day management of any issuer’s affairs.
In certain periods, there
may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities or other instruments. In addition, the prices of such securities
may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility. It may be difficult to obtain financial
information regarding the financial condition of a borrower or issuer, and its financial condition may be changing rapidly. It may be
more difficult to value such securities and the spread between the bid and asked prices of such securities may be greater than normally
expected.
Dollar Rolls.
In a “dollar roll,” a Fund sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously agrees to repurchase substantially
similar (i.e., same type and coupon) securities on a specified future date from the same party. During the period before the repurchase,
a Fund forgoes principal and interest payments on the securities. A Fund is compensated by the difference between the current sales price
and the forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”), as well as by the interest earned on the
cash proceeds of the initial sale. Dollar rolls may increase fluctuations in a Fund’s NAV and may be viewed as a form of leverage.
A “covered roll” is a specific type of dollar roll in which a Fund holds an offsetting cash position or a cash-equivalent
securities position that matures on or before the forward settlement date of the dollar roll transaction. There is a risk that the counterparty
will be unable or unwilling to complete the transaction as scheduled, which may result in losses to a Fund. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness
of counterparties to dollar rolls.
Policies and Limitations.
Dollar rolls are considered borrowings for purposes of a Fund’s investment policies and limitations concerning borrowings.
Equity Securities.
A Fund may invest, to a limited extent, in equity securities, which may include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities
and warrants. Common stocks and preferred stocks represent shares of ownership in a corporation. Preferred stocks usually have specific
dividends and rank after bonds and before common stock in claims on assets of the corporation should it be dissolved. Increases and decreases
in earnings are usually reflected in a corporation’s stock price. Convertible securities are debt or preferred equity securities
convertible into common stock. Usually, convertible securities pay dividends or interest at rates higher than common stock, but lower
than other securities. Convertible securities usually participate to some extent in the appreciation or depreciation of the underlying
stock into which they are convertible. Warrants are options to buy a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price anytime
during the life of the warrants.
To the extent a Fund invests
in such securities, the value of securities held by the Fund will be affected by changes in the stock markets, which may be the result
of domestic or international political or economic news, changes in interest rates or changing investor sentiment. At times, the stock
markets can be volatile and stock prices can change substantially. Because some investors purchase equity securities with borrowed money,
an increase in interest rates can cause a decline in equity prices. The equity securities of smaller companies are more sensitive to these
changes than those of larger companies. This market risk will affect a Fund’s NAV per share, which will fluctuate as the value of
the securities held by the Fund changes. Not all stock prices change uniformly or at the same time and not all stock markets move in the
same direction at the same time. Other factors affect a particular stock’s prices, such as poor earnings reports by an issuer, loss
of major customers, major litigation against an issuer, or changes in governmental regulations affecting an industry. Adverse news affecting
one company can sometimes depress the stock prices of all companies in the same industry. Not all factors can be predicted.
Policies and Limitations.
Neuberger Berman Strategic
Income Fund normally will not invest more than 10% of its total assets in rights, warrants or common stock.
ESG Policies and Limitations
Risk. The Funds’ application of any ESG policies and limitations described below is designed and utilized to help identify
companies that demonstrate the potential to create economic value or reduce risk; however as with the use of any investment criteria in
selecting a portfolio, there is no guarantee that the criteria used by a Fund will result in the selection of issuers that will outperform
other issuers, or help reduce risk in the portfolio. The use of the Funds’ ESG policies and limitations could also affect the Funds’
exposure to certain sectors or industries, and could impact a Fund’s investment performance depending on whether the ESG policies
and limitations used are ultimately reflected in the market.
Policies and Limitations.
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund has adopted a policy to prohibit the initiation of new investments in securities
issued by companies that, based on NBIA’s judgment, fall into the following categories: (i) controversial weapons (e.g., manufacture
of anti-personnel mines, cluster weapons, depleted uranium, nuclear weapons, white phosphorus, biological and chemical weapons), (ii)
documented use of child labor and (iii) tobacco companies, which are those that derive 10% or more of revenues from the manufacture of
tobacco products. The policies outlined above do not apply to securities issued by foreign governments. Further, for securities issued
by quasi-sovereign entities, the parent foreign government is not considered the issuer of the security. As part of its investment process
and due to NBIA’s views on ESG factors being an important component in its credit risk analysis, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets
Debt Fund also screens foreign governments that issue sovereign securities in order to limit its exposure to those foreign governments
that exhibit negative ESG factors relative to their existing weighting in the relevant benchmark. Specifically, the Neuberger Berman Emerging
Markets Debt Fund team’s assessment seeks to screen sovereign issuers that fall into the following categories: (i) sovereign
issuers which are ranked in the bottom decile and where the team has not identified any near-term and material improvement prospects,
each based on its assessment and proprietary research; and (ii) sovereign issuers which are: (a) ranked in the bottom decile based on
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators Rule of Law and Voice and Accountability ratings, or (b) where top officials have been sanctioned
by the UN Security Council based on human rights violations, with no near-term improvement prospects as assessed by the Neuberger Berman
Emerging Markets Debt Fund team.
Investments by the Funds
in securities issued by companies that have more than 25% (10% for Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund) of revenue derived
from thermal coal mining or are expanding new thermal coal power generation are subject to formal review and approval by Neuberger Berman’s
Environmental, Social and Governance Committee before the initiation of any new investment positions in the securities of those companies.
Fixed Income Securities.
Fixed income securities are subject to the risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations
(“credit risk”) and are subject to price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity (“interest rate
risk”), market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer, and market liquidity (“market risk”). The value of
a Fund’s fixed income investments is likely to decline in times of rising market interest rates. Conversely, the value of a Fund’s
fixed income investments is likely to rise in times of declining market interest rates. Typically, the longer the time to maturity of
a given security, the greater is the change in its value in response to a change in interest rates. Foreign debt securities are subject
to risks similar to those of other foreign securities.
Lower-rated securities are
more likely to react to developments affecting market and credit risk than are more highly rated securities, which react primarily to
movements in the general level of interest rates. Debt securities in the lowest rating categories may involve a substantial risk of default
or may be in default. Changes in economic conditions or developments regarding the individual issuer are more likely to cause price volatility
and weaken the capacity of the issuer of such securities to make principal and interest payments than is the case for higher-grade debt
securities. An economic downturn affecting the issuer may result in an increased incidence of default. The market for lower-rated securities
may be thinner and less active than for higher-rated securities. Pricing of thinly traded securities requires greater judgment than pricing
of securities for which market transactions are regularly reported. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lots.
Call Risk. Some debt
securities in which a Fund may invest are also subject to the risk that the issuer might repay them early (“call risk”). When
market interest rates are low, issuers generally call securities paying higher interest rates. For this reason, a Fund holding a callable
security may not enjoy the increase in the security’s market price that usually accompanies a decline in rates. Furthermore, a Fund
would have to reinvest the proceeds from the called security at the current, lower rates.
Ratings of Fixed Income
Securities. A Fund may purchase securities rated by S&P, Moody’s, Fitch, Inc. or any other nationally recognized statistical
rating organization (“NRSRO”) (please see the Prospectuses for further information). The ratings of an NRSRO represent its
opinion as to the quality of securities it undertakes to rate. Ratings are not absolute standards of quality; consequently, securities
with the same maturity, duration, coupon, and rating may have different yields. In addition, NRSROs are subject to an inherent conflict
of interest because they are often compensated by the same issuers whose securities they rate. Although the Funds may rely on the ratings
of any NRSRO, the Funds refer primarily to ratings assigned by S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch, Inc., which are described in Appendix A.
A Fund may also invest in unrated securities that have been determined by the Manager to be comparable in quality to the rated securities
in which the Fund may permissibly invest.
High-Quality Debt
Securities. High-quality debt securities are securities that have received from at least one NRSRO, such as S&P, Moody’s
or Fitch, Inc., a rating in one of the two highest rating categories (the highest category in the case of commercial paper) or, if not
rated by any NRSRO, such as U.S. Government and Agency Securities, have been determined by the Manager to be of comparable quality.
Investment Grade Debt
Securities. Investment grade debt securities are securities that have received, from at least one NRSRO that has rated it, a rating
in one of the four highest rating categories or, if not rated by any NRSRO, have been determined by the Manager to be of comparable quality.
Moody’s deems securities rated in its fourth highest rating category (Baa) to have speculative characteristics; a change in economic
factors could lead to a weakened capacity of the issuer to repay. If a security receives one rating in one of the four highest rating
categories and another rating below the fourth highest rating category, it will be considered investment grade (except for Neuberger Berman
High Income Bond Fund, which considers bonds rated below the fourth highest rating category by at least one NRSRO to be lower-rated
debt securities).
Lower-Rated Debt Securities.
Lower-rated debt securities or “junk bonds” are those rated below the fourth highest category (including those securities
rated as low as D by S&P) or unrated securities of comparable quality. Securities rated below investment grade are often considered
to be speculative. See the risks described under “Lower-Rated Debt Securities” in this SAI.
Ratings Downgrades. Subsequent
to its purchase by a Fund, an issue of debt securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced, so that the securities would
no longer be eligible for purchase by that Fund.
In such a case, with
respect to Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, the Manager will engage in an orderly disposition of the downgraded
securities or other securities to the extent necessary to ensure that the Fund’s holdings of securities rated below investment
grade will not exceed 15% of its net assets. With respect to Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, the Manager will consider whether
to continue holding the security. However, under normal conditions, the Manager will engage in an orderly disposition of the downgraded
securities or other securities to the extent necessary to ensure the Fund’s holdings of securities that are considered by the Fund
to be below investment grade will not exceed 5% of its net assets for Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund.
Duration and Maturity.
Duration is a measure of the sensitivity of debt securities to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated
with the securities, including payments occurring before the final repayment of principal.
The Manager may utilize duration
as a tool in portfolio selection instead of the more traditional measure known as “term to maturity.” “Term to maturity”
measures only the time until a debt security provides its final payment, taking no account of the pattern of the security’s payments
prior to maturity. Duration incorporates a bond’s yield, coupon interest payments, final maturity and call features into one measure.
Duration therefore provides a more accurate measurement of a bond’s likely price change in response to a given change in market
interest rates. The longer the duration, the greater the bond’s price movement will be as interest rates change. For any fixed income
security with interest payments occurring prior to the payment of principal, duration is always less than maturity.
Futures, options and options
on futures have durations which are generally related to the duration of the securities underlying them. Holding long futures or call
option positions will lengthen a Fund’s duration by approximately the same amount as would holding an equivalent amount of the underlying
securities. Short futures or put options have durations roughly equal to the negative of the duration of the securities that underlie
these positions, and have the effect of reducing portfolio duration by approximately the same amount as would selling an equivalent amount
of the underlying securities.
There are some situations
where even the standard duration calculation does not properly reflect the interest rate exposure of a security. For example, floating
and variable rate securities often have final maturities of ten or more years; however, their interest rate exposure corresponds to the
frequency of the coupon reset. Another example where the interest rate exposure is not properly captured by duration is the case of mortgage-backed
securities. The stated final maturity of such securities is generally 30 years, but current and expected prepayment rates are critical
in determining the securities’ interest rate exposure. In these and other similar situations, the Manager, where permitted, will
use more sophisticated analytical techniques that incorporate the economic life of a security into the determination of its interest rate
exposure.
Foreign Securities
(Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating
Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund). A Fund may
invest in equity, debt, or other securities of foreign issuers and foreign branches of U.S. banks. These securities may be U.S. dollar
denominated or denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies and may include (1) common and preferred stocks, (2) negotiable CDs,
commercial paper, fixed time deposits, and bankers’ acceptances, (3) obligations of other corporations, and (4) obligations
of foreign governments and their subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities, international agencies, and supranational entities. Foreign
issuers are issuers organized and doing business principally outside the United States and include banks, non-U.S. governments, and quasi-governmental
organizations. Investments in foreign securities involve sovereign and other risks, in addition to the credit and market risks normally
associated with domestic securities. These risks include the possibility of adverse political and economic developments (including political
or social instability, nationalization, expropriation, or confiscatory taxation); the potentially adverse effects of the unavailability
of public information regarding issuers, less governmental supervision and regulation of financial markets, reduced liquidity of certain
financial markets, and the lack of uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards or the application of standards that
are different or less stringent than those applied in the United States; different laws and customs governing securities tracking; and
possibly limited access to the courts to enforce a Fund’s rights as an investor. It may be difficult to invoke legal process or
to enforce contractual obligations abroad, and it may be especially difficult to sue a foreign government in the courts of that country.
Additionally, investing in
foreign currency denominated securities involves the additional risks of (a) adverse changes in foreign exchange rates, (b) nationalization,
expropriation, or confiscatory taxation, and (c) adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations (which could prevent
cash from being brought back to the United States). Additionally, dividends and interest payable on foreign securities (and gains realized
on disposition thereof) may be subject to foreign taxes, including taxes withheld from those payments. Commissions on foreign securities
exchanges are often at fixed rates and are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although a Fund endeavors to
achieve the most favorable net results on portfolio transactions.
Foreign securities often
trade with less frequency and in less volume than domestic securities and therefore may exhibit greater price volatility. Additional costs
associated with an investment in foreign securities may include higher custodial fees than apply to domestic custody arrangements and
transaction costs of foreign currency conversions.
Foreign markets also have
different clearance and settlement procedures. In certain markets, there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace
with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Delays in settlement could result in temporary
periods when a portion of the assets of a Fund are uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of a Fund to make intended
security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of
portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result in losses to a Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the securities
or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. The inability
of a Fund to settle security purchases or sales due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to pay additional expenses, such as interest
charges.
Securities of issuers traded
on exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange or by government authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions
may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets.
Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may
be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods
of time, during which trading in the securities and instruments that reference the securities, such as participatory notes (or “P-notes”)
or other derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that a Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments,
the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant
losses.
Interest rates prevailing
in other countries may affect the prices of foreign securities and exchange rates for foreign currencies. Local factors, including the
strength of the local economy, the demand for borrowing, the government’s fiscal and monetary policies, and the international balance
of payments, often affect interest rates in other countries. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the
U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency,
and balance of payments position.
A Fund may invest in American
Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”)
and International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”). ADRs (sponsored or unsponsored) are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank
or trust company evidencing its ownership of the underlying foreign securities. Most ADRs are denominated in U.S. dollars and are traded
on a U.S. stock exchange. However, they are subject to the risk of fluctuation in the currency exchange rate if, as is often the case,
the underlying securities are denominated in foreign currency. EDRs are receipts issued by a European bank evidencing its ownership of
the underlying foreign securities and are often denominated in a foreign currency. GDRs are receipts issued by either a U.S. or non-U.S.
banking institution evidencing its ownership of the underlying foreign securities and are often denominated in U.S. dollars. IDRs are
receipts typically issued by a foreign bank or trust company evidencing its ownership of the underlying foreign securities. Depositary
receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.
Issuers of the securities
underlying sponsored depositary receipts, but not unsponsored depositary receipts, are contractually obligated to disclose material information
in the United States. Therefore, the market value of unsponsored depositary receipts is less likely to reflect the effect of such information.
Securities of Issuers
in Emerging Market Countries. The risks described above for foreign securities may be heightened in connection with investments
in emerging market countries. Historically, the markets of emerging market countries have been more volatile than the markets of developed
countries, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, emerging market
countries may have less stable governments; may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership
and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets; and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies
of emerging market countries may be reliant on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions
and may suffer from high and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities
and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult
or impossible at times.
In determining where an issuer
of a security is based, the Manager may consider such factors as where the company is legally organized, maintains its principal corporate
offices and/or conducts its principal operations.
Additional costs could be
incurred in connection with a Fund’s investment activities outside the United States. Brokerage commissions may be higher outside
the United States, and a Fund will bear certain expenses in connection with its currency transactions. Furthermore, increased custodian
costs may be associated with maintaining assets in certain jurisdictions.
Certain risk factors related
to emerging market countries include:
Currency fluctuations.
A Fund’s investments may be valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Certain emerging market countries’ currencies
have experienced and may in the future experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar. For example, if the U.S. dollar appreciates
against foreign currencies, the value of a Fund’s securities holdings would generally depreciate and vice versa. Consistent with
its investment objective, a Fund can engage in certain currency transactions to hedge against currency fluctuations. See “Forward
Foreign Currency Transactions.” After a Fund has distributed income, subsequent foreign currency losses may result in the Fund’s
having distributed more income in a particular fiscal period than was available from investment income, which could result in a return
of capital to shareholders.
Government regulation.
The political, economic and social structures of certain developing countries may be more volatile and less developed than those in the
United States. Certain emerging market countries lack uniform accounting, auditing, financial reporting and corporate governance standards,
have less governmental supervision of financial markets than in the United States, and do not honor legal rights enjoyed in the United
States. Certain governments may be more unstable and present greater risks of nationalization or restrictions on foreign ownership of
local companies.
Repatriation of investment
income, capital and the proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval in some emerging
market countries. While a Fund will only invest in markets where these restrictions are considered acceptable by the Manager, a country
could impose new or additional repatriation restrictions after the Fund’s investment. If this happened, a Fund’s response
might include, among other things, applying to the appropriate authorities for a waiver of the restrictions or engaging in transactions
in other markets designed to offset the risks of decline in that country. Such restrictions will be considered in relation to a Fund’s
liquidity needs and all other positive and negative factors. Further, some attractive equity securities may not be available to a Fund,
or a Fund may have to pay a premium to purchase those equity securities, due to foreign shareholders already holding the maximum amount
legally permissible.
While government involvement
in the private sector varies in degree among emerging market countries, such involvement may in some cases include government ownership
of companies in certain sectors, wage and price controls or imposition of trade barriers, market manipulation and other protectionist
measures. With respect to any emerging market country, there is no guarantee that some future economic or political crisis will not lead
to price controls, forced mergers of companies, expropriation, or creation of government monopolies to the possible detriment of a Fund’s
investments.
Less developed securities
markets. Emerging market countries may have less well developed securities markets and exchanges. These markets have lower trading
volumes than the securities markets of more developed countries. These markets may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading
volume. Consequently, these markets may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries, and the securities of issuers
located in these markets may have limited marketability. These factors may make prompt liquidation of substantial portfolio holdings difficult
or impossible at times.
Settlement risks. Settlement
systems in emerging market countries are generally less well organized than developed markets. Supervisory authorities may also be unable
to apply standards comparable to those in developed markets. Thus, there may be risks that settlement may be delayed and that cash or
securities belonging to a Fund may be in jeopardy because of failures of or defects in the systems. In particular, market practice may
require that payment be made before receipt of the security being purchased or that delivery of a security be made before payment is received.
In such cases, default by a broker or bank (the “counterparty”) through whom the transaction is effected might cause a Fund
to suffer a loss. A Fund will seek, where possible, to use counterparties whose financial status is such that this risk is reduced. However,
there can be no certainty that a Fund will be successful in eliminating this risk, particularly as counterparties operating in emerging
market countries frequently lack the substance or financial resources of those in developed countries. There may also be a danger that,
because of uncertainties in the operation of settlement systems in individual markets, competing claims may arise with respect to securities
held by or to be transferred to a Fund.
Investor information.
A Fund may encounter problems assessing investment opportunities in certain emerging market securities markets in light of limitations
on available information, including the quality and reliability of such information, and different regulatory, accounting, auditing, financial
reporting and recordkeeping standards. In such circumstances, the Manager will seek alternative sources of information, and to the extent
it may not be satisfied with the sufficiency of the information obtained with respect to a particular market or security, a Fund will
not invest in such market or security.
Taxation. Taxation
of dividends received, and net capital gains realized, by non-residents on securities issued in emerging market countries varies among
those countries, and, in some cases, the applicable tax rate is comparatively high. In addition, emerging market countries typically have
less well-defined tax laws and procedures than developed countries, and such laws and procedures may permit retroactive taxation so that
a Fund could in the future become subject to local tax liability that it had not reasonably anticipated in conducting its investment activities
or valuing its assets.
Litigation and Enforcement.
A Fund and its shareholders may encounter substantial difficulties in obtaining and enforcing judgments against non-U.S. resident individuals
and companies.
Fraudulent securities.
Securities purchased by a Fund may subsequently be found to be fraudulent or counterfeit, resulting in a loss to the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Frontier
Emerging Market Countries. Frontier emerging market countries are countries that have smaller economies or less developed capital
markets than traditional emerging markets. Frontier emerging market countries tend to have relatively low gross national product per capita
compared to the larger traditionally-recognized emerging markets. The frontier emerging market countries include the least developed countries
even by emerging markets standards. The risks of investments in frontier emerging market countries include all the risks described above
for investment in foreign securities and emerging markets, although these risks are magnified in the case of frontier emerging market
countries.
Risks of Variable Interest
Entities. For purposes of raising capital offshore on exchanges outside of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”),
including on U.S. exchanges, many PRC-based operating companies are structured as entities commonly referred to as variable interest
entities (“VIEs”). In a typical VIE structure, the onshore PRC-based operating company is the VIE and establishes an entity,
which is typically offshore in a foreign jurisdiction, such as the Cayman Islands. The offshore entity then issues exchange-traded shares
that are sold to the public, including non-Chinese investors (such as the Fund). The offshore entity lists on a foreign exchange and
enters into contractual arrangements with the VIE. This structure enables PRC companies in which the government restricts foreign ownership
to raise capital from foreign investors. While the offshore entity has no legal equity ownership of the VIE, its contractual arrangements
with the VIE permit the offshore entity to consolidate the VIE’s financial statements with its own for accounting purposes and
provide for economic exposure to the performance of the underlying PRC-based operating company. Therefore, an investor in the listed
offshore entity, such as the Fund, will have exposure to the PRC-based operating company only through its contractual arrangements with
the VIE and has no legal ownership in the VIE. Furthermore, because the offshore entity only has specific rights provided for in these
contractual arrangements with the VIE, its abilities to control the activities at the VIE are limited and the VIE may engage in activities
that negatively impact the investment value.
Intervention by the Chinese
government with respect to VIE structures could adversely affect the Chinese operating company’s performance, the enforceability
of the offshore entity’s contractual arrangements with the VIE and the value of the offshore entity’s shares. While the VIE
structure has been widely adopted, it is not formally or legally recognized under PRC law and therefore there is a risk that the PRC
government could restrict the effectiveness of such structures or negatively impact the VIE’s contractual arrangements with the
listed offshore entity by making them invalid under PRC law. The offshore entity’s control over the VIE may also be jeopardized
if certain legal formalities are not observed in connection with the agreements, if the agreements are breached or if the agreements
are otherwise determined not to be enforceable under PRC law. If any of the foregoing were to occur, investors in the listed offshore
entity, such as the Fund, may suffer significant losses with little or no recourse available. If the PRC government determines that the
contractual agreements involving the VIE structures do not comply with PRC laws and regulations, including those related to restrictions
on foreign ownership, it could subject a VIE to numerous sanctions such as penalties, revocation of business and operating licenses,
invalidation or termination of contractual arrangements and/or forfeiture or non-recognition of ownership interest. In addition, the
listed offshore entity’s benefits through its contractual arrangements over a VIE may also be jeopardized if a natural person who
holds the equity interest in the VIE is deemed to breach the terms of the contractual arrangement (assuming the contractual arrangement
is held to be valid under PRC law), is subject to legal proceedings or if any physical instruments for authenticating documentation by
the VIE, such as chops and seals, are used without the VIE’s authorization to enter into the contractual arrangements in PRC. Chops
and seals, which are carved stamps used to sign documents, represent a legally binding commitment by the company. Moreover, any future
regulatory action may limit or prohibit the ability of the offshore entity to receive the economic benefits of the VIE, which may cause
the value of the Fund’s investment in the listed offshore entity to suffer a significant loss.
In addition, PRC companies
listed on U.S. exchanges, including ADRs and companies that rely on VIE structures, may be delisted if they do not meet U.S. accounting
standards and auditor oversight requirements. Delisting could significantly decrease the liquidity and value of the securities of these
companies, decrease the ability of a Fund to invest in such securities and increase the cost of the Fund if it is required to seek alternative
markets in which to invest in such securities.
Sovereign Government
and Supranational Debt. Investments in debt securities issued by foreign governments and their political subdivisions or agencies
(“Sovereign Debt”) involve special risks. Sovereign Debt is subject to risks in addition to those relating to non-U.S. investments
generally. The issuer of the debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to
repay principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt, and a fund may have limited legal recourse in the
event of a default. As a sovereign entity, the issuing government may be immune from lawsuits in the event of its failure or refusal to
pay the obligations when due.
Sovereign Debt differs from
debt obligations issued by private entities in that, generally, remedies for defaults must be pursued in the courts of the defaulting
party. Legal recourse is therefore somewhat diminished. Political conditions, especially a sovereign entity’s willingness to meet
the terms of its debt obligations, are of considerable significance. Also, holders of commercial bank debt issued by the same sovereign
entity may contest payments to the holders of Sovereign Debt in the event of default under commercial bank loan agreements.
A sovereign debtor’s
willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation,
the extent of its non-U.S. reserves, the availability of sufficient non-U.S. exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size
of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward principal international lenders and the
political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject. Increased protectionism on the part of a country’s trading partners
or political changes in those countries, could also adversely affect its exports. Such events could diminish a country’s trade account
surplus, if any, or the credit standing of a particular local government or agency.
Sovereign debtors may also
be dependent on disbursements or assistance from foreign governments or multinational agencies, the country’s access to trade and
other international credits, and the country’s balance of trade. Assistance may be dependent on a country’s implementation
of austerity measures and reforms, which measures may limit or be perceived to limit economic growth and recovery. Some sovereign debtors
have rescheduled their debt payments, declared moratoria on payments or restructured their debt to effectively eliminate portions of it,
and similar occurrences may happen in the future. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which governmental entities
have defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.
The ability of some sovereign
debtors to repay their obligations may depend on the timely receipt of assistance from international agencies or other governments, the
flow of which is not assured. The willingness of such agencies to make these payments may depend on the sovereign debtor’s willingness
to institute certain economic changes, the implementation of which may be politically difficult.
The occurrence of political,
social or diplomatic changes in one or more of the countries issuing Sovereign Debt could adversely affect a Fund’s investments.
Political changes or a deterioration of a country’s domestic economy or balance of trade may affect the willingness of countries
to service their Sovereign Debt. While NBIA endeavors to manage investments in a manner that will minimize the exposure to such risks,
there can be no assurance that adverse political changes will not cause the Fund to suffer a loss of interest or principal on any of its
holdings.
Sovereign Debt may include:
debt securities issued or guaranteed by governments, governmental agencies or instrumentalities and political subdivisions located in
emerging market countries; debt securities issued by government owned, controlled or sponsored entities located in emerging market countries;
interests in entities organized and operated for the purpose of restructuring the investment characteristics of instruments issued by
any of the above issuers; participations in loans between emerging market governments and financial institutions; and Brady Bonds, which
are debt securities issued under the framework of the Brady Plan as a means for debtor nations to restructure their outstanding external
indebtedness.
Brady Bonds may be collateralized
or uncollateralized and issued in various currencies (although most are dollar-denominated) and they are actively traded in the over-the-counter
(“OTC”) secondary market. Certain Brady Bonds are collateralized in full as to principal due at maturity by zero coupon obligations
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities having the same maturity (“Collateralized Brady Bonds”).
Brady Bonds are not, however, considered to be U.S. Government Securities.
Dollar-denominated, Collateralized
Brady Bonds may be fixed rate bonds or floating rate bonds. Interest payments on Brady Bonds are often collateralized by cash or securities
in an amount that, in the case of fixed rate bonds, is equal to at least one year of rolling interest payments or, in the case of floating
rate bonds, initially is equal to at least one year’s rolling interest payments based on the applicable interest rate at that time
and is adjusted at regular intervals thereafter. Certain Brady Bonds are entitled to “value recovery payments” in certain
circumstances, which in effect constitute supplemental interest payments but generally are not collateralized. Brady Bonds are often
viewed as having three or four valuation components: (i) collateralized repayment of principal at final maturity; (ii) collateralized
interest payments; (iii) uncollateralized interest payments; and (iv) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity (these
uncollateralized amounts constitute the “residual risk”). In the event of a default with respect to Collateralized Brady
Bonds as a result of which the payment obligations of the issuer are accelerated, the U.S. Treasury Department zero coupon obligations
held as collateral for the payment of principal will not be distributed to investors, nor will such obligations be sold and the proceeds
distributed. The collateral will be held by the collateral agent to the scheduled maturity of the defaulted Brady Bonds, which will continue
to be outstanding, at which time the face amount of the collateral will equal the principal payments which would have been due on the
Brady Bonds in the normal course. In addition, in light of the residual risk of Brady Bonds and, among other factors, the history of
defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds, investments in Brady
Bonds should be viewed as speculative.
Supranational entities may
also issue debt securities. A supranational entity is a bank, commission or company established or financially supported by the national
governments of one or more countries to promote reconstruction or development. Included among these organizations are the Asian Development
Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations, the World
Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Supranational organizations have no taxing authority and are dependent
on their members for payments of interest and principal. Further, the lending activities of such entities are limited to a percentage
of their total capital, reserves and net income.
Fund of Funds Structure.
Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, in relevant part, prohibits a registered investment company from acquiring shares of an investment
company if after such acquisition the securities represent more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the acquired company,
more than 5% of the total assets of the acquiring company, or, together with the securities of any other investment companies, more than
10% of the total assets of the acquiring company except in reliance on certain exceptions contained in the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder. Pursuant to Rule 12d1-4, a Fund is permitted to exceed the limits of Section 12 of the 1940 Act if the Fund complies
with Rule 12d1-4’s conditions, including (i) limits on control and voting; (ii) required evaluations and findings; (iii) required
fund of funds investment agreements; and (iv) limits on complex structures.
The Manager may be deemed
to have a conflict of interest when determining whether to invest or maintain a Fund’s assets in affiliated underlying funds. The
Manager would seek to mitigate this conflict of interest, however, by undertaking to waive a portion of fees it receives from affiliated
underlying funds on the Fund’s assets invested in those affiliated underlying funds, as described below under “Voluntary Expense
Limitations”. The Manager and its affiliates may derive indirect benefits such as increased assets under management from investing
Fund assets in an affiliated underlying fund, which benefits would not be present if investments were made in unaffiliated underlying
funds. In addition, although the Manager will waive a portion of its fees as described below under “Voluntary Expense Limitations”,
the Fund will indirectly bear its pro rata share of an affiliated underlying fund’s other fees and expenses, and such fees and expenses
may be paid to the Manager or its affiliates or a third party.
Futures Contracts,
Options on Futures Contracts, Options on Securities and Indices, Forward Currency Contracts, Options on Foreign Currencies, and Swap Agreements
(collectively, “Financial Instruments”). Financial Instruments are instruments whose
value is dependent upon the value of an underlying asset or assets, which may include stocks, bonds, commodities, interest rates, currency
exchange rates, or related indices. As described below, Financial Instruments may be used for “hedging” purposes, meaning
that they may be used in an effort to offset a decline in value in a Fund’s other investments, which could result from changes in
interest rates, market prices, currency fluctuations, or other market factors. Financial Instruments may also be used for non-hedging
purposes in an effort to implement a cash management strategy, to enhance income or gain, to manage or adjust the risk profile of a Fund
or the risk of individual positions, to gain exposure more efficiently than through a direct purchase of the underlying security, or to
gain exposure to securities, markets, sectors or geographical areas.
The Dodd-Frank Act requires
the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) to establish new regulations with respect to derivatives defined
as security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on an equity or a narrowly based equity index) and swaps (e.g., derivatives
based on a broad-based index or commodity), respectively, and the markets in which these instruments trade. In addition, it subjected
all security-based swaps and swaps to SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, respectively.
Rule 18f-4 under the 1940
Act regulates the use of derivatives transactions as defined by that rule for certain funds registered under the 1940 Act (“Rule
18f-4”). Due to the way derivatives transactions are defined by Rule 18f-4, it includes transactions traditionally characterized
as derivatives as well as certain transactions that have not been traditionally characterized as derivatives. Unless a Fund qualifies
as a “limited derivatives user” as defined in Rule 18f-4, the rule, among other things, requires the Fund to establish a derivatives
risk management program, comply with certain value-at-risk (“VAR”) based leverage limits, appoint a derivatives risk manager
and provide additional disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. Rule 18f-4 provides an exception for
limited derivatives users, which Rule 18f-4 defines as any fund that limits its derivatives exposure to 10% of its net assets, excluding
certain currency and interest rate hedging transactions. Limited derivatives users are exempt from Rule 18f-4’s requirements to
comply with VAR-based limits, appoint a derivatives risk manager, and adopt a derivatives risk management program. A limited derivatives
user must still adopt and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage its derivatives risk.
Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts. A Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts (sometimes referred to as “futures”)
and options thereon for hedging purposes (i.e., to attempt to offset against changes in the prices of securities or, in the case
of foreign currency futures and options thereon, to attempt to offset against changes in prevailing currency exchange rates) or non-hedging
purposes.
A “purchase”
of a futures contract (or entering into a “long” futures position) entails the buyer’s assumption of a contractual obligation
to take delivery of the instrument underlying the contract at a specified price at a specified future time. A “sale” of a
futures contract (or entering into a “short” futures position) entails the seller’s assumption of a contractual obligation
to make delivery of the instrument underlying the contract at a specified price at a specified future time.
The value of a futures
contract tends to increase or decrease in tandem with the value of its underlying instrument. Therefore, purchasing futures contracts
will tend to increase a Fund’s exposure to positive and negative price fluctuations in the underlying instrument, much as if the
Fund had purchased the underlying instrument directly. A Fund may purchase futures contracts to fix what the Manager believes to be a
favorable price for securities the Fund intends to purchase. When a Fund sells a futures contract, by contrast, the value of its futures
position will tend to move in a direction contrary to the market for the underlying instrument. Selling futures contracts, therefore,
will tend to offset both positive and negative market price changes, much as if a Fund had sold the underlying instrument. A Fund may
sell futures contracts to offset a possible decline in the value of its portfolio securities. In addition, a Fund may purchase or sell
futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge to attempt to compensate for anticipated differences
in volatility between positions a Fund may wish to hedge and the standardized futures contracts available to it, although this may not
be successful in all cases. Further, a loss incurred on a particular transaction being used as a hedge does not mean that it failed to
achieve its objective, if the goal was to prevent a worse loss that may have resulted had a particular securities or cash market investment
suffered a substantial loss and there were no offsetting hedge.
Certain futures, including
index futures and futures not calling for the physical delivery or acquisition of the instrument underlying the contract, are settled
on a net cash payment basis rather than by the delivery of the underlying instrument. In addition, although futures contracts by their
terms may call for the physical delivery or acquisition of the instrument underlying the contract, in most cases the contractual obligation
is extinguished by being closed out before the expiration of the contract. A futures position is closed out by buying (to close out an
earlier sale) or selling (to close out an earlier purchase) an identical futures contract calling for delivery in the same month. This
may result in a profit or loss. While futures contracts entered into by a Fund will usually be liquidated in this manner, a Fund may instead
make or take delivery of the underlying instrument or utilize the cash settlement process whenever it appears economically advantageous
for it to do so.
Because the futures markets
may be more liquid than the cash markets, the use of futures contracts permits a Fund to enhance portfolio liquidity and maintain a defensive
position without having to sell portfolio securities. For example, (i) futures contracts on single stocks, interest rates and indices
(including on narrow-based indices) and options thereon may be used as a maturity or duration management device and/or a device to reduce
risk or preserve total return in an adverse environment for the hedged securities, and (ii) foreign currency futures and options
thereon may be used as a means of establishing more definitely the effective return on, or the purchase price of, securities denominated
in foreign currencies that are held or intended to be acquired by a Fund.
For purposes of managing
cash flow, a Fund may use futures and options thereon to increase its exposure to the performance of a recognized securities index.
With respect to currency
futures, a Fund may sell a currency futures contract or a call option thereon, or may purchase a put option on a currency futures contract,
if the Manager anticipates that exchange rates for a particular currency will fall. Such a transaction will be used as a hedge (or, in
the case of a sale of a call option, a partial hedge) against a decrease in the value of portfolio securities denominated in that currency.
If the Manager anticipates that exchange rates for a particular currency will rise, a Fund may purchase a currency futures contract or
a call option thereon to protect against an increase in the price of securities that are denominated in that currency and that the Fund
intends to purchase. A Fund also may purchase a currency futures contract or a call option thereon for non-hedging purposes when the Manager
anticipates that a particular currency will appreciate in value, but securities denominated in that currency do not present attractive
investment opportunities and are not held in the Fund’s investment portfolio.
“Initial Margin”
with respect to a futures contract is the amount of assets that must be deposited by a Fund with, or for the benefit of, a futures commission
merchant or broker in order to initiate the Fund’s futures positions. Initial margin is the margin deposit made by a Fund when it
enters into a futures contract; it is intended to assure performance of the contract by the Fund. If the value of the Fund’s futures
account declines by a specified amount, the Fund will receive a margin call and be required to post assets sufficient to restore the equity
in the account to the initial margin level. (This is sometimes referred to as “variation margin;” technically, variation margin
refers to daily payments that a clearing member firm is required to pay to the clearing organization based upon marking to market of the
firm’s portfolio.) However, if favorable price changes in the futures account cause the margin deposit to exceed the required initial
margin level, the excess margin may be transferred to the Fund. The futures commission merchant or clearing member firm through which
a Fund enters into and clears futures contracts may require a margin deposit in excess of exchange minimum requirements based upon its
assessment of a Fund’s creditworthiness. In computing its NAV, a Fund will mark to market the value of its open futures positions.
A Fund also must make margin deposits with respect to options on futures that it has written (but not with respect to options on futures
that it has purchased, if the Fund has paid the required premium in full at the outset). If the futures commission merchant or broker
holding the margin deposit or premium goes bankrupt, a Fund could suffer a delay in recovering excess margin or other funds and could
ultimately suffer a loss.
Because of the low margin
deposits required, futures trading involves an extremely high degree of leverage; as a result, a relatively small price movement in a
futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss, or gain, to the investor. Losses that may arise from certain futures transactions
are potentially unlimited, and may exceed initial margin deposits as well as deposits made in response to subsequent margin calls.
A Fund may enter into
futures contracts and options thereon that are traded on exchanges regulated by the CFTC or on non-U.S. exchanges. U.S. futures contracts
are traded on exchanges that have been designated as “contract markets” by the CFTC; futures transactions must be executed
through a futures commission merchant that is a member of the relevant contract market. Futures executed on regulated futures exchanges
have minimal counterparty risk to a Fund because the exchange’s clearing organization assumes the position of the counterparty
in each transaction. Thus, a Fund is exposed to risk only in connection with the clearing organization and not in connection
with the original counterparty to the transaction. However, if a futures customer defaults on a futures contract and the futures
commission merchant carrying that customer’s account cannot cover the defaulting customer’s obligations on its futures
contracts, the clearing organization may use any or all of the collateral in the futures commission merchant’s customer omnibus
account — including the assets of the futures commission merchant’s other customers, such as a Fund — to meet the
defaulting customer’s obligations. This is sometimes referred to as “fellow customer risk.” Trading on non-U.S.
exchanges is subject to the legal requirements of the jurisdiction in which the exchange is located and to the rules of such exchange,
and may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees. Funds deposited in connection with such trading may also be subject to
the bankruptcy laws of such other jurisdiction, which may result in a delay in recovering such funds in a bankruptcy and could ultimately
result in a loss.
An option on a futures
contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the contract (a long position if the option
is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any time during the option exercise period. The
writer of the option is required upon exercise to assume a short futures position (if the option is a call) or a long futures position
(if the option is a put). Upon exercise of the option, the accumulated cash balance in the writer’s futures margin account is delivered
to the holder of the option. That balance represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract at exercise exceeds,
in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. Options on futures have characteristics
and risks similar to those of securities options, as discussed herein.
Although a Fund believes
that the use of futures contracts and options may benefit it, if the Manager’s judgment about the general direction of the markets
or about interest rate or currency exchange rate trends is incorrect, the Fund’s overall return would be lower than if it had not
entered into any such contracts. The prices of futures contracts and options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual
and anticipated changes in interest or currency exchange rates, which in turn are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national
and international political and economic events. At best, the correlation between changes in prices of futures contracts or options and
of securities being hedged can be only approximate due to differences between the futures and securities markets or differences between
the securities or currencies underlying a Fund’s futures or options position and the securities held by or to be purchased for the
Fund. The currency futures or options market may be dominated by short-term traders seeking to profit from changes in exchange rates.
This would reduce the value of such contracts used for hedging purposes over a short-term period. Such distortions are generally minor
and would diminish as the contract approaches maturity.
Under certain circumstances,
futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation in the price of a futures contract or option thereon during a single trading day;
once the daily limit has been reached, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. Daily limits govern only price
movements during a particular trading day, however; they do not limit potential losses. In fact, a daily limit may increase the risk of
loss, because prices can move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation
of unfavorable futures and options positions and subjecting traders to substantial losses. If this were to happen with respect to a position
held by a Fund, it could (depending on the size of the position) have an adverse impact on the Fund’s NAV. In addition, a Fund would
continue to be subject to margin calls and might be required to maintain the position being hedged by the futures contract or option thereon
or to maintain cash or securities in a collateral account.
Many electronic trading facilities
that support futures trading are supported by computer-based component systems for the order, routing, execution, matching, registration
or clearing of trades. A Fund’s ability to recover certain losses may be subject to limits on liability imposed by the system provider,
the market, the clearing house or member firms.
Call Options on Securities.
A Fund may write (sell) covered call options and purchase call options on securities for hedging purposes (i.e., to attempt to
reduce, at least in part, the effect on the Fund’s NAV of price fluctuations of securities held by the Fund) or non-hedging purposes.
When writing call options, a Fund writes only “covered” call options. A call option is “covered” if a Fund simultaneously
holds an equivalent position in the security underlying the option. Portfolio securities on which a Fund may write and purchase call options
are purchased solely on the basis of investment considerations consistent with the Fund’s investment objective.
When a Fund writes a call
option, it is obligated to sell a security to a purchaser at a specified price at any time until a certain date if the purchaser decides
to exercise the option. A Fund will receive a premium for writing a call option. So long as the obligation of the call option continues,
a Fund may be assigned an exercise notice, requiring it to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price. A Fund
may be obligated to deliver securities underlying an option at less than the market price.
The writing of covered
call options is a conservative investment technique that is believed to involve relatively little risk (in contrast to the writing of
“naked” or uncovered call options, which the Funds will not do), but is capable of enhancing a Fund’s total return.
When writing a covered call option, a Fund, in return for the premium, gives up the opportunity for profit from a price increase in the
underlying security above the exercise price, but retains the risk of loss should the price of the security decline.
If a call option that a Fund
has written expires unexercised, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium; however, that gain may be offset by a decline
in the market value of the underlying security during the option period. If a call option that a Fund has written is exercised, the Fund
will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security.
When a Fund purchases
a call option, it pays a premium to the writer for the right to purchase a security from the writer for a specified amount at any time
until a certain date. A Fund generally would purchase a call option to offset a previously written call option or to protect itself against
an increase in the price of a security it intends to purchase.
Put Options on
Securities. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put options on securities for hedging purposes (i.e., to attempt to reduce,
at least in part, the effect on the Fund’s NAV of price fluctuations of securities held by the Fund) or non-hedging purposes. Portfolio
securities on which a Fund may write and purchase put options are purchased solely on the basis of investment considerations consistent
with the Fund’s investment objective.
When a Fund writes a
put option, it is obligated to acquire a security at a certain price at any time until a certain date if the purchaser decides to exercise
the option. A Fund will receive a premium for writing a put option. When writing a put option, a Fund, in return for the premium, takes
the risk that it must purchase the underlying security at a price that may be higher than the current market price of the security. If
a put option that a Fund has written expires unexercised, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium.
When a Fund purchases
a put option, it pays a premium to the writer for the right to sell a security to the writer for a specified amount at any time until
a certain date. A Fund generally would purchase a put option to protect itself against a decrease in the market value of a security it
owns.
Low Exercise Price
Options. A Fund may use non-standard warrants, including low exercise price options (“LEPOs”), to gain exposure to
issuers in certain countries. These securities are issued by banks and other financial institutions. LEPOs are different from standard
warrants in that they do not give their holders the right to receive a security of the issuer upon exercise. Rather, LEPOs pay the holder
the difference in price of the underlying security between the date the LEPO was purchased and the date it is sold. By purchasing LEPOs,
a Fund could incur losses because it would face many of the same types of risks as owning the underlying security directly. Additionally,
LEPOs entail the same risks as other OTC derivatives. These include the risk that the counterparty or issuer of the LEPO may be unable
or unwilling to make payments or to otherwise honor its obligations, that the parties to the transaction may disagree as to the meaning
or application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected. Additionally, while LEPOs may be listed on an
exchange, there is no guarantee that a liquid market will exist or that the counterparty or issuer of a LEPO will be willing to repurchase
such instrument when a Fund wishes to sell it.
General Information
About Options on Securities. The exercise price of an option may be below, equal to, or above the market value of the underlying
security at the time the option is written. Options normally have expiration dates between three and nine months from the date written.
American-style options are exercisable at any time prior to their expiration date. European-style options are exercisable only immediately
prior to their expiration date. The obligation under any option written by a Fund terminates upon expiration of the option or, at an earlier
time, when the Fund offsets the option by entering into a “closing purchase transaction” to purchase an option of the same
series. If an option is purchased by a Fund and is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the entire amount of the premium
paid.
Options are traded both
on U.S. national securities exchanges and in the OTC market. Options also are traded on non-U.S. exchanges. Exchange-traded options are
issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the exchange on which the option is listed; the clearing organization in effect guarantees
completion of every exchange-traded option. In contrast, OTC options are contracts between a Fund and a counterparty, with no clearing
organization guarantee. Thus, when a Fund sells (or purchases) an OTC option, it generally will be able to “close out” the
option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing transaction with the dealer to whom (or from whom) the Fund originally
sold (or purchased) the option. There can be no assurance that a Fund would be able to liquidate an OTC option at any time prior to expiration.
Unless a Fund is able to effect a closing purchase transaction in a covered OTC call option it has written, it will not be able to liquidate
securities used as cover until the option expires or is exercised or until different cover is substituted. In the event of the counterparty’s
insolvency, a Fund may be unable to liquidate its options position and the associated cover. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness
of dealers with which a Fund may engage in OTC options transactions.
The premium a Fund receives
(or pays) when it writes (or purchases) an option is the amount at which the option is currently traded on the applicable market. The
premium may reflect, among other things, the current market price of the underlying security, the relationship of the exercise price to
the market price, the historical price volatility of the underlying security, the length of the option period, the general supply of and
demand for credit, and the interest rate environment. The premium a Fund receives when it writes an option is recorded as a liability
on the Fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. This liability is adjusted daily to the option’s current market value.
Closing transactions
are effected in order to realize a profit (or minimize a loss) on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying security from being
called, or to permit the sale or the put of the underlying security. Furthermore, effecting a closing transaction permits a Fund to write
another call option on the underlying security with a different exercise price or expiration date or both. There is, of course, no assurance
that a Fund will be able to effect closing transactions at favorable prices. If a Fund cannot enter into such a transaction, it may be
required to hold a security that it might otherwise have sold (or purchase a security that it might otherwise not have bought), in which
case it would continue to be at market risk on the security.
A Fund will realize a
profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from writing
the call or put option. Because increases in the market price of a call option generally reflect increases in the market price of the
underlying security, any loss resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset, in whole or in part, by appreciation
of the underlying security owned by the Fund; however, the Fund could be in a less advantageous position than if it had not written the
call option.
A Fund pays brokerage
commissions or spreads in connection with purchasing or writing options, including those used to close out existing positions. From time
to time, a Fund may purchase an underlying security for delivery in accordance with an exercise notice of a call option assigned to it,
rather than deliver the security from its inventory. In those cases, additional brokerage commissions are incurred.
The hours of trading for options
may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the
markets for the underlying securities close, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot
be reflected in the options markets.
Additionally, volatility in
the market for equity securities, which can impact a single stock or certain segments of stocks and can happen suddenly, can meaningfully
increase the risk of loss associated with options.
Put and Call Options
on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call options on securities indices
and other financial indices for hedging or non-hedging purposes. In so doing, a Fund can pursue many of the same objectives it would pursue
through the purchase and sale of options on individual securities or other instruments.
Options on securities
indices and other financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than settling by physical
delivery of the underlying instrument, options on indices settle by cash settlement; that is, an option on an index gives the holder the
right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based is greater
than, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option (except if, in the case of an OTC
option, physical delivery is specified). This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the
exercise price of the option times a specified multiple (multiplier), which determines the total dollar value for each point of such difference.
The seller of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount.
A securities index fluctuates
with changes in the market values of the securities included in the index. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price
movements in the instruments comprising the market, market segment, industry or other composite on which the underlying index is based,
rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on securities. The risks of investment in
options on indices may be greater than the risks of investment in options on securities.
The effectiveness of
hedging through the purchase of securities index options will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the securities being
hedged correlate with price movements in the selected securities index. Perfect correlation is not possible because the securities held
or to be acquired by a Fund will not exactly match the composition of the securities indices on which options are available.
For purposes of managing
cash flow, a Fund may purchase put and call options on securities indices to increase its exposure to the performance of a recognized
securities index.
Securities index options
have characteristics and risks similar to those of securities options, as discussed herein. Certain securities index options are traded
in the OTC market and involve liquidity and credit risks that may not be present in the case of exchange-traded securities index options.
Options on Foreign
Currencies. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase covered call and put options on foreign currencies for hedging or non-hedging
purposes. A Fund may use options on foreign currencies to protect against decreases in the U.S. dollar value of securities held or increases
in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired by the Fund or to protect the U.S. dollar equivalent of dividends, interest, or other
payments on those securities. In addition, a Fund may write and purchase covered call and put options on foreign currencies for non-hedging
purposes (e.g., when the Manager anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but securities denominated
in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not held in the Fund’s investment portfolio). A Fund
may write covered call and put options on any currency in order to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities
alone.
Currency options have
characteristics and risks similar to those of securities options, as discussed herein. Certain options on foreign currencies are traded
on the OTC market and involve liquidity and credit risks that may not be present in the case of exchange-traded currency options.
Forward Foreign
Currency Transactions. A Fund may enter into contracts for the purchase or sale of a specific currency at a future date, which
may be any fixed number of days in excess of two days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the
time of the contract (“forward currency contracts”) for hedging or non-hedging purposes. A Fund also may engage in foreign
currency transactions on a spot basis (i.e., cash transaction that results in actual delivery within two days) at the spot rate
prevailing in the foreign currency market.
A Fund may enter into forward
currency contracts in an attempt to hedge against changes in prevailing currency exchange rates (i.e., as a means of establishing
more definitely the effective return on, or the purchase price of, securities denominated in foreign currencies). A Fund may also enter
into forward currency contracts to protect against decreases in the U.S. dollar value of securities held or increases in the U.S. dollar
cost of securities to be acquired by a Fund or to protect the U.S. dollar equivalent of dividends, interest, or other payments on those
securities. In addition, a Fund may enter into forward currency contracts for non-hedging purposes when the Manager anticipates that a
foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but securities denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment
opportunities and are not held in the Fund’s investment portfolio. The cost to a Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts
varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period, and the market conditions then prevailing.
Sellers or purchasers of forward
currency contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on futures, by purchasing or selling,
respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument sold or bought, respectively. Secondary markets generally do not exist for forward
currency contracts, however, with the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency contracts only by negotiating
directly with the counterparty. Thus, there can be no assurance that a Fund will in fact be able to close out a forward currency contract
at a favorable price prior to maturity. In addition, in the event of insolvency of the counterparty, a Fund might be unable to close out
a forward currency contract at any time prior to maturity. In either event, the Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with
respect to the position, and would continue to be required to maintain a position in the securities or currencies that are the subject
of the hedge or to maintain cash or securities.
The precise matching of forward
currency contract amounts and the value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the value of such securities,
measured in the foreign currency, will change after the forward currency contract has been established. Thus, a Fund might need to purchase
or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent such foreign currencies are not covered by forward currency contracts.
The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy
is highly uncertain.
The Manager believes that
the use of foreign currency hedging techniques, including “proxy-hedges,” can provide significant protection of NAV in the
event of a general increase or decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies. For example, the return available
from securities denominated in a particular foreign currency would decline if the value of the U.S. dollar increased against that currency.
Such a decline could be partially or completely offset by an increase in the value of a hedge involving a forward currency contract to
sell that foreign currency or a proxy-hedge involving a forward currency contract to sell a different foreign currency whose behavior
is expected to resemble the behavior of the currency in which the securities being hedged are denominated but which is available on more
advantageous terms.
However, a hedge or a
proxy-hedge cannot protect against exchange rate risks perfectly and, if the Manager is incorrect in its judgment of future exchange rate
relationships, a Fund could be in a less advantageous position than if such a hedge had not been established. If a Fund uses proxy-hedging,
it may experience losses on both the currency in which it has invested and the currency used for hedging if the two currencies do not
vary with the expected degree of correlation. Using forward currency contracts to protect the value of a Fund’s securities against
a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities. A Fund may experience
delays in the settlement of its foreign currency transactions.
Forward currency contracts
in which a Fund may engage include foreign exchange forwards. The consummation of a foreign exchange forward requires the actual exchange
of the principal amounts of the two currencies in the contract (i.e., settlement on a physical basis). Because foreign exchange
forwards are physically settled through an exchange of currencies, they are traded in the interbank market directly between currency traders
(usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A foreign exchange forward generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions
are charged at any stage for trades; foreign exchange dealers realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the prices
at which they are buying and the prices at which they are selling various currencies. When a Fund enters into a foreign exchange forward,
it relies on the counterparty to make or take delivery of the underlying currency at the maturity of the contract. Failure by the counterparty
to do so would result in the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.
A Fund may be required to
obtain the currency that it must deliver under the foreign exchange forward through the sale of portfolio securities denominated in such
currency or through conversion of other assets of the Fund into such currency. When a Fund engages in foreign currency transactions for
hedging purposes, it will not enter into foreign exchange forwards to sell currency or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if their
consummation would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency materially in excess of the value of its portfolio securities
or other assets denominated in that currency.
Forward currency contracts
in which a Fund may engage also include non-deliverable forwards (“NDFs”). NDFs are cash-settled, short-term forward contracts
on foreign currencies (each a “Reference Currency”) that are non-convertible and that may be thinly traded or illiquid. NDFs
involve an obligation to pay an amount (the “Settlement Amount”) equal to the difference between the prevailing market exchange
rate for the Reference Currency and the agreed upon exchange rate (the “NDF Rate”), with respect to an agreed notional amount.
NDFs have a fixing date and a settlement (delivery) date. The fixing date is the date and time at which the difference between the prevailing
market exchange rate and the agreed upon exchange rate is calculated. The settlement (delivery) date is the date by which the payment
of the Settlement Amount is due to the party receiving payment.
Although NDFs are similar
to forward exchange forwards, NDFs do not require physical delivery of the Reference Currency on the settlement date. Rather, on the settlement
date, the only transfer between the counterparties is the monetary settlement amount representing the difference between the NDF Rate
and the prevailing market exchange rate. NDFs typically may have terms from one month up to two years and are settled in U.S. dollars.
NDFs are subject to many of
the risks associated with derivatives in general and forward currency transactions, including risks associated with fluctuations in foreign
currency and the risk that the counterparty will fail to fulfill its obligations. Although NDFs have historically been traded OTC, in
the future, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, they may be exchange-traded. Under such circumstances, they may be centrally cleared and a
secondary market for them will exist. With respect to NDFs that are centrally-cleared, an investor could lose margin payments it has deposited
with the clearing organization as well as the net amount of gains not yet paid by the clearing organization if the clearing organization
breaches its obligations under the NDF, becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of the clearing organization,
the investor may be entitled to the net amount of gains the investor is entitled to receive plus the return of margin owed to it only
in proportion to the amount received by the clearing organization’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the investor.
Even if some NDFs remain traded OTC, they will be subject to margin requirements for uncleared swaps and counterparty risk common to other
swaps, as discussed below.
A Fund may purchase securities
of an issuer domiciled in a country other than the country in whose currency the securities are denominated.
Swap Agreements.
A Fund may enter into swap agreements to manage or gain exposure to particular types of investments (including commodities, equity securities,
interest rates or indices of equity securities in which the Fund otherwise could not invest efficiently).
Swap agreements historically
have been individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors.
Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. Swap agreements can vary in term like other
fixed-income investments. Most swap agreements are currently traded over-the-counter. In a standard “swap” transaction, two
parties agree to exchange one or more payments based, for example, on the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized
on particular predetermined investments or instruments (such as securities, indices, or other financial or economic interests). The gross
payments to be exchanged (or “swapped”) between the parties are calculated with respect to a notional amount, which is the
predetermined dollar principal of the trade representing the hypothetical underlying quantity upon which payment obligations are computed.
If a swap agreement provides for payment in different currencies, the parties may agree to exchange the principal amount. A swap also
includes an instrument that is dependent on the occurrence, nonoccurrence or the extent of the occurrence of an event or contingency associated
with a potential financial, economic or commercial consequence, such as a credit default swap.
Depending on how they are
used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of a Fund’s investments and its share price and yield. Swap
agreements are subject to liquidity risk, meaning that a Fund may be unable to sell a swap agreement to a third party at a favorable price.
Swap agreements may involve leverage and may be highly volatile; depending on how they are used, they may have a considerable impact on
a Fund’s performance. The risks of swap agreements depend upon a Fund’s ability to terminate its swap agreements or reduce
its exposure through offsetting transactions. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses
different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments.
Some swaps currently are,
and more in the future will be, centrally cleared. Swaps that are centrally cleared are subject to the creditworthiness of the clearing
organization involved in the transaction. For example, an investor could lose margin payments it has deposited with its futures commission
merchant as well as the net amount of gains not yet paid by the clearing organization if the clearing organization becomes insolvent or
goes into bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of the clearing organization, the investor may be entitled to the net amount of gains
the investor is entitled to receive plus the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the clearing organization’s
other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the investor.
To the extent a swap is not
centrally cleared, the use of a swap involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the
counterparty or the failure of the counterparty to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the agreement. If a counterparty’s
creditworthiness declines, the value of the swap might decline, potentially resulting in losses to a Fund. Changing conditions in a particular
market area, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement, may have an adverse impact on
the creditworthiness of the counterparty. If a default occurs by the counterparty to such a transaction, a Fund may have contractual remedies
pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.
Following the passage of
the Dodd-Frank Act and promulgation of related CFTC regulations, U.S. swap markets have undergone substantial change in recent years.
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements are now required for all swap transactions in the U.S., and certain swaps may also be subject
to margin, clearing and trade execution mandates, among other regulatory obligations. Regulations adopted by the CFTC, SEC and prudential
regulators may require certain Fund counterparties to post and collect margin on OTC swaps, and exchanges also have minimum margin requirements
for exchange-traded and cleared swaps. The prudential regulators issued final rules that require banks subject to their supervision to
exchange variation and initial margin in respect of their obligations arising under OTC swap agreements with certain of their counterparties.
The CFTC adopted similar rules that apply to CFTC-registered swap dealers that are not banks. Such rules will generally require a Fund
to set aside additional eligible assets in order to meet the new variation and initial margin requirements when they enter into OTC swap
agreements. The European Supervisory Authorities (“ESA”), various national regulators in Europe, the Australian Securities
& Investment Commission, the Japanese Financial Services Agency and the Canadian Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions
adopted rules and regulations that are similar to that of the U.S. prudential regulators. All such variation and initial margin requirements
are now effective. Due to these regulations, a Fund may be required by its swap dealer counterparties to enter into additional documentation
(including ISDA Credit Support Annexes), and post and collect margin related to its swap agreements.
CFTC regulations now
also allow for the minimum transfer amount (“MTA”) of initial and variation margin to apply separately to each separately
managed investment account or sleeve (“SMA”) that an asset manager is responsible for, rather than having to calculate the
MTA across all accounts of the Fund or other counterparty. An SMA’s MTA may be calculated separately from other SMAs of the same
legal entity so long as it meets the following conditions: (1) the SMA is managed by an asset manager and is governed by an investment
management agreement, pursuant to which the SMA owner has granted the asset manager authority with respect to certain of the owner’s
assets; (2) swaps are entered into by the asset manager on behalf of the SMA pursuant to the investment management agreement; and (3)
the swaps of such SMA are subject to a master netting agreement that does not permit netting of initial or variation margin obligations
across SMAs of the legal entity that have swaps outstanding with the applicable swap dealer counterparty; and (4) the MTA is no greater
than $50,000 for each applicable SMA. As of the date of this SAI, the prudential regulators have not provided similar relief, although
swaps dealers subject to a prudential regulator are expected to act in a manner consistent with the relief provided by the CFTC.
Regulations adopted by the
prudential regulators require certain banks to include in a range of financial contracts, including swap agreements, terms delaying or
restricting default, termination and other rights in the event that the bank and/or its affiliates become subject to certain types of
resolution or insolvency proceedings. The regulations could limit a Fund’s ability to exercise a range of cross-default rights if
its counterparty, or an affiliate of the counterparty, is subject to bankruptcy or similar proceedings. Such regulations could further
negatively impact a Fund’s use of swaps.
Swap agreements can take many
different forms and are known by a variety of names including, but not limited to, interest rate swaps, mortgage swaps, total return swaps,
inflation swaps, asset swaps (where parties exchange assets, typically a debt security), currency swaps, equity swaps, credit default
swaps, commodity-linked swaps, and contracts for differences. A Fund may also write (sell) and purchase options on swaps (swaptions).
Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage
Swaps, and Interest Rate “Caps,” “Floors,” and “Collars.” In a typical interest rate swap agreement,
one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating rate on a specified amount in exchange for payments equal to a fixed rate,
or a different floating rate, on the same amount for a specified period. Mortgage swap agreements are similar to interest rate swap agreements,
except the notional principal amount is tied to a reference pool of mortgages or index of mortgages. In an interest rate cap or floor,
one party agrees, usually in return for a fee, to make payments under particular circumstances. For example, the purchaser of an interest
rate cap has the right to receive payments to the extent a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed level; the purchaser of an interest
rate floor has the right to receive payments to the extent a specified interest rate falls below an agreed level. An interest rate collar
entitles the purchaser to receive payments to the extent a specified interest rate falls outside an agreed range.
Among other techniques, a
Fund may use interest rate swaps to offset declines in the value of fixed income securities held by the Fund. In such an instance, a Fund
may agree with a counterparty to pay a fixed rate (multiplied by a notional amount) and the counterparty to pay a floating rate multiplied
by the same notional amount. If long-term interest rates rise, resulting in a diminution in the value of a Fund’s portfolio, the
Fund would receive payments under the swap that would offset, in whole or in part, such diminution in value; if interest rates fall, the
Fund would likely lose money on the swap transaction. A Fund may also enter into constant maturity swaps, which are a variation of the
typical interest rate swap. Constant maturity swaps are exposed to changes in long-term interest rate movements.
Total Return Swaps.
A Fund may enter into total return swaps (“TRS”) to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical
custody of such security or market. A Fund may be either a total return receiver or a total return payer. Generally, the total return
payer sells to the total return receiver an amount equal to all cash flows and price appreciation on a defined security or asset payable
at periodic times during the swap term (i.e., credit risk) in return for a periodic payment from the total return receiver based
on a designated index (e.g., the London Interbank Offered Rate, known as LIBOR or the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, known as
SOFR) and spread, plus the amount of any price depreciation on the reference security or asset. The total return payer does not need to
own the underlying security or asset to enter into a total return swap. The final payment at the end of the swap term includes final settlement
of the current market price of the underlying reference security or asset, and payment by the applicable party for any appreciation or
depreciation in value. Usually, collateral must be posted by the total return receiver to secure the periodic interest-based and market
price depreciation payments depending on the credit quality of the underlying reference security and creditworthiness of the total return
receiver, and the collateral amount is marked-to-market daily equal to the market price of the underlying reference security or asset
between periodic payment dates.
TRS may effectively add leverage
to a Fund’s portfolio because, in addition to its net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount
of the swap. If a Fund is the total return receiver in a TRS, then the credit risk for an underlying asset is transferred to the Fund
in exchange for its receipt of the return (appreciation) on that asset. If a Fund is the total return payer, it is hedging the downside
risk of an underlying asset but it is obligated to pay the amount of any appreciation on that asset.
Inflation Swaps. In
an inflation swap, one party agrees to pay the cumulative percentage increase in a price index, such as the Consumer Price Index, over
the term of the swap (with some lag on the referenced inflation index) and the other party agrees to pay a compounded fixed rate. Inflation
swaps may be used to protect a Fund’s NAV against an unexpected change in the rate of inflation measured by an inflation index.
Currency Swaps. A currency
swap involves the exchange by a Fund and another party of the cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative
value differential among them, such as exchanging a right to receive a payment in foreign currency for the right to receive U.S. dollars.
A Fund may enter into currency swaps (where the parties exchange their respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies).
Currency swap agreements may be entered into on a net basis or may involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated
currency in exchange for the entire principal value of another designated currency. In such cases, the entire principal value of a currency
swap is subject to the risk that the counterparty will default on its contractual delivery obligations.
Equity Swaps. Equity
swaps are contracts that allow one party to exchange the returns, including any dividend income, on an equity security or group of equity
securities for another payment stream. Under an equity swap, payments may be made at the conclusion of the equity swap or periodically
during its term. A Fund may enter into equity swaps. An equity swap may be used to invest in a market without owning or taking physical
custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment may be restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical
or disadvantageous. Furthermore, equity swaps may be illiquid and a Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations when desired. In addition,
the value of some components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a common stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest
rates.
Credit Default Swaps.
In a credit default swap, the credit default protection buyer makes periodic payments, known as premiums, to the credit default protection
seller. In return, the credit default protection seller will make a payment to the credit default protection buyer upon the occurrence
of a specified credit event. A credit default swap can refer to a single issuer or asset, a basket of issuers or assets or index of assets,
each known as the reference entity or underlying asset. A Fund may act as either the buyer or the seller of a credit default swap. A Fund
may buy or sell credit default protection on a basket of issuers or assets, even if a number of the underlying assets referenced in the
basket are lower-quality debt securities. In an unhedged credit default swap, a Fund buys credit default protection on a single issuer
or asset, a basket of issuers or assets or index of assets without owning the underlying asset or debt issued by the reference entity.
Credit default swaps involve greater and different risks than investing directly in the referenced asset, because, in addition to market
risk, credit default swaps include liquidity, counterparty and operational risk.
Credit default swaps allow
a Fund to acquire or reduce credit exposure to a particular issuer, asset or basket of assets. If a swap agreement calls for payments
by a Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. If a Fund is the credit default protection seller, the Fund will
experience a loss if a credit event occurs and the credit of the reference entity or underlying asset has deteriorated. If a Fund is the
credit default protection buyer, the Fund will be required to pay premiums to the credit default protection seller. In the case of a physically
settled credit default swap in which a Fund is the protection seller, the Fund must be prepared to pay par for and take possession of
debt of a defaulted issuer delivered to the Fund by the credit default protection buyer. Any loss would be offset by the premium payments
a Fund receives as the seller of credit default protection.
Commodity-Linked Swaps.
Commodity-linked swaps are two party contracts in which the parties agree to exchange the return or interest rate on one instrument for
the return of a particular commodity, commodity index or commodity futures or options contract. The payment streams are calculated by
reference to an agreed upon notional amount. A one-period swap contract operates in a manner similar to a forward or futures contract
because there is an agreement to swap a commodity for cash at only one forward date. A Fund may engage in swap transactions that have
more than one period and therefore more than one exchange of payments. A Fund may invest in total return commodity swaps to gain exposure
to the overall commodity markets. In a total return commodity swap, a Fund will receive the price appreciation of a commodity index, a
portion of the index, or a single commodity in exchange for paying an agreed-upon fee. If a commodity swap is for one period, a Fund will
pay a fixed fee, established at the outset of the swap. However, if the term of a commodity swap is more than one period, with interim
swap payments, a Fund will pay an adjustable or floating fee. With “floating” rate, the fee is pegged to a base rate such
as LIBOR or SOFR, and is adjusted each period. Therefore, if interest rates increase over the term of the swap contract, a Fund may be
required to pay a higher fee at each swap reset date.
Contracts for Differences.
A Fund may purchase contracts for differences (“CFDs”). A CFD is a form of equity swap in which its value is based on the
fluctuating value of some underlying instrument (e.g., a single security, stock basket or index). A CFD is a privately negotiated contract
between two parties, buyer and seller, stipulating that the seller will pay to or receive from the buyer the difference between the nominal
value of the underlying instrument at the opening of the contract and that instrument’s value at the end of the contract. The buyer
and seller are both required to post margin, which is adjusted daily, and adverse market movements against the underlying instrument may
require the buyer to make additional margin payments. The buyer will also pay to the seller a financing rate on the notional amount of
the capital employed by the seller less the margin deposit. A CFD is usually terminated at the buyer’s initiative.
A CFD can be set up to take
either a short or long position on the underlying instrument and enables a Fund to potentially capture movements in the share prices of
the underlying instrument without the need to own the underlying instrument. By entering into a CFD transaction, a Fund could incur losses
because it would face many of the same types of risks as owning the underlying instrument directly.
As with other types of swap
transactions, CFDs also carry counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty to the CFD transaction may be unable or unwilling
to make payments or to otherwise honor its financial obligations under the terms of the contract, that the parties to the transaction
may disagree as to the meaning or application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected. If the counterparty
were to do so, the value of the contract, and of a Fund’s shares, may be reduced.
Options on Swaps (Swaptions).
A swaption is an option to enter into a swap agreement. The purchaser of a swaption pays a premium for the option and obtains the right,
but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium,
becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. Depending on the terms of the particular
option agreement, a Fund generally will incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than when it purchases a swaption. When
a Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised.
Combined Transactions.
A Fund may enter into multiple transactions, which may include multiple options transactions, multiple interest rate transactions
and any combination of options and interest rate transactions, instead of a single Financial Instrument, as part of a single or combined
strategy when, in the judgment of the Manager, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain
elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although a Fund will normally enter into combined transactions
based on the Manager’s judgment that the combined transactions will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired
portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combined transactions will instead increase risk or hinder achievement of the desired
portfolio management goal.
Regulatory Limitations
on Using Futures, Options on Futures, and Swaps. The CFTC has adopted regulations that subject registered investment companies
and/or their investment advisors to regulation by the CFTC if the registered investment company invests more than a prescribed level of
its NAV in commodity futures, options on commodities or commodity futures, swaps, or other financial instruments regulated under the Commodity
Exchange Act, or if the registered investment company is marketed as a vehicle for obtaining exposure to such commodity interests.
As discussed in more detail
below, the Manager has claimed an exclusion from CPO registration pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5, with respect to all of the Funds. To remain
eligible for this exclusion, a Fund must comply with certain limitations, including limits on trading in commodity interests, and restrictions
on the manner in which the Fund markets its commodity interests trading activities. These limitations may restrict a Fund’s ability
to pursue its investment strategy, increase the costs of implementing its strategy, increase its expenses and/or adversely affect its
total return.
To qualify for the CFTC Rule
4.5 exclusion, a Fund is permitted to engage in unlimited “bona fide hedging” (as defined by the CFTC), but if a Fund
uses commodity interests other than for bona fide hedging purposes, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish these
positions, determined at the time the most recent position was established, may not exceed 5% of the Fund’s NAV (after taking
into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are “in-the-money”
at the time of purchase are “in-the-money”) or, alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of non-bona fide hedging commodity
interest positions, determined at the time the most recent position was established, may not exceed 100% of the Fund’s NAV
(after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to complying with these de
minimis trading limitations, to qualify for the exclusion, a Fund must satisfy a marketing test, which requires, among other things,
that a Fund not hold itself out as a vehicle for trading commodity interests.
A Fund may be exposed
to commodity interests indirectly in excess of the de minimis trading limitations described above. Such exposure may result from a Fund’s
investment in other investment vehicles, such as real estate investment trusts, collateralized loan obligations, collateralized debt obligations
and other securitization vehicles that may invest directly in commodity interests. These investment vehicles are referred to collectively
as “underlying investment vehicles.” The CFTC treats a fund as a commodity pool whether it invests in commodity interests directly
or indirectly through its investments in underlying investment vehicles. The CFTC staff has issued a no-action letter permitting
the manager of a fund that invests in such underlying investment vehicles to defer registering as a CPO or claiming the exclusion from
the CPO definition until six months from the date on which the CFTC issues additional guidance on the application of the calculation of
the de minimis trading limitations in the context of the CPO exemption in CFTC Regulation 4.5 (the “Deadline”).
Such guidance is expected to clarify how to calculate compliance with the de minimis trading limitations given a fund’s
investments in underlying investment vehicles that may cause the fund to be deemed to be indirectly trading commodity interests. The
Manager has filed the required notice to claim this no-action relief with respect to each Fund. In addition, the Manager has claimed
an exclusion (under CFTC Regulation 4.5) from the CPO definition with respect to each Fund. As a result, at this time the Manager is not
required to register as a CPO with respect to any Fund and need not generally comply with the regulatory requirements otherwise applicable
to a registered CPO. Prior to the Deadline, however, the Manager will determine with respect to each Fund whether it must operate as a
registered CPO or whether it can rely on an exemption or exclusion from the CPO definition. If the Manager determines that it can rely
on the exclusion in CFTC Regulation 4.5 with respect to a Fund, then the Manager, in its management of that Fund, will comply with one
of the two alternative de minimis trading limitations in that regulation. Complying with the de minimis trading limitations
may restrict the Manager’s ability to use derivatives as part of a Fund’s investment strategies. Although the Manager believes
that it will be able to execute each Fund’s investment strategies within the de minimis trading limitations, a Fund’s
performance could be adversely affected. If the Manager determines that it cannot rely on the exclusion in CFTC Regulation 4.5 with respect
to a Fund, then the Manager will serve as a registered CPO with respect to that Fund. CPO regulation would increase the regulatory requirements
to which a Fund is subject and it is expected that it would increase costs for a Fund.
Pursuant to authority
granted under the Dodd-Frank Act, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a notice of final determination stating that foreign exchange forwards
and foreign exchange swaps, as defined in the Dodd-Frank Act and described above, should not be considered swaps for most purposes. Thus,
foreign exchange forwards and foreign exchange swaps are not deemed to be commodity interests. Therefore, if the Manager determines that
it can rely on the exclusion in CFTC Regulation 4.5 with respect to a Fund, the Fund may enter into foreign exchange forwards and foreign
exchange swaps without such transactions counting against the de minimis trading limitations discussed above. Notwithstanding
the U.S. Treasury Department determination, foreign exchange forwards and foreign exchange swaps (1) must be reported to swap data repositories,
(2) may be subject to business conduct standards, and (3) are subject to antifraud and anti-manipulation proscriptions of swap execution
facilities. In addition, for purposes of determining whether any Fund may be subject to initial margin requirements for uncleared swaps,
the average daily aggregate notional amount of a foreign exchange forward or a foreign exchange swap must be included in the calculation
of whether such Fund has a “material swaps exposure” as defined in the regulations.
In addition, pursuant to the
Dodd-Frank Act and regulations adopted by the CFTC in connection with implementing the Dodd-Frank Act, NDFs are deemed to be commodity
interests, including for purposes of amended CFTC Regulation 4.5, and are subject to the full array of regulations under the Dodd-Frank
Act. Therefore, if the Manager determines that it can rely on the exclusion in CFTC Regulation 4.5 with respect to a Fund, the Fund will
limit its investment in NDFs as discussed above.
The staff of the CFTC has
issued guidance providing that, for purposes of determining compliance with CFTC Regulation 4.5, and the de minimis trading limitations
discussed above, swaps that are centrally-cleared on the same clearing organization may be netted where appropriate, but no such netting
is permitted for uncleared swaps. To the extent some NDFs remain traded OTC and are not centrally-cleared, the absolute notional value
of all such transactions, rather than the net notional value, would be counted against the de minimis trading limitations discussed above.
General Risks of Financial
Instruments. The primary risks in using Financial Instruments are: (1) imperfect correlation or no correlation between changes
in market value of the securities or currencies held or to be acquired by a Fund and the prices of Financial Instruments; (2) possible
lack of a liquid secondary market for Financial Instruments and the resulting inability to close out Financial Instruments when desired;
(3) the fact that the skills needed to use Financial Instruments are different from those needed to select a Fund’s securities;
(4) the fact that, although use of Financial Instruments for hedging purposes can reduce the risk of loss, they also can reduce the
opportunity for gain, or even result in losses, by offsetting favorable price movements in hedged investments; (5) the possible inability
of a Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that would otherwise be favorable for it to do so, or the possible need for
a Fund to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time; and (6) when traded on non-U.S. exchanges, Financial Instruments may not
be regulated as rigorously as in the United States. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s use of Financial Instruments will be
successful.
In addition, Financial Instruments
may contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the underlying asset or assets.
A Fund’s use of
Financial Instruments may be limited by the provisions of the Code and U.S. Treasury Department regulations with which it must comply
to continue to qualify as a RIC. See “Additional Tax Information.” Financial Instruments may not be available with respect
to some currencies, especially those of so-called emerging market countries.
Policies and Limitations.
When hedging, the Manager intends to reduce the risk of imperfect correlation by investing only in Financial Instruments whose behavior
is expected to resemble or offset that of a Fund’s underlying securities or currency. The Manager intends to reduce the risk that
a Fund will be unable to close out Financial Instruments by entering into such transactions only if the Manager believes there will be
an active and liquid secondary market.
Illiquid Securities.
Generally, an illiquid security is any investment that may not reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions
in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Illiquid securities
may include unregistered or other restricted securities and repurchase agreements maturing in greater than seven days. Illiquid securities
may also include commercial paper under Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act, and Rule 144A securities (restricted securities that may be traded
freely among qualified institutional buyers pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the securities laws); these
securities are considered illiquid unless the Manager determines they are liquid. Most such securities held by the Funds are deemed liquid.
Generally, foreign securities freely tradable in their principal market are not considered restricted or illiquid, even if they are not
registered in the United States. Illiquid securities may be difficult for a Fund to value or dispose of due to the absence of an active
trading market. The sale of some illiquid securities by a Fund may be subject to legal restrictions, which could be costly to the Fund.
Policies and Limitations.
For the Funds’ policies and limitations on illiquid securities, see “Investment Policies and Limitations -- Illiquid Securities”
above.
Indexed Securities. A Fund may invest
in indexed securities whose values are linked to currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices, or other financial indicators, domestic
or foreign. Most indexed securities are short- to intermediate-term fixed income securities whose values at maturity or interest rates
rise or fall according to the change in one or more specified underlying instruments. The value of indexed securities may increase or
decrease if the underlying instrument appreciates, and they may have return characteristics similar to direct investment in the underlying
instrument. An indexed security may be more volatile than the underlying instrument itself.
Inflation-Indexed
Securities. Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed income securities whose principal value or coupon (interest payment) is periodically
adjusted according to the rate of inflation. A Fund may invest in inflation-indexed securities issued in any country. Two structures
are common. The U.S. Treasury Department and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the
bond. Other issuers pay out the index based accruals as part of a semiannual coupon.
A Fund may invest in U.S.
Treasury Department inflation-indexed securities, formerly called “U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities” (“U.S.
TIPS”), which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. The periodic adjustment of U.S. TIPS is currently
tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
which is part of the Labor Department. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing,
food, transportation and energy. Inflation-indexed bonds issued by a non-U.S. government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable
inflation index, calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or any non-U.S. inflation index will accurately
measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. In addition, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation
in a non-U.S. country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States. The three-month lag in calculating the CPI-U
for purposes of adjusting the principal value of U.S. TIPS may give rise to risks under certain circumstances.
Interest is calculated
on the basis of the current adjusted principal value. The principal value of inflation-indexed securities declines in periods of deflation,
but holders at maturity receive no less than par. However, if a Fund purchases inflation-indexed securities in the secondary market whose
principal values have been adjusted upward due to inflation since issuance, the Fund may experience a loss if there is a subsequent period
of deflation. If inflation is lower than expected during the period a Fund holds the security, the Fund may earn less on it than on a
conventional bond. A Fund may also invest in other inflation-related bonds which may or may not provide a guarantee of principal. If
a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal
amount.
Because the coupon rate
on inflation-indexed securities is lower than fixed-rate U.S. Treasury Department securities, the CPI-U would have to rise at least to
the amount of the difference between the coupon rate of the fixed-rate U.S. Treasury Department issues and the coupon rate of the inflation-indexed
securities, assuming all other factors are equal, in order for such securities to match the performance of the fixed-rate U.S. Treasury
Department securities. Inflation-indexed securities are expected to react primarily to changes in the “real” interest rate
(i.e., the nominal (or stated) rate less the rate of inflation), while a typical bond reacts to changes in the nominal interest
rate. Accordingly, inflation-indexed securities have characteristics of fixed-rate U.S. Treasury Department securities having a shorter
duration. Changes in market interest rates from causes other than inflation will likely affect the market prices of inflation-indexed
securities in the same manner as conventional bonds.
Any increase in the principal
value of an inflation-indexed security is taxable in the year the increase occurs, even though its holders do not receive cash representing
the increase until the security matures. Because a Fund must distribute substantially all of its net investment income (including non-cash
income attributable to those principal value increases) and net realized gains to its shareholders each taxable year to continue to qualify
for treatment as a RIC and to minimize or avoid payment of federal income and excise taxes, a Fund may have to dispose of other investments
under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may be required to borrow, to satisfy its distribution requirements.
The U.S. Treasury Department
began issuing inflation-indexed bonds in 1997. Certain non-U.S. governments, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, have a
longer history of issuing inflation-indexed bonds, and there may be a more liquid market in certain of these countries for these securities.
Interfund Lending.
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC and corresponding compliance procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Funds
may lend money to, and borrow money from, other Neuberger Berman Funds, (“NB Funds”) pursuant to a master interfund lending
agreement (“Interfund Lending Program”). Under the Interfund Lending Program, the Funds may lend or borrow money for temporary
purposes directly to or from another NB Fund (an “Interfund Loan”), subject to meeting the conditions of the SEC exemptive
order. All Interfund Loans consist only of uninvested cash reserves that the lending Fund otherwise would invest in short-term repurchase
agreements or other short-term instruments.
If a Fund has outstanding
bank borrowings, any Interfund Loans to the Fund would: (a) be at an interest rate equal to or lower than that of any outstanding bank
loan, (b) be secured at least on an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding
bank loan that requires collateral, (c) have a maturity no longer than any outstanding bank loan (and in any event not over seven days),
and (d) provide that, if an event of default occurs under any agreement evidencing an outstanding bank loan to the Fund, that event of
default will automatically (without need for action or notice by the lending Fund) constitute an immediate event of default under the
Interfund Lending Program, entitling the lending Fund to call the Interfund Loan (and exercise all rights with respect to any collateral),
and that such call will be made if the lending bank exercises its right to call its loan under its agreement with the borrowing Fund.
A Fund may make an unsecured
borrowing under the Interfund Lending Program if its outstanding borrowings from all sources immediately after the borrowing under the
Interfund Lending Program are equal to or less than 10% of its total assets, provided that, if the Fund has a secured loan outstanding
from any other lender, including but not limited to another Fund, the Fund’s borrowing under the Interfund Lending Program would
be secured on at least an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding
loan that requires collateral. If a Fund’s total outstanding borrowings immediately after an interfund borrowing under the Interfund
Lending Program exceeded 10% of its total assets, the Fund may borrow through the Interfund Lending Program on a secured basis only.
A Fund may not borrow under the Interfund Lending Program or from any other source if its total outstanding borrowings immediately after
the borrowing would be more than 33-1/3% of its total assets.
No NB Fund may lend to
another NB Fund through the Interfund Lending Program if the loan would cause the lending Fund’s aggregate outstanding loans through
the Interfund Lending Program to exceed 15% of its current net assets at the time of the loan. A Fund’s Interfund Loans to any
one Fund shall not exceed 5% of the lending Fund’s net assets. The duration of Interfund Loans would be limited to the time required
to receive payment for securities sold, but in no event more than seven days, and for purposes of this condition, loans effected within
seven days of each other will be treated as separate loan transactions. Each Interfund Loan may be called on one business day’s
notice by a lending Fund and may be repaid on any day by a borrowing Fund.
The limitations detailed above
and the other conditions of the SEC exemptive relief application permitting interfund lending are designed to minimize the risks associated
with interfund lending for both the lending Fund and the borrowing Fund. However, no borrowing or lending activity is without risk. When
a Fund borrows money from another Fund, there is a risk that the Interfund Loan could be called on one day’s notice or not renewed,
in which case the Fund may have to borrow from a bank at higher rates or sell portfolio securities if an Interfund Loan is not available
from another Fund. There can be no assurance than an Interfund Loan will be available to any Fund either as a borrower or lender. Interfund
Loans are subject to the risk that the borrowing Fund could be unable to repay the loan when due, and a delay in repayment to a lending
Fund could result in a lost opportunity or additional lending costs. No Fund may borrow more than the amount permitted by its investment
limitations.
Investments by Funds
of Funds or Other Large Shareholders. A Fund may experience large redemptions or investments due to transactions in Fund
shares by funds of funds, other large shareholders, or similarly managed accounts. While it is impossible to predict the overall effect
of these transactions over time, there could be an adverse impact on a Fund’s performance. In the event of such redemptions
or investments, a Fund could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it may not otherwise desire to do so.
Such transactions may increase a Fund’s brokerage and/or other transaction costs and affect the liquidity of a Fund’s
portfolio. In addition, when funds of funds or other investors own a substantial portion of a Fund’s shares, a large redemption
by such an investor could cause actual expenses to increase, or could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated
over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. Redemptions of Fund shares could also accelerate
a Fund’s realization of capital gains (which would be taxable to its shareholders when distributed to them) if sales of securities
needed to fund the redemptions result in net capital gains. The impact of these transactions is likely to be greater when a fund of funds
or other significant investor purchases, redeems, or owns a substantial portion of a Fund’s shares. A high volume of redemption
requests can impact a Fund the same way as the transactions of a single shareholder with substantial investments.
Leverage. A
Fund may engage in transactions that have the effect of leverage. Although leverage creates an opportunity for increased total return,
it also can create special risk considerations. For example, leverage from borrowing may amplify changes in a Fund’s NAV. Although
the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, a Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding.
Leverage from borrowing creates interest expenses for a Fund. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed
funds is sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of a Fund will be greater than it would be if leverage were not used.
Conversely, to the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging,
the net income of a Fund will be less than it would be if leverage were not used and, therefore, the amount (if any) available for distribution
to the Fund’s shareholders as dividends will be reduced. Reverse repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions, when-issued
and delayed-delivery transactions, certain Financial Instruments (as defined above), and short sales, among others, may create leverage.
Policies and Limitations.
For the Funds’ policies and limitations on borrowing, see “Investment Policies and Limitations -- Borrowing” above.
In addition, each Fund may borrow to purchase securities needed to close out short sales entered into for hedging purposes and to facilitate
other hedging transactions.
LIBOR Rate Risk.
Many debt securities, derivatives and other financial instruments, including some of the Fund’s investments, have historically utilized
the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) as the reference or benchmark rate for variable interest rate calculations. In
2017, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that after 2021 it would cease its active encouragement of UK banks
to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (the “ICE”), the current administrator
of LIBOR, ceased publishing most LIBOR maturities, including some U.S. dollar LIBOR maturities, on December 31, 2021, and the remaining
and most liquid U.S. dollar LIBOR maturities ceased to be published after June 30, 2023.
The FCA previously announced
that it would require the ICE to continue publishing a 3-month synthetic sterling LIBOR, which is expected to cease at the end of March
2024. On April 3, 2023, the FCA announced that it would require the ICE to continue publishing 1-, 3- and 6-month U.S. dollar LIBOR until
September 30, 2024 using an unrepresentative synthetic methodology (“synthetic U.S. dollar LIBOR”). Synthetic U.S. dollar
LIBOR will be calculated using the same methodology used in the LIBOR Act. Synthetic U.S. dollar LIBOR cannot be used for cleared derivatives,
but could be used in untransitioned legacy contracts unless they contain fallback language addressing LIBOR that has become “unrepresentative.”
Also in 2017, the Alternative
Reference Rates Committee, a group of large U.S. banks working with the Federal Reserve, announced its selection of a new Secured Overnight
Funding Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of overnight borrowings secured by U.S. Treasury Department securities,
as an appropriate replacement for U.S. dollar LIBOR. Bank working groups and regulators in other countries have suggested other alternatives
for their markets, including the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) in England.
The Federal Reserve Bank
of New York began publishing SOFR in April, 2018, with the expectation that it could be used on a voluntary basis in new instruments
and for new transactions under existing instruments. However, SOFR is fundamentally different from LIBOR. It is a secured, nearly risk-free
rate, while LIBOR is an unsecured rate that includes an element of bank credit risk. Also, while term SOFR for various maturities has
begun to be adopted by some parties and for some types of transactions, SOFR is strictly an overnight rate, while LIBOR historically
has been published for various maturities, ranging from overnight to one year. Thus, LIBOR may be expected to be higher than SOFR, and
the spread between the two is likely to widen in times of market stress. Certain existing contracts provide for a spread adjustment for
transitioning to SOFR from LIBOR, but there is no assurance that it will provide adequate compensation. Term SOFR rates for various maturities,
may not be available, recommended, or operationally feasible at the applicable benchmark replacement date.
Various financial industry
groups have planned for and have implemented the transition from LIBOR to SOFR or another new benchmark, but there are obstacles to converting
certain longer term securities and transactions. The transition process for these instruments might lead to increased volatility and
illiquidity. It also could lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges
placed against existing LIBOR-based instruments.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities.
Lower-rated debt securities or “junk” or “junk bonds” are those rated below the fourth highest category (including
those securities rated as low as D by S&P) or unrated securities of comparable quality. Securities rated below investment grade are
often considered to be speculative. These securities have poor protection with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Lower-rated debt securities generally offer a higher current yield than that available for investment grade issues
with similar maturities, but they may involve significant risk under adverse conditions. In particular, adverse changes in general economic
conditions and in the industries in which the issuers are engaged and changes in the financial condition of the issuers are more likely
to cause price volatility and weaken the capacity of the issuer to make principal and interest payments than is the case for higher-grade
debt securities. These securities are susceptible to default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and
business developments relating to the issuer, market interest rates and market liquidity. In addition, a Fund that invests in lower-quality
securities may incur additional expenses to the extent recovery is sought on defaulted securities. Because of the many risks involved
in investing in lower-rated debt securities, the success of such investments is dependent on the credit analysis of the Manager.
During periods of economic
downturn or rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress, which could adversely affect their ability
to make payments of interest and principal and increase the possibility of default. In addition, such issuers may not have more traditional
methods of financing available to them and may be unable to repay debt at maturity by refinancing. The risk of loss due to default by
such issuers is significantly greater because such securities frequently are unsecured and subordinated to the prior payment of senior
indebtedness.
At certain times in the past,
the market for lower-rated debt securities has expanded rapidly, and its growth generally paralleled a long economic expansion. In the
past, the prices of many lower-rated debt securities declined substantially, reflecting an expectation that many issuers of such securities
might experience financial difficulties. As a result, the yields on lower-rated debt securities rose dramatically. However, such higher
yields did not reflect the value of the income stream that holders of such securities expected, but rather the risk that holders of such
securities could lose a substantial portion of their value as a result of the issuers’ financial restructuring or defaults. There
can be no assurance that such declines will not recur.
The market for lower-rated
debt issues generally is thinner or less active than that for higher quality securities, which may limit a Fund’s ability to sell
such securities at fair value in response to changes in the economy or financial markets. Judgment may play a greater role in pricing
such securities than it does for more liquid securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental
analysis, may also decrease the values and liquidity of lower rated debt securities, especially in a thinly traded market.
A Fund may invest in securities
whose ratings imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments. Issuers of securities in default may fail to resume principal
or interest payments, in which case a Fund may lose its entire investment.
See Appendix A for further
information about the ratings of debt securities assigned by S&P, Fitch, Inc., and Moody’s.
Master Limited Partnerships.
Master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) are limited partnerships (or similar entities, such as limited liability companies) in
which the ownership units (e.g., limited partnership interests) are publicly traded. MLP units are registered with the SEC and
are freely traded on a securities exchange or in the OTC market. Many MLPs operate in oil and gas related businesses, including energy
processing and distribution. Many MLPs are pass-through entities that generally are taxed at the unitholder level and are not subject
to federal or state income tax at the entity level. Annual income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of such an MLP pass-through directly
to its unitholders. Distributions from an MLP may consist in part of a return of capital. Additionally, since MLPs generally conduct business
in multiple states, the Fund may be subject to income or franchise tax in each of the states in which the partnership does business. The
additional cost of preparing and filing the tax returns and paying the related taxes may adversely impact the Fund’s return on its
investment in MLPs. Generally, an MLP is operated under the supervision of one or more general partners. Limited partners are not involved
in the day-to-day management of an MLP.
Investing in MLPs involves
certain risks related to investing in their underlying assets and risks associated with pooled investment vehicles. MLPs holding credit-related
investments are subject to interest rate risk and the risk of default on payment obligations by debt issuers. MLPs that concentrate in
a particular industry or a particular geographic region are subject to risks associated with such industry or region. Investments held
by MLPs may be relatively illiquid, limiting the MLPs’ ability to vary their portfolios promptly in response to changes in economic
or other conditions. MLPs may have limited financial resources, their securities may trade infrequently and in limited volume, and they
may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than securities of larger or more broadly based companies.
The risks of investing in
an MLP are generally those inherent in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships
is different than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in an MLP than investors
in a corporation. For example, although unitholders of an MLP are generally limited in their liability, similar to a corporation’s
shareholders, creditors typically have the right to seek the return of distributions made to unitholders if the liability in question
arose before the distributions were paid. This liability may stay attached to a unitholder even after it sells its units.
Policies and Limitations.
Under certain circumstances, an MLP could be deemed an investment company. If that occurred, a Fund’s investment in the MLP’s
securities would be limited by the 1940 Act. See “Securities of Other Investment Companies.”
Mortgage-Backed Securities.
Mortgage-backed securities, including residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, represent direct or indirect participations
in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of mortgage loans. Those securities may be guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or instrumentality
(such as by Ginnie Mae); issued and guaranteed by a government-sponsored stockholder-owned corporation, though not backed by the full
faith and credit of the United States (such as by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (collectively, the “GSEs”), and described in greater
detail below); or issued by fully private issuers. Private issuers are generally originators of and investors in mortgage loans and include
savings associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, investment bankers, and special purpose entities. Private mortgage-backed securities
may be backed by U.S. Government agency supported mortgage loans or some form of non-governmental credit enhancement.
Government-related guarantors
(i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government) include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored
corporation owned by stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Federal Housing Finance Authority (“FHFA”).
Fannie Mae purchases residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers that include state and federally chartered savings
and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers. Fannie Mae guarantees the timely payment
of principal and interest on pass-through securities that it issues, but those securities are not backed by the full faith and credit
of the U.S. Government.
Freddie Mac is a government-sponsored
corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned by stockholders. Freddie Mac issues Participation Certificates
(“PCs”), which represent interests in mortgages from Freddie Mac’s national portfolio. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely
payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal on the PCs it issues, but those PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit
of the U.S. Government.
The U.S. Treasury Department
has historically had the authority to purchase obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. However, in 2008, due to capitalization concerns,
Congress provided the U.S. Treasury Department with additional authority to lend the GSEs emergency funds and to purchase their stock.
In September 2008, those capital concerns led the U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA to announce that the GSEs had been placed in
conservatorship.
Since that time, the GSEs
have received significant capital support through U.S. Treasury Department preferred stock purchases as well as U.S. Treasury Department
and Federal Reserve purchases of their mortgage backed securities (“MBS”). While the MBS purchase programs ended in 2010,
the U.S. Treasury Department announced in December 2009 that it would continue its support for the entities’ capital as necessary
to prevent a negative net worth. However, no assurance can be given that the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury Department, or FHFA initiatives
will ensure that the GSEs will remain successful in meeting their obligations with respect to the debt and MBS they issue into the future.
In 2012, the FHFA initiated
a strategic plan to develop a program related to credit risk transfers intended to reduce Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s overall
risk through the creation of credit risk transfer assets (“CRTs”). CRTs come in two primary series: Structured Agency Credit
Risk (“STACRs”) for Freddie Mac and Connecticut Avenue Securities (“CAS”) for Fannie Mae, although other series
may be developed in the future. CRTs are typically structured as unsecured general obligations of either entities guaranteed by a government-sponsored
stockholder-owned corporation, though not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (such as by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
(collectively, the “GSEs”) or special purpose entities), and their cash flows are based on the performance of a pool of reference
loans. Unlike traditional residential MBS securities, bond payments typically do not come directly from the underlying mortgages. Instead,
the GSEs either make the payments to CRT investors, or the GSEs make certain payments to the special purpose entities and the special
purpose entities make payments to the investors. In certain structures, the special purpose entities make payments to the GSEs upon the
occurrence of credit events with respect to the underlying mortgages, and the obligation of the special purpose entity to make such payments
to the GSE is senior to the obligation of the special purpose entity to make payments to the CRT investors. CRTs are typically floating
rate securities and may have multiple tranches with losses first allocated to the most junior or subordinate tranche. This structure results
in increased sensitivity to dramatic housing downturns, especially for the subordinate tranches. Many CRTs also have collateral performance
triggers (e.g., based on credit enhancement, delinquencies or defaults, etc.) that could shut off principal payments to subordinate tranches.
Generally, GSEs have the ability to call all of the CRT tranches at par in 10 years.
In addition, the future of
the GSEs is in serious question as the U.S. Government is considering multiple options, ranging on a spectrum from significant reform,
nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities. Congress is considering several pieces of legislation that
would reform the GSEs, proposing to address their structure, mission, portfolio limits, and guarantee fees, among other issues.
The FHFA and the U.S.
Treasury Department (through its agreement to purchase GSE preferred stock) have imposed strict limits on the size of GSEs’
mortgage portfolios. In August 2012, the U.S. Treasury Department amended its preferred stock purchase agreements to provide that
the GSEs’ portfolios would be wound down at an annual rate of 15 percent (up from the previously agreed annual rate of 10
percent), requiring the GSEs to reach the $250 billion target by December 31, 2018. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were below the $250
billion cap for year-end 2018. On December 21, 2017, a letter agreement between the U.S. Treasury Department and Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac changed the terms of the senior preferred stock certificates to permit the GSEs each to retain a $3 billion capital
reserve, quarterly. Under the 2017 letter, each GSE paid a dividend to the U.S. Treasury Department equal to the amount that its net
worth exceeded $3 billion at the end of each quarter. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA, acting as
conservator to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, announced amendments to the respective senior preferred stock certificates that will
permit the GSEs to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 letter agreements.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively. In late
2020, the FHFA issued a new capital rule requiring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to hold $283 billion in unadjusted total capital as of
June 30, 2020, based on their assets at the time. In January 2021, the FHFA and the U.S. Treasury Department agreed to amend the
preferred stock purchase agreements for the shares in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that the federal government continues to hold. The
amendments permit Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain all earnings until they have reached the requirements set by the 2020 capital
rule.
Mortgage-backed securities
may have either fixed or adjustable interest rates. Tax or regulatory changes may adversely affect the mortgage securities market. In
addition, changes in the market’s perception of the issuer may affect the value of mortgage-backed securities. The rate of return
on mortgage-backed securities may be affected by prepayments of principal on the underlying loans, which generally increase as market
interest rates decline; as a result, when interest rates decline, holders of these securities normally do not benefit from appreciation
in market value to the same extent as holders of other non-callable debt securities.
Because many mortgages are
repaid early, the actual maturity and duration of mortgage-backed securities are typically shorter than their stated final maturity and
their duration calculated solely on the basis of the stated life and payment schedule. In calculating its dollar-weighted average maturity
and duration, a Fund may apply certain industry conventions regarding the maturity and duration of mortgage-backed instruments. Different
analysts use different models and assumptions in making these determinations. The Funds use an approach that the Manager believes is reasonable
in light of all relevant circumstances. If this determination is not borne out in practice, it could positively or negatively affect the
value of a Fund when market interest rates change. Increasing market interest rates generally extend the effective maturities of mortgage-backed
securities, increasing their sensitivity to interest rate changes.
Mortgage-backed securities
may be issued in the form of collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) or collateralized mortgage-backed bonds (“CBOs”).
CMOs are obligations that are fully collateralized, directly or indirectly, by a pool of mortgages; payments of principal and interest
on the mortgages are passed through to the holders of the CMOs, although not necessarily on a pro rata basis, on the same schedule
as they are received. CBOs are general obligations of the issuer that are fully collateralized, directly or indirectly, by a pool of mortgages.
The mortgages serve as collateral for the issuer’s payment obligations on the bonds, but interest and principal payments on the
mortgages are not passed through either directly (as with mortgage-backed “pass-through” securities issued or guaranteed by
U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities) or on a modified basis (as with CMOs). Accordingly, a change in the rate of prepayments
on the pool of mortgages could change the effective maturity or the duration of a CMO but not that of a CBO (although, like many bonds,
CBOs may be callable by the issuer prior to maturity). To the extent that rising interest rates cause prepayments to occur at a slower
than expected rate, a CMO could be converted into a longer-term security that is subject to greater risk of price volatility.
Governmental, government-related,
and private entities (such as commercial banks, savings institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers, and other
secondary market issuers, including securities broker-dealers and special purpose entities that generally are affiliates of the foregoing
established to issue such securities) may create mortgage loan pools to back CMOs and CBOs. Such issuers may be the originators and/or
servicers of the underlying mortgage loans, as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-backed securities. Pools created by non-governmental
issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than governmental and government-related pools because of the absence of direct or indirect
government or agency guarantees. Various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool, and hazard insurance
and letters of credit, may support timely payment of interest and principal of non-governmental pools. Governmental entities, private
insurers, and mortgage poolers issue these forms of insurance and guarantees. The Manager considers such insurance and guarantees, as
well as the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof, in determining whether a mortgage-backed security meets a Fund’s investment
quality standards. There can be no assurance that private insurers or guarantors can meet their obligations under insurance policies or
guarantee arrangements. A Fund may buy mortgage-backed securities without insurance or guarantees, if the Manager determines that the
securities meet the Fund’s quality standards. The Manager will, consistent with a Fund’s investment objective, policies and
limitations and quality standards, consider making investments in new types of mortgage-backed securities as such securities are developed
and offered to investors.
Policies and Limitations.
A Fund may not purchase mortgage-backed securities that, in the Manager’s opinion, are illiquid if, as a result, more than 15% of
the Fund’s net assets would be invested in illiquid securities.
Freddie Mac Collateralized
Mortgage Obligations. Freddie Mac CMOs are debt obligations of Freddie Mac issued in multiple tranches having different maturity
dates that are secured by the pledge of a pool of conventional mortgage loans purchased by Freddie Mac. Unlike Freddie Mac PCs, payments
of principal and interest on the CMOs are made semiannually, as opposed to monthly. The amount of principal payable on each semiannual
payment date is determined in accordance with Freddie Mac’s mandatory sinking fund schedule, which, in turn, is equal to approximately
100% of FHA prepayment experience applied to the mortgage collateral pool. All sinking fund payments in the CMOs are allocated to the
retirement of the individual tranches of bonds in the order of their stated maturities. Payment of principal on the mortgage loans in
the collateral pool in excess of the amount of Freddie Mac’s minimum sinking fund obligation for any payment date are paid to the
holders of the CMOs as additional sinking fund payments. This “pass-through” of prepayments has the effect of retiring most
CMO tranches prior to their stated final maturity.
If collection of principal
(including prepayments) on the mortgage loans during any semiannual payment period is not sufficient to meet Freddie Mac’s minimum
sinking fund obligation on the next sinking fund payment date, Freddie Mac agrees to make up the deficiency from its general funds.
Criteria for the mortgage
loans in the pool backing the Freddie Mac CMOs are identical to those of Freddie Mac PCs. Freddie Mac has the right to substitute collateral
in the event of delinquencies and/or defaults.
Other Mortgage-Related
Securities. Other mortgage-related securities include securities other than those described above that directly or indirectly represent
a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property, including stripped mortgage-backed securities.
Other mortgage-related securities may be equity or debt securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by
private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial
banks, investment banks, partnerships, trusts and special purpose entities of the foregoing.
Municipal Obligations.
Municipal obligations are issued by or on behalf of states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and possessions and their
political subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities. The interest on municipal obligations is generally exempt from federal income
tax. A Fund determines the tax-exempt status of the interest on any issue of municipal obligations based on an opinion of the issuer’s
bond counsel, which is not binding on the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“Service”) or the courts, at the time the obligations
are issued.
Municipal obligations include
“general obligation” securities, which are backed by the full taxing power of the issuing governmental entity, and “revenue”
securities, which are backed only by the income from a specific project, facility, or tax. Municipal obligations also include PABs, which
are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various privately operated facilities, and are generally supported only by
revenue from those facilities, if any. They are not backed by the credit of any governmental or public authority. “Anticipation
notes” are issued by municipalities in expectation of future proceeds from the issuance of bonds or from taxes or other revenues
and are payable from those bond proceeds, taxes, or revenues. Municipal obligations also include tax-exempt commercial paper, which is
issued by municipalities to help finance short-term capital or operating requirements.
The value of municipal obligations
depends on the continuing payment of interest and principal when due by the issuers of the municipal obligations (or, in the case of PABs,
the revenues generated by the facility financed by the bonds or, in certain other instances, the provider of the credit facility backing
the obligations or insurers issuing insurance backing the obligations).
A Fund may purchase municipal
securities that are fully or partially backed by entities providing credit support such as letters of credit, guarantees, or insurance.
The credit quality of the entities that provide such credit support will affect the market values of those securities. The insurance feature
of a municipal security guarantees the full and timely payment of interest and principal through the life of an insured obligation. The
insurance feature does not, however, guarantee the market value of the insured obligation or the NAV of a Fund’s shares represented
by such an insured obligation. The Portfolio Managers generally look to the credit quality of the issuer of a municipal security to determine
whether the security meets a Fund’s quality restrictions, even if the security is covered by insurance. However, a downgrade in
the claims-paying ability of an insurer of a municipal security could have an adverse effect on the market value of the security. Certain
significant providers of insurance for municipal securities can incur and, in the past have incurred, significant losses as a result of
exposure to certain categories of investments, such as sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality investments that have experienced
defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. Such losses can adversely impact the capital adequacy of these insurers and
may call into question the insurers’ ability to fulfill their obligations under such insurance if they are called to do so, which
could negatively affect a Fund. There are a limited number of providers of insurance for municipal securities and a Fund may have multiple
investments covered by one insurer. Accordingly, this may make the value of those investments dependent on the claims-paying ability of
that one insurer and could result in share price volatility for a Fund’s shares.
As with other fixed income
securities, an increase in interest rates generally will reduce the value of a Fund’s investments in municipal obligations, whereas
a decline in interest rates generally will increase that value.
Some municipal securities,
including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional
buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities
at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or a Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund
regards as their fair market value.
Periodic efforts to restructure
the federal budget and the relationship between the federal government and state and local governments may adversely impact the financing
of some issuers of municipal securities. Some states and localities may experience substantial deficits and may find it difficult for
political or economic reasons to increase taxes. Efforts are periodically undertaken that may result in a restructuring of the federal
income tax system. These developments could reduce the value of all municipal securities, or the securities of particular issuers.
Unlike other types of investments,
municipal obligations have traditionally not been subject to the registration requirements of the federal securities laws, although there
have been proposals to provide for such registration. This lack of SEC regulation has adversely affected the quantity and quality of information
available to the bond markets about issuers and their financial condition. The SEC has responded to the need for such information with
Rule 15c2-12 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Rule”). The Rule requires that underwriters must
reasonably determine that an issuer of municipal securities undertakes in a written agreement for the benefit of the holders of such securities
to file with a nationally recognized municipal securities information repository certain information regarding the financial condition
of the issuer and material events relating to such securities. The SEC’s intent in adopting the Rule was to provide holders and
potential holders of municipal securities with more adequate financial information concerning issuers of municipal securities. The Rule
provides exemptions for issuances with a principal amount of less than $1,000,000 and certain privately placed issuances.
The federal bankruptcy statutes
provide that, in certain circumstances, political subdivisions and authorities of states may initiate bankruptcy proceedings without prior
notice to or consent of their creditors. These proceedings could result in material and adverse changes in the rights of holders of their
obligations.
From time to time, federal
legislation has affected the availability of municipal obligations for investment by a Fund. There can be no assurance that legislation
adversely affecting the tax-exempt status of the interest on municipal obligations will not be enacted in the future. If that occurred,
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate
Bond Fund would reevaluate their investment objectives, policies and limitations.
The Service occasionally challenges
the tax-exempt status of the interest on particular municipal securities. If the Service determined that interest earned on a municipal
security a Fund held was taxable and the issuer thereof failed to overcome that determination, that interest would be taxable to the Fund,
possibly retroactive to the time the Fund purchased the security.
Listed below are different
types of municipal obligations:
General Obligation Bonds.
A general obligation bond is backed by the governmental issuer’s pledge of its full faith and credit and power to raise taxes for
payment of principal and interest under the bond. The taxes or special assessments that can be levied for the payment of debt service
may be limited or unlimited as to rate or amount. Many jurisdictions face political and economic constraints on their ability to raise
taxes. These limitations and constraints may adversely affect the ability of the governmental issuer to meet its obligations under the
bonds in a timely manner.
Revenue Bonds. Revenue
bonds are backed by the income from a specific project, facility or tax. Revenue bonds are issued to finance a wide variety of public
projects, including (1) housing, (2) electric, gas, water, and sewer systems, (3) highways, bridges, and tunnels, (4) port
and airport facilities, (5) colleges and universities, and (6) hospitals. In some cases, repayment of these bonds depends upon
annual legislative appropriations; in other cases, if the issuer is unable to meet its legal obligation to repay the bond, repayment becomes
an unenforceable “moral obligation” of a related governmental unit. Revenue bonds issued by housing finance authorities are
backed by a wider range of security, including partially or fully insured mortgages, rent subsidized and/or collateralized mortgages,
and net revenues from housing projects.
Most PABs are revenue bonds,
in that principal and interest are payable only from the net revenues of the facility financed by the bonds. These bonds generally do
not constitute a pledge of the general credit of the public issuer or private operator or user of the facility. In some cases, however,
payment may be secured by a pledge of real and personal property constituting the facility.
Resource Recovery Bonds.
Resource recovery bonds are a type of revenue bond issued to build facilities such as solid waste incinerators or waste-to-energy plants.
Typically, a private corporation will be involved on a temporary basis during the construction of the facility, and the revenue stream
will be secured by fees or rents paid by municipalities for use of the facilities. The credit and quality of resource recovery bonds may
be affected by the viability of the project itself, tax incentives for the project, and changing environmental regulations or interpretations
thereof.
Municipal Lease Obligations.
These obligations, which may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase, or a conditional sale contract, are issued by a state
or local government or authority to acquire land and a wide variety of equipment and facilities. A Fund will usually invest in municipal
lease obligations through certificates of participation (“COPs”), which give the Fund a specified, undivided interest in the
obligation. For example, a COP may be created when long-term revenue bonds are issued by a governmental corporation to pay for the acquisition
of property. The payments made by the municipality under the lease are used to repay interest and principal on the bonds. Once these lease
payments are completed, the municipality gains ownership of the property. These obligations are distinguished from general obligation
or revenue bonds in that they typically are not backed fully by the municipality’s credit, and their interest may become taxable
if the lease is assigned. The lease subject to the transaction usually contains a “non-appropriation” clause. A non-appropriation
clause states that, while the municipality will use its best efforts to make lease payments, the municipality may terminate the lease
without penalty if its appropriating body does not allocate the necessary funds. Such termination would result in a significant loss to
a Fund.
Municipal Notes.
Municipal notes include the following:
1. Project
notes are issued by local issuing agencies created under the laws of a state, territory, or possession of the United States to finance
low-income housing, urban redevelopment, and similar projects. These notes are backed by an agreement between the local issuing agency
and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). Although the notes are primarily obligations of the local issuing
agency, the HUD agreement provides the full faith and credit of the United States as additional security.
2. Tax
anticipation notes are issued to finance working capital needs of municipalities. Generally, they are issued in anticipation of future
seasonal tax revenues, such as property, income and sales taxes, and are payable from these future revenues.
3. Revenue
anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other types of revenue, including revenue made available under certain
state aid funding programs. Such appropriation of revenue is generally accounted for in the state budgetary process.
4. Bond
anticipation notes are issued to provide interim financing until long-term bond financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term
bonds provide the funds for the repayment of the notes.
5. Construction
loan notes are sold to provide construction financing. After completion of construction, many projects receive permanent financing
from Fannie Mae (also known as the Federal National Mortgage Association) or Ginnie Mae (also known as the Government National Mortgage
Association).
6. Tax-exempt
commercial paper is a short-term obligation issued by a state or local government or an agency thereof to finance seasonal working
capital needs or as short-term financing in anticipation of longer-term financing.
7. Pre-refunded
and “escrowed” municipal bonds are bonds with respect to which the issuer has deposited, in an escrow account, an amount
of securities and cash, if any, that will be sufficient to pay the periodic interest on and principal amount of the bonds, either at their
stated maturity date or on the date the issuer may call the bonds for payment. This arrangement gives the investment a quality equal to
the securities in the account, usually U.S. Government Securities (defined below). A Fund can also purchase bonds issued to refund earlier
issues. The proceeds of these refunding bonds are often used for escrow to support refunding.
Yield and Price Characteristics
of Municipal Obligations. Municipal obligations generally have the same yield and price characteristics as other debt securities.
Yields depend on a variety of factors, including general conditions in the money and bond markets and, in the case of any particular securities
issue, its amount, maturity, duration, and rating. Market prices of fixed income securities usually vary upward or downward in inverse
relationship to market interest rates.
Municipal obligations with
longer maturities or durations tend to produce higher yields. They are generally subject to potentially greater price fluctuations, and
thus greater appreciation or depreciation in value, than obligations with shorter maturities or durations and lower yields. An increase
in interest rates generally will reduce the value of a Fund’s investments, whereas a decline in interest rates generally will increase
that value. The ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objective also is dependent on the continuing ability of the issuers of the
municipal obligations in which the Fund invests (or, in the case of PABs, the revenues generated by the facility financed by the bonds
or, in certain other instances, the provider of the credit facility backing the bonds) to pay interest and principal when due.
Participation Interests
of Municipal Obligations. A Fund may purchase from banks participation interests in all or part of specific holdings of short-term
municipal obligations. Each participation interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a selling bank determined by
the Manager to be creditworthy. A Fund has the right to sell the participation interest back to the bank, usually after seven days’
notice, for the full principal amount of its participation, plus accrued interest, but only (1) to provide portfolio liquidity, (2) to
maintain portfolio quality, or (3) to avoid losses when the underlying municipal obligations are in default. Although no Fund currently
intends to acquire participation interests, each Fund reserves the right to do so in the future.
Policies and Limitations.
Each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal
Intermediate Bond Fund will not purchase a participation interest unless there is an opinion of counsel or a ruling of the Service
that the interest the Fund will earn on the municipal obligations in which it holds the participation interest will be excludable from
gross income for federal income tax purposes.
Purchases with a Standby
Commitment to Repurchase. When a Fund purchases municipal obligations, it also may acquire a standby commitment obligating the seller
to repurchase the obligations at an agreed upon price on a specified date or within a specified period. A standby commitment is the equivalent
of a nontransferable “put” option held by a Fund that terminates if the Fund sells the obligations to a third party.
A Fund may enter into standby
commitments only with banks and (if permitted under the 1940 Act) securities dealers determined to be creditworthy. A Fund’s ability
to exercise a standby commitment depends on the ability of the bank or securities dealer to pay for the obligations on exercise of the
commitment. If a bank or securities dealer defaults on its commitment to repurchase such obligations, a Fund may be unable to recover
all or even part of any loss it may sustain from having to sell the obligations elsewhere.
Although no Fund currently
intends to invest in standby commitments, each Fund reserves the right to do so in the future. By enabling a Fund to dispose of municipal
obligations at a predetermined price prior to maturity, this investment technique allows a Fund to be fully invested while preserving
the flexibility to make commitments for when-issued securities, take advantage of other buying opportunities, and meet redemptions.
Standby commitments are valued
at zero in determining NAV. The maturity or duration of municipal obligations purchased by a Fund is not shortened by a standby commitment.
Therefore, standby commitments do not affect the dollar-weighted average maturity or duration of a Fund’s investment portfolio.
Policies and Limitations.
Each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal
Intermediate Bond Fund will not invest in a standby commitment unless there is an opinion of counsel or a ruling of the Service that
the interest the Fund will earn on the municipal obligations subject to the standby commitment will be excludable from gross income for
federal income tax purposes.
No Fund will acquire standby
commitments with a view to exercising them when the exercise price exceeds the current value of the underlying obligations; a Fund will
do so only to facilitate portfolio liquidity.
Residual Interest Bonds.
A Fund may purchase one component of a municipal security that is structured in two parts: A variable rate security and a residual interest
bond. The interest rate for the variable rate security is determined by an index or an auction process held approximately every 35 days,
while the residual interest bond holder receives the balance of the income less an auction fee. These instruments are also known as inverse
floaters because the income received on the residual interest bond is inversely related to the market rates. The market prices of residual
interest bonds are highly sensitive to changes in market rates and may decrease significantly when market rates increase.
Tender Option Bonds.
Tender option bonds are fixed income instruments created when the Fund transfers municipal bonds to a special purpose vehicle, which is
generally organized as a trust, created by a sponsor (usually a bank, broker-dealer, or other financial institution). In exchange for
depositing municipal bonds into the trust, a Fund typically receives cash and a residual interest security (often referred to as an “inverse
floater,” as described below) representing the difference between the cash received and the value of the deposited (or “underlying”)
municipal bonds. The trust issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests.
The first class of interests
are floating rate certificates (commonly called “floaters”), which generally have a fixed principal amount representing a
senior interest in the underlying municipal bonds. Floaters typically pay interest at a short-term floating rate that is usually reset
weekly based on a specified index. Holders of the floaters typically receive interest on a tax-exempt basis. The floaters are designed
to be eligible for investment by tax-exempt money market funds and other short-term institutional investors and generally have both short-term
ratings (based upon the rating of the liquidity provider, generally the same entity sponsor of the trust or an affiliate of the sponsor)
and long-term ratings (based upon the ratings of the municipal bonds deposited into the trust). The floaters typically grant the holders
the option, at periodic intervals prior to maturity or upon the occurrence of specified events or conditions, to tender their securities
to the issuer or its agent and receive the face value (or “par” value) thereof plus accrued interest. A remarketing agent
for the trust is required to attempt to resell to new investors any floaters that are tendered for repurchase and if the remarketing is
unsuccessful, the trust’s liquidity provider must contribute cash to ensure that the tendering holders receive the purchase price
of their securities on the repurchase date.
The second class of interests
are residual income certificates (commonly called inverse floaters), which represent a residual, subordinate interest in the underlying
municipal bonds. Inverse floaters pay interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying municipal
bonds and the interest rate paid on the floating rate certificates. As such, a Fund continues to earn all of the interest from the underlying
municipal bond, less the amount of interest paid on the floaters and the expenses of the special purpose vehicle (e.g., payments to the
sponsor and the liquidity provider and administrative and organizational costs). Holders of the inverse floaters typically receive interest
on a tax-exempt basis.
A Fund may invest in inverse
floaters to seek greater income and total return. The proceeds (generally cash) of the sale of the underlying municipal bond by a Fund
remaining after it buys the inverse floater can be used for any purpose. A Fund typically uses the cash received from the transaction
for investment purposes, which involves leverage risk. The value of, and income earned on, an inverse floater that has a higher degree
of leverage (meaning it has a larger outstanding principal amount of related floaters relative to the par value of the underlying municipal
bond) will fluctuate more significantly in response to changes in interest rates and to changes in the market value of the related underlying
municipal bond, than the value of, and income earned on, an inverse floater that has a lower degree of leverage.
A Fund’s use of tender
option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. The liquidity of a tender option bond is a function of the
credit quality of both the bond issuer and the financial institution providing liquidity. As such, investments in tender option bonds
expose a Fund to counterparty risk. Because the principal amount of the floaters is fixed, any change in the market value of the underlying
municipal bond will impact the value of the inverse floater. Additionally, during periods of rising rates, the market values of inverse
floaters will tend to decline more quickly than the market values of fixed rate securities. Further, as short-term interest rates rise,
inverse floaters produce less current income (and, in extreme cases, may produce no current income). In certain instances, a Fund may
enter into an agreement with the liquidity provider to reimburse the provider if it must contribute cash to the trust upon the occurrence
of certain events, including mandatory tender events, which could reduce the Fund’s returns.
Under certain circumstances,
the trust may be terminated or “collapsed” either by a Fund or upon the occurrence of certain adverse events, such as a downgrade
in the credit quality of the underlying bond, the bankruptcy of a liquidity provider, or the inability of the remarketing agent to resell
the floaters. Following such an event, the underlying municipal bond is generally sold for current market value and the proceeds are distributed,
first to the holders of the floaters and then to the holder of the inverse floater (the Fund). The sale of the underlying municipal bond
following such an event could be at an adverse price, which could result in a loss by the Fund of a substantial portion, or even all,
of its investment in the related inverse floater.
A Fund may purchase an inverse
floater created as part of a tender option bond transaction not initiated by the Fund when a third party, such as a municipal issuer or
financial institution, transfers underlying municipal bonds to a special purpose vehicle.
There is a risk that the
Service might take the position that a Fund will not be considered the owner of tender option bonds in which it invests and thus will
not be entitled to treat the interest thereon as exempt from federal income tax. Additionally, the federal income tax treatment of certain
other aspects of a Fund’s investments in those bonds, including the proper treatment of the associated fees, is unclear. A Fund
intends to manage its portfolio to eliminate or minimize any adverse impact from the federal income tax rules applicable to these investments.
Natural Disasters and
Adverse Weather Conditions. Certain areas of the world historically have been prone to major natural disasters, such as hurricanes,
earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, tidal waves, tsunamis, erupting volcanoes, wildfires or droughts, and have been economically sensitive
to environmental events. Such disasters, and the resulting damage, could have a severe and negative impact on a Fund’s investment
portfolio and, in the longer term, could impair the ability of issuers in which a Fund invests to conduct their businesses in the manner
normally conducted. Adverse weather conditions may also have a particularly significant negative effect on issuers in the agricultural
sector and on insurance companies that insure against the impact of natural disasters.
Operational and Cybersecurity
Risk. With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary
business functions, the Funds and their service providers, and your ability to transact with the Funds, may be negatively impacted due
to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity
incidents. A cybersecurity incident may refer to intentional or unintentional events that allow an unauthorized party to gain access to
Fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a Fund or Fund service providers (including, but not limited to, the
Funds’ manager, distributor, fund accountants, custodian, transfer agent, sub-advisers (if applicable), and financial intermediaries),
as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. A cybersecurity
incident could, among other things, result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, customers or employees being unable to access
electronic systems (“denial of services”), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to
a computer or network system, or remediation costs associated with system repairs. Any of these results could have a substantial
adverse impact on the Funds and their shareholders. For example, if a cybersecurity incident results in a denial of service, Fund shareholders
could lose access to their electronic accounts and be unable to buy or sell Fund shares for an unknown period of time, and employees could
be unable to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Funds, such as trading, NAV calculation, shareholder accounting
or fulfillment of Fund share purchases and redemptions.
A Fund’s service providers
may also be negatively impacted due to operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors and human errors, inadequate or
failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel, and errors caused by third-party service
providers or trading counterparties. In particular, these errors or failures as well as other technological issues may adversely affect
the Funds’ ability to calculate their NAVs in a timely manner, including over a potentially extended period.
The occurrence of an operational
or cybersecurity incident could result in regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective
measures, or financial loss of a significant magnitude and could result in allegations that the Fund or Fund service provider violated
privacy and other laws. Similar adverse consequences could result from incidents affecting issuers of securities in which a Fund invests,
counterparties with which a Fund engages in transactions, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial
market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies, and other financial institutions and other parties. Although the Funds
and their Manager endeavor to determine that service providers have established risk management systems that seek to reduce these operational
and cybersecurity risks, and business continuity plans in the event there is an incident, there are inherent limitations in these systems
and plans, including the possibility that certain risks may not have been identified, in large part because different or unknown threats
may emerge in the future. Furthermore, the Funds do not control the operational and cybersecurity systems and plans of the issuers of
securities in which the Funds invest or the Funds’ third party service providers or trading counterparties or any other service
providers whose operations may affect a Fund or its shareholders.
Preferred Stock.
Unlike interest payments on debt securities, dividends on preferred stock are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s
board of directors. Preferred shareholders may have certain rights if dividends are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against
the issuer. Shareholders may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. The market prices of preferred stocks are generally more
sensitive to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities.
Private Companies and
Pre-IPO Investments. Investments in private companies, including companies that have not yet issued securities publicly in an
IPO (“Pre-IPO shares”) involve greater risks than investments in securities of companies that have traded publicly on an exchange
for extended periods of time. Investments in these companies are generally less liquid than investments in securities issued by public
companies and may be difficult for a Fund to value. Compared to public companies, private companies may have a more limited management
group and limited operating histories with narrower, less established product lines and smaller market shares, which may cause them to
be more vulnerable to competitors’ actions, market conditions and consumer sentiment with respect to their products or services,
as well as general economic downturns. In addition, private companies may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their
obligations. This could lead to bankruptcy or liquidation of such private company or the dilution or subordination of a Fund’s investment
in such private company. Additionally, there is significantly less information available about private companies’ business models,
quality of management, earnings growth potential and other criteria used to evaluate their investment prospects and the little public
information available about such companies may not be reliable. Because financial reporting obligations for private companies are not
as rigorous as public companies, it may be difficult to fully assess the rights and values of certain securities issued by private companies.
A Fund may only have limited access to a private company’s actual financial results and there is no assurance that the information
obtained by the Fund is reliable. Although there is a potential for pre-IPO shares to increase in value if the company does issue shares
in an IPO, IPOs are risky and volatile and may cause the value of a Fund’s investment to decrease significantly. Moreover, because
securities issued by private companies are generally not freely or publicly tradable, a Fund may not have the opportunity to purchase
or the ability to sell these shares in the amounts or at the prices the Fund desires. The private companies a Fund may invest in may not
ever issue shares in an IPO and a liquid market for their pre-IPO shares may never develop, which may negatively affect the price at which
the Fund can sell these shares and make it more difficult to sell these shares, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s liquidity.
Furthermore, these investments may be subject to additional contractual restrictions on resale that would prevent the Fund from selling
the company’s securities for a period of time following any IPO. A Fund’s investment in a private company’s securities
will involve investing in restricted securities. See “Restricted Securities and Rule 144A Securities” for risks related to
restricted securities. If a Fund invests in private companies or issuers, there is a possibility that NBIA may obtain access to material
non-public information about an issuer of private placement securities, which may limit NBIA’s ability to sell such securities,
could negatively impact NBIA’s ability to manage the Fund since NBIA may be required to sell other securities to meet redemptions,
or could adversely impact a Fund’s performance.
Real Estate-Related
Instruments. A Fund will not invest directly in real estate, but a Fund may invest in securities issued by real estate companies.
Investments in the securities of companies in the real estate industry subject a Fund to the risks associated with the direct ownership
of real estate. These risks include declines in the value of real estate, risks associated with general and local economic conditions,
possible lack of availability of mortgage funds, overbuilding, extended vacancies of properties, increased competition, increase in property
taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, losses due to costs resulting from the clean-up of environmental problems, liability
to third parties for damages resulting from environmental problems, casualty or condemnation losses, limitation on rents, changes in neighborhood
values and the appeal of properties to tenants, and changes in interest rates. In addition, certain real estate valuations, including
residential real estate values, are influenced by market sentiments, which can change rapidly and could result in a sharp downward adjustment
from current valuation levels.
Real estate-related instruments
include securities of real estate investment trusts (also known as “REITs”), commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities
and real estate financings. Such instruments are sensitive to factors such as real estate values and property taxes, interest rates, cash
flow of underlying real estate assets, overbuilding, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Real estate-related
instruments may also be affected by tax and regulatory requirements, such as those relating to the environment.
REITs are sometimes informally
characterized as equity REITs and mortgage REITs. An equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land
and buildings and derives its income primarily from rental income. An equity REIT may also realize capital gains (or losses) by selling
real estate properties in its portfolio that have appreciated (or depreciated) in value. A mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages
on real estate, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans, and derives its income primarily from interest payments
on the credit it has extended.
REITs (especially mortgage
REITs) are subject to interest rate risk. Rising interest rates may cause REIT investors to demand a higher annual yield, which may, in
turn, cause a decline in the market price of the equity securities issued by a REIT. Rising interest rates also generally increase the
costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of a Fund’s REIT investments to decline. During periods when interest
rates are declining, mortgages are often refinanced. Refinancing may reduce the yield on investments in mortgage REITs. In addition, because
mortgage REITs depend on payment under their mortgage loans and leases to generate cash to make distributions to their shareholders, investments
in such REITs may be adversely affected by defaults on such mortgage loans or leases.
REITs are dependent upon management
skill, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, and self-liquidation. Domestic REITs
are also subject to the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free “pass-through” of distributed net income and net realized
gains under the Code and failing to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act.
REITs are subject to management
fees and other expenses. Therefore, investments in REITs will cause a Fund to bear its proportionate share of the costs of the REITs’
operations. At the same time, a Fund will continue to pay its own management fees and expenses with respect to all of its assets, including
any portion invested in REITs.
Recent Market Conditions. Both
U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns
may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the
possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness
of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen
at this time.
Although interest rates
were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, in 2022, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks raised interest
rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower
interest rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately predict the
pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes in interest rates, or when such changes
might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign
central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad.
Unexpected changes in interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market.
Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact
market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility,
reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence in the markets. Also, regulators have expressed concern that changes in
interest rates may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility.
Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility, disrupting
investment programs and potentially causing losses.
Some countries, including
the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies, which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic
growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks
associated with the trade agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign nations, political or economic
dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic changes in commodity and currency prices could affect
the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, if the U.S. dollar continues
to be strong, it may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.
Regulators in the U.S.
adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which implicate a Fund. The full effect of various
newly adopted regulations is not currently known. Due to the scope of regulations being adopted, certain of these changes to regulation
could limit a Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to
operate, or adversely impact its performance. Additionally, it is possible that recently adopted regulations could be further revised
or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their impact to a Fund.
Advancements in technology,
including advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity.
As artificial intelligence is used more widely, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries may be negatively impacted
in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict
between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations,
including the United States. The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events
present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of a Fund and its investments or operations
could be negatively impacted.
Certain illnesses spread rapidly
and have the potential to significantly and adversely affect the global economy. The impact of epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise
in the future could negatively affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets,
including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time and could last for an extended period of time.
High public debt in the U.S.
and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress
will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that
cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and
consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
China’s economy,
which had been sustained through debt-financed spending on housing and infrastructure, appears to be experiencing a significant slowdown
and growing at a lower rate than prior years. While the Chinese government appears to be taking measures to address these issues, due
to the size of China’s economy, the resolution of these issues could impact a number of other countries.
Global climate change
can have potential effects on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the
impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to
climate change, including any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries
and regions.
A rise in sea levels,
a change in weather patterns, including an increase in powerful storms and large wildfires, and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding
could cause properties to lose value or become unmarketable altogether. Unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties
in affected zones may not ever recover their value. Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change
could adversely affect the value of certain land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating
climate change.
Losses related to climate
change could adversely affect corporate issuers and mortgage lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities
that depend on tax or other revenues and tourist dollars generated by affected properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate,
municipal or mortgage-backed securities. Since property and security values are driven largely by buyers’ perceptions, it is difficult
to know the time period over which these market effects might unfold.
Repurchase Agreements.
In a repurchase agreement, a Fund purchases securities from a bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System, from a foreign bank
or from a U.S. branch or agency of a foreign bank, or from a securities dealer that agrees to repurchase the securities from the Fund
at a higher price on a designated future date. Repurchase agreements generally are for a short period of time, usually less than a week.
Costs, delays, or losses could result if the selling party to a repurchase agreement becomes bankrupt or otherwise defaults. The Manager
monitors the creditworthiness of sellers. If a Fund enters into a repurchase agreement subject to foreign law and the counter-party defaults,
that Fund may not enjoy protections comparable to those provided to certain repurchase agreements under U.S. bankruptcy law and may suffer
delays and losses in disposing of the collateral as a result.
Policies and Limitations.
Repurchase agreements with a maturity or demand of more than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities. No Fund may enter into
a repurchase agreement with a maturity or demand of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 15% of the value of its net assets
would then be invested in such repurchase agreements and other illiquid securities. A Fund may enter into a repurchase agreement only
if (1) the underlying securities (excluding maturity and duration limitations, if any) are of a type that the Fund’s investment
policies and limitations would allow it to purchase directly, (2) the market value of the underlying securities, including accrued
interest, at all times equals or exceeds the repurchase price, and (3) payment for the underlying securities is made only upon satisfactory
evidence that the securities are being held for the Fund’s account by its custodian or a bank acting as the Fund’s agent.
Restricted Securities
and Rule 144A Securities. A Fund may invest in “restricted securities,” which generally are securities that may be
resold to the public only pursuant to an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act or an exemption from registration. Regulation
S under the 1933 Act is an exemption from registration that permits, under certain circumstances, the resale of restricted securities
in offshore transactions, subject to certain conditions, and Rule 144A under the 1933 Act is an exemption that permits the resale of certain
restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers.
Since its adoption by
the SEC in 1990, Rule 144A has facilitated trading of restricted securities among qualified institutional investors. To the extent restricted
securities held by a Fund qualify under Rule 144A and an institutional market develops for those securities, the Fund expects that it
will be able to dispose of the securities without registering the resale of such securities under the 1933 Act. However, to the extent
that a robust market for such 144A securities does not develop, or a market develops but experiences periods of illiquidity, investments
in Rule 144A securities could increase the level of a Fund’s illiquidity.
Where an exemption from
registration under the 1933 Act is unavailable, or where an institutional market is limited, a Fund may, in certain circumstances, be
permitted to require the issuer of restricted securities held by the Fund to file a registration statement to register the resale of such
securities under the 1933 Act. In such case, the Fund will typically be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses, and
a considerable period may elapse between the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to resell a security under an effective
registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, or the value of the security were to decline,
the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities for which no market exists
are priced by a method that the Fund Trustees believe accurately reflects fair value.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements.
In a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund sells portfolio securities to another party and agrees to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon
price and date, which reflects an interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party will fail to return
the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to a Fund. A Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover
the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Fund is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger
adverse tax consequences to a Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold will
decline below the price at which a Fund is obligated to repurchase them. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing
by a Fund. When a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred
to another party or the securities in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During
the term of the agreement, a Fund may also be obligated to pledge additional cash and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair
value of the transferred security. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements. For the
Funds’ policies and limitations on borrowing, see “Investment Policies and Limitations -- Borrowing” above.
Policies and Limitations.
Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, among other things, permits a fund to treat reverse repurchase transactions (and other similar financing
transactions) either as borrowings (subject to the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act) or as “derivatives transactions”
subject to the requirements of Rule 18f-4. Accordingly, any reverse repurchase agreements treated as a borrowing will be considered borrowings
for purposes of a Fund’s investment policies and limitations concerning borrowings. Any reverse repurchase agreements treated as
a derivatives transaction as defined in Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act will be subject to the requirements of that rule.
Risks of Investments
in the PRC through Bond Connect Programs. There are significant risks inherent in investing through the PRC’s Bond Connect
(“Bond Connect”), which, from a non-PRC perspective, allows eligible foreign investors to purchase certain PRC onshore financial
instruments available from the PRC’s interbank bond market. The PRC investment and banking systems are materially different in nature
from many developed markets, which exposes investors to risks that are different from those in the U.S. Bond Connect uses the trading
infrastructure of both Hong Kong and the PRC. If either one or both markets involved are closed on a day the Fund is open, the Fund may
not be able to add to or exit a position on such a day, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Securities offered
through Bond Connect may lose their eligibility for trading through Bond Connect at any time, and if such an event occurs, the Fund could
sell, but could no longer purchase, such securities through Bond Connect. Securities purchased through Bond Connect generally may not
be sold, purchased, or otherwise transferred other than through Bond Connect in accordance with applicable rules.
The Hong Kong investor
compensation funds, which are set up to protect against losses as a result of defaults of licensed intermediaries or authorized financial
institutions in relation to trades of exchange-traded products in Hong Kong, do not apply to trades made through the Bond Connect which
currently relates only to eligible PRC financial instruments including PRC interbank bonds. The Fund may not be able to participate in
corporate actions for securities purchased through Bond Connect as a result of time zone differences and operational constraints, which
could cause delays in the Fund’s receipt of distribution payments. Bond Connect trades are settled in onshore Renminbi (“CNY”)
although the Chinese regulator has provided for settlement through CNY conversion and hedging through recognized Hong Kong banks (“FX
Settlement Banks”) specifically for that Bond Connect activity. Since CNY is the only accepted form of settlement, the Fund must
therefore have timely access to a supply of offshore Renminbi in Hong Kong, which cannot be guaranteed, or, alternatively, engage a FX
Settlement Bank for settlement in other currencies followed by exchange into CNY or CNY conversion and hedging which may require additional
time. The unavailability of a ready supply of accepted settlement currencies could subject the Fund to losses. Further, the foreign exchange
conversion and hedging transactions must comply with a “genuine and reasonable” principle and solely for the purpose of the
Bond Connect investment after which a similar amount is required to be converted back into foreign currency if it is not reinvested through
the Bond Connect – this may result in additional risks along with additional costs.
Bond Connect has not been
in operation for a sufficient amount of time to accurately determine the actual effect on the market for trading fixed-income investments
available from PRC’s interbank bond market with the introduction of large numbers of foreign investors is unknown. In the event
of systems malfunctions, trading via Bond Connect could be disrupted. In particular, since aspects of the settlement process for one of
the principal Chinese bond clearinghouses, China Central Depository & Clearing Co., Ltd. (“CDCC”), are not automated,
there may be an increased risk of settlement delays, errors and counterparty default.
Investments made through
Bond Connect are subject to order, clearance and settlement procedures that are new and untested. Further, securities purchased via Bond
Connect will be held in the name of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Central Moneymarkets Unit on behalf of ultimate investors
via a book entry omnibus account in the books of a PRC-based custodian (typically, either the CDCC or the Shanghai Clearing House (“SCH”)).
The Fund’s interest in securities purchased through Bond Connect will not be reflected directly in a book entry with CDCC or SCH
and will instead only be reflected on the books of its Hong Kong sub-custodian, and the Fund will be a beneficial owner, a concept that
is relatively undeveloped in Chinese law. This recordkeeping system subjects the Fund to various additional risks, including the risk
that the Fund may have a limited ability to enforce its rights as a bondholder as well as the risks of settlement delays and counterparty
default related to the sub-custodian.
Further regulations, restrictions,
interpretation or guidance, such as limitations on redemptions and availability of securities, may adversely impact Bond Connect. There
can be no assurance that Bond Connect will not be restricted, suspended, or abolished. There can be no assurance that further regulations
will not affect the availability of securities in the program, the frequency of redemptions or other limitations. In addition, the application
and interpretation of the laws and regulations of Hong Kong and the PRC, and the rules, policies or guidelines published or applied by
relevant regulators and exchanges with respect to the Bond Connect program, including tax rules governing investments via Bond Connect,
are uncertain or untested, and they may have a detrimental effect on the Fund’s investments and returns. With respect to tax treatment,
investments via Bond Connect could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund, and there is also some uncertainty around the tax
treatment of payments such as interest payable to U.S. investors. Although the Chinese government announced that interest income received
by eligible foreign investors in the Chinese financial instruments held by them through Bond Connect would be exempt from enterprise
income tax and value-added tax until December 31, 2025, it is currently unknown if the Chinese government will extend the exemption beyond
December 31, 2025. Although it is currently anticipated that such an extension is likely to occur, if an extension did not occur, it
could result in tax liabilities for the Fund.
Risks of Reliance on
Computer Programs or Codes. Many processes used in Fund management, including security selection, rely, in whole or in part, on
the use of computer programs or codes, some of which are created or maintained by the Manager or its affiliates and some of which are
created or maintained by third parties. Errors in these programs or codes may go undetected, possibly for quite some time, which could
adversely affect a Fund’s operations or performance. Computer programs or codes are susceptible to human error when they are first
created and as they are developed and maintained.
While efforts are made to
guard against problems associated with computer programs or codes, there can be no assurance that such efforts will always be successful.
The Funds have limited insight into the computer programs and processes of some service providers and may have to rely on contractual
assurances or business relationships to protect against some errors in the service providers’ systems.
Sector Risk.
From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, a Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market.
To the extent a Fund invests more heavily in one sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive
to developments that significantly affect those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of
the market may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all
react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events. A Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors, industries,
or sub-sectors do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or industries may adversely affect
performance.
Communication Services
Sector. The communication services sector, particularly telephone operating companies, are subject to both federal and state government
regulations. Many telecommunications companies intensely compete for market share and can be impacted by technology changes within the
sector such as the shift from wired to wireless communications. In September 2018, the communication services sector was redefined to
also include media, entertainment and select internet-related companies. Media and entertainment companies can be subject to the risk
that their content may not be purchased or subscribed to. Internet-related companies may be subject to greater regulatory oversight given
increased cyberattack risk and privacy concerns. Additionally, internet-related companies may not achieve investor expectations for higher
growth levels, which can result in stock price declines.
Consumer Discretionary
Sector. The consumer discretionary sector can be significantly affected by the performance of the overall economy, interest rates,
competition, and consumer confidence. Success can depend heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Changes in demographics
and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer discretionary products.
Consumer Staples Sector.
The consumer staples sector can be significantly affected by demographic and product trends, competitive pricing, food fads, marketing
campaigns, and environmental factors, as well as the performance of the overall economy, interest rates, consumer confidence, and the
cost of commodities. Regulations and policies of various domestic and foreign governments affect agricultural products as well as other
consumer staples.
Energy Sector.
The energy sector can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels caused by geopolitical
events, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, weather or meteorological events, and tax and other government regulations.
In addition, companies in the energy sector are at risk of civil liability from accidents resulting in pollution or other environmental
damage claims. In addition, since the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, the U.S. government has issued public
warnings indicating that energy assets, specifically those related to pipeline infrastructure and production, transmission, and distribution
facilities, might be future targets of terrorist activity. Further, because a significant portion of revenues of companies in this sector
are derived from a relatively small number of customers that are largely composed of governmental entities and utilities, governmental
budget constraints may have a significant impact on the stock prices of companies in this sector.
Financials Sector.
The financials sector is subject to extensive government regulation, which can limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial
commitments that companies in this sector can make, and the interest rates and fees that these companies can charge. Profitability can
be largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital and the rate of corporate and consumer debt defaults, and can fluctuate significantly
when interest rates change. Financial difficulties of borrowers can negatively affect the financials sector. Insurance companies can be
subject to severe price competition. The financials sector can be subject to relatively rapid change as distinctions between financial
service segments become increasingly blurred.
Health Care Sector.
The health care sector is subject to government regulation and reimbursement rates, as well as government approval of products and services,
which could have a significant effect on price and availability. Furthermore, the types of products or services produced or provided by
health care companies quickly can become obsolete. In addition, pharmaceutical companies and other companies in the health care sector
can be significantly affected by patent expirations.
Industrials Sector.
The industrials sector can be significantly affected by general economic trends, including employment, economic growth, and interest rates,
changes in consumer sentiment and spending, commodity prices, legislation, government regulation and spending, import controls, and worldwide
competition. Companies in this sector also can be adversely affected by liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, and
mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control.
Information Technology
Sector. The information technology sector can be significantly affected by obsolescence of existing technology, short product
cycles, falling prices and profits, competition from new market entrants, and general economic conditions. The issuers of technology securities
also may be smaller or newer companies, which may lack depth of management, be unable to generate funds necessary for growth or potential
development, or be developing or marketing new products or services for which markets are not yet established and may never become established.
Materials Sector.
The materials sector can be significantly affected by the level and volatility of commodity prices, the exchange value of the dollar,
import and export controls, and worldwide competition. At times, worldwide production of materials has exceeded demand as a result of
over-building or economic downturns, which has led to commodity price declines and unit price reductions. Companies in this sector also
can be adversely affected by liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution
control.
Utilities Sector.
The utilities sector can be significantly affected by government regulation, interest rate changes, financing difficulties, supply and
demand of services or fuel, changes in taxation, natural resource conservation, intense competition, and commodity price fluctuations.
Securities Loans.
A Fund may lend portfolio securities to banks, brokerage firms, and other institutional investors, provided that cash or equivalent collateral,
initially equal to at least 102% (105% in the case of foreign securities) of the market value of the loaned securities, is maintained
by the borrower with the Fund or with the Fund’s lending agent, who holds the collateral on the Fund’s behalf. Thereafter,
cash or equivalent collateral, equal to at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities, is to be continuously maintained by
the borrower with the Fund. A Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn income, or it may receive an agreed upon amount of interest
income from a borrower that has delivered equivalent collateral. During the time securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund
an amount equivalent to any dividends or interest paid on such securities. These loans are subject to termination at the option of the
Fund or the borrower. A Fund may pay reasonable administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion
of the interest earned on the cash or equivalent collateral to the borrower. A Fund does not have the right to vote on securities while
they are on loan. However, it is each Fund’s policy to attempt to terminate loans in time to vote those proxies that the Fund has
determined are material to the interests of the Fund. The Manager believes the risk of loss on these transactions is slight because if
a borrower were to default for any reason, the collateral should satisfy the obligation. However, as with other extensions of secured
credit, loans of portfolio securities involve some risk of loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. A Fund
may loan securities through third parties not affiliated with Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“Neuberger Berman”) that would act
as agent to lend securities to principal borrowers.
Policies and Limitations.
A Fund may lend portfolio securities with a value not exceeding 33-1/3% of its total assets (taken at current value) to banks, brokerage
firms, or other institutional investors. The Funds have authorized State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) to
effect loans of available securities of the Funds with entities on State Street’s approved list of borrowers, which includes State
Street and its affiliates. The Funds may obtain a list of these approved borrowers. Borrowers are required continuously to secure their
obligations to return securities on loan from a Fund by depositing collateral in a form determined to be satisfactory by the Fund Trustees.
The collateral, which must be marked to market daily, must be initially equal to at least 102% (105% in the case of foreign securities)
of the market value of the loaned securities, which will also be marked to market daily. Thereafter, the collateral must be equal to at
least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities. See the section entitled “Cash Management and Temporary Defensive Positions”
for additional information on how a Fund may invest the collateral obtained from securities lending. A Fund does not count uninvested
collateral for purposes of any investment policy or limitation that requires the Fund to invest specific percentages of its assets in
accordance with its principal investment program.
The Funds did not engage
in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024.
Securities of ETFs and
Other Exchange-Traded Investment Vehicles. A Fund may invest in the securities of ETFs and other pooled investment vehicles that
are traded on an exchange and that hold a portfolio of securities or other financial instruments (collectively, “exchange-traded
investment vehicles”). When investing in the securities of exchange-traded investment vehicles, a Fund will be indirectly exposed
to all the risks of the portfolio securities or other financial instruments they hold. The performance of an exchange-traded investment
vehicle will be reduced by transaction and other expenses, including fees paid by the exchange-traded investment vehicle to service providers.
ETFs are investment companies that are registered as open-end management companies or unit investment trusts. The limits that apply to
a Fund’s investment in securities of other investment companies generally apply also to a Fund’s investment in securities
of ETFs. See “Securities of Other Investment Companies.”
Shares of exchange-traded
investment vehicles are listed and traded in the secondary market. Many exchange-traded investment vehicles are passively managed and
seek to provide returns that track the price and yield performance of a particular index or otherwise provide exposure to an asset class
(e.g., currencies or commodities). Although such exchange-traded investment vehicles may invest in other instruments, they largely hold
the securities (e.g., common stocks) of the relevant index or financial instruments that provide exposure to the relevant asset class.
The share price of an exchange-traded investment vehicle may not track its specified market index, if any, and may trade below its NAV.
An active secondary market in the shares of an exchange-traded investment vehicle may not develop or be maintained and may be halted or
interrupted due to actions by its listing exchange, unusual market conditions, or other reasons. There can be no assurance that the shares
of an exchange-traded investment vehicle will continue to be listed on an active exchange.
A Fund also may effect short
sales of exchange-traded investment vehicles and may purchase and sell options on shares of exchange-traded investment vehicles. If a
Fund effects a short sale of an exchange-traded investment vehicle, it may take long positions in individual securities held by the exchange-traded
investment vehicle to limit the potential loss in the event of an increase in the market price of the exchange-traded investment vehicle
sold short.
Securities of Other
Investment Companies. As indicated above, investments by a Fund in shares of other investment companies are subject to the limitations
of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. However, pursuant to Rule 12d1-4, a Fund is permitted to invest in shares of
certain investment companies beyond the limits contained in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder if the Fund complies
with the adopted framework for fund of funds arrangements under the rule. A Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies,
including open-end management companies, closed-end management companies (including business development companies (“BDCs”))
and unit investment trusts, that are consistent with its investment objectives and policies. Such an investment may be the most practical
or only manner in which a Fund can invest in certain asset classes or participate in certain markets, such as foreign markets, because
of the expenses involved or because other vehicles for investing in those markets may not be available at the time the Fund is ready to
make an investment. When investing in the securities of other investment companies, a Fund will be indirectly exposed to all the risks
of such investment companies’ portfolio securities. In addition, as a shareholder in an investment company, a Fund would indirectly
bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s advisory fees and other operating expenses. Fees and expenses incurred indirectly
by a Fund as a result of its investment in shares of one or more other investment companies generally are referred to as “acquired
fund fees and expenses” and may appear as a separate line item in a Fund’s Prospectus fee table. For certain investment companies,
such as BDCs, these expenses may be significant. The 1940 Act imposes certain restraints upon the operations of a BDC. For example, BDCs
are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets primarily in securities of private companies or thinly traded U.S. public companies,
cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. As a result, BDCs
generally invest in less mature private companies, which involve greater risk than well-established, publicly-traded companies. In addition,
the shares of closed-end management companies may involve the payment of substantial premiums above, while the sale of such securities
may be made at substantial discounts from, the value of such issuer’s portfolio securities. Historically, shares of closed-end funds,
including BDCs, have frequently traded at a discount to their NAV, which discounts have, on occasion, been substantial and lasted for
sustained periods of time.
Certain money market funds
that operate in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act float their NAV while others seek to preserve the value of investments at
a stable NAV (typically $1.00 per share). An investment in a money market fund, even an investment in a fund seeking to maintain a stable
NAV per share, is not guaranteed, and it is possible for a Fund to lose money by investing in these and other types of money market funds.
If the liquidity of a money market fund’s portfolio deteriorates below certain levels, the money market fund may suspend redemptions
(i.e., impose a redemption gate) and thereby prevent a Fund from selling its investment in the money market fund or impose a fee of up
to 2% on amounts a Fund redeems from the money market fund (i.e., impose a liquidity fee).
Policies and Limitations.
For cash management purposes, a Fund may invest an unlimited amount of its uninvested cash and cash collateral received in connection
with securities lending in shares of money market funds and unregistered funds that operate in compliance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940
Act, whether or not advised by the Manager or an affiliate, under specified conditions. See “Cash Management and Temporary Defensive
Positions.”
Otherwise, a Fund’s
investment in securities of other investment companies is generally limited to (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment
company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets
in all investment companies in the aggregate. However, a Fund may exceed these limits when investing in shares of an ETF, subject to the
requirements under Rule 12d1-4. In addition, each Fund may exceed these limits when investing in shares of certain other investment companies,
subject to the requirements under Rule 12d1-4. See “Fund of Funds Structure.”
Fund of fund arrangements
must comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act, Rule 12d1-4, or another rule. Pursuant to Rule 12d1-4, a Fund is permitted to exceed
the limits of Section 12 of the 1940 Act if the Fund complies with Rule 12d1-4’s conditions, including (i) limits on control and
voting; (ii) required evaluations and findings; (iii) required fund of funds investment agreements; and (iv) limits on complex structures.
Each Fund is also able to
invest up to 100% of its total assets in a master portfolio with the same investment objectives, policies and limitations as the Fund.
Short Sales.
A Fund may use short sales for hedging and non-hedging purposes. To effect a short sale, a Fund borrows a security from or through a brokerage
firm to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is then obliged to replace the borrowed security by purchasing it at the market price at
the time of replacement. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay the lender any dividends on the borrowed security
and may be required to pay loan fees or interest. Short sales, at least theoretically, present a risk of unlimited loss on an individual
security basis, particularly in cases where the Fund is unable, for whatever reason, to close out its short positions, since the Fund
may be required to buy the security sold short at a time when the security has appreciated in value, and there is potentially no limit
to the amount of such appreciation.
A Fund may realize a gain
if the security declines in price between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. A
Fund will incur a loss if the price of the security increases between those dates. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount
of any loss will be increased, by the amount of any premium or interest a Fund is required to pay in connection with a short sale. A short
position may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the securities sold short and the securities
being hedged.
A Fund may also make short
sales against-the-box, in which it sells short securities only if it owns or has the right to obtain without payment of additional consideration
an equal amount of the same type of securities sold. The effect of short selling is similar to the effect of leverage. Short selling may
amplify changes in a Fund’s NAV. Short selling may also produce higher than normal portfolio turnover, which may result in increased
transaction costs to a Fund.
Policies and Limitations.
A Fund’s ability to engage in short sales may be impaired by any temporary prohibitions on short selling imposed by domestic and
certain foreign government regulators. Any short sale borrowing is defined as a derivatives transaction under Rule 18f-4 under the 1940
Act and will be subject to the requirements of that rule.
Special Purpose Acquisition
Companies. A Fund may invest in stock, warrants or other securities of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”)
or similar special purpose entities that pool funds to seek potential acquisition opportunities. Unless and until an acquisition is completed,
a SPAC or similar entity generally maintains assets (less a portion retained to cover expenses) in a trust account comprised of U.S. Government
securities, money market securities, and cash. If an acquisition is not completed within a pre-established period of time, the invested
funds are returned to the entity’s shareholders. Because SPACs and similar entities are in essence blank-check companies without
an operating history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the
ability of the entity’s management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. SPACs have provided an opportunity for startups
to go public without going through the traditional IPO process. This presents the risk that startups may become publicly traded with potentially
less due diligence than what is typical in a traditional IPO through an underwriter. Since SPAC sponsors often stand to earn equity in
the company if a deal is completed, SPAC sponsors may have a potential conflict of interest in completing a deal that may be unfavorable
for other investors in the SPAC. SPACs may allow shareholders to redeem their pro rata investment immediately after the SPAC announces
a proposed acquisition, sometimes including interest, which may prevent the entity’s management from completing the transaction.
Some SPACs may pursue acquisitions only within certain industries or regions, which may increase the volatility of their prices. In addition,
investments in SPACs may include private placements, including PIPEs, and, accordingly, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to
restrictions on resale.
Stripped Mortgage Backed
Securities (SMBS). SMBS are derivative multi-class mortgage securities. SMBS may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of
the U.S. Government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage
banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing.
SMBS are usually structured
with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common
type of SMBS will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class
will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest
(the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO”
class). The yield to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related
underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on a Fund’s yield to maturity
from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, a Fund may fail
to recoup some or all of its initial investment in these securities even if the security is in one of the highest rating categories.
Although SMBS are purchased
and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers, these securities were only
recently developed. As a result, established trading markets have not yet developed and, accordingly, these securities may be deemed “illiquid”
and subject to a Fund’s limitations on investments in illiquid securities.
Stripped Securities.
Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of a debt security. The risks associated with stripped securities
are similar to those of other debt securities, although stripped securities may be more volatile, and the value of certain types of stripped
securities may move in the same direction as interest rates. U.S. Treasury Department securities that have been stripped by a Federal
Reserve Bank are obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department.
Privately stripped government
securities are created when a dealer deposits a U.S. Treasury Department security or other U.S. Government security with a custodian
for safekeeping. The custodian issues separate receipts for the coupon payments and the principal payment, which the dealer then sells.
These coupons are not obligations of the U.S. Treasury Department.
Structured Notes.
A Fund may invest in structured notes, such as participatory notes, credit linked notes and securities (“CLNs”), exchange-traded
notes (“ETNs”) and other related instruments. These instruments are notes where the principal and/or interest rate or value
of the structured note is determined by reference to the performance of an underlying indicator. Underlying indicators may include a security
or other financial instrument, asset, currency, interest rate, credit rating, commodity, volatility measure or index. Generally, investments
in such notes are used as a substitute for positions in underlying indicators. The interest and/or principal payments that may be made
on a structured note may vary widely, depending on a variety of factors, including the volatility of the underlying indicator. The performance
results of structured notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the underlying indicator that the notes seek to replicate due
to transaction costs and other expenses. Issuers of structured notes can vary and may include corporations, banks, broker-dealers and
limited purpose trusts or other vehicles. Structured notes may be exchange traded or traded OTC and privately
negotiated.
Investments in structured
notes involve many of the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying indicator the notes seek to replicate. Structured
notes may be considered hybrid instruments as they may exhibit features of both fixed income securities and derivatives. The return on
a structured note that is linked to a particular underlying indicator that pays dividends generally is increased to the extent of any
dividends paid in connection with the underlying indicator. However, the holder of a structured note typically does not receive voting
rights and other rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying indicator. In addition, structured notes are subject to counterparty
risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the structured note will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction
with a Fund. Structured notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the issuer of the note and a Fund is relying on
the creditworthiness of such issuer and has no rights under a structured note against the issuer of an underlying indicator. Structured
notes involve transaction costs. Structured notes may be considered illiquid and, therefore, structured notes considered illiquid will
be subject to a Fund’s percentage limitation on investments in illiquid securities.
CLNs are typically issued
by a limited purpose trust or other vehicle (the “CLN trust”) that, in turn, invests in a derivative or basket of derivatives
instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and/or other securities, in order to provide exposure to certain high yield,
sovereign debt, emerging markets, or other fixed income markets. Generally, investments in CLNs represent the right to receive periodic
income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the CLN. However, these payments are
conditioned on the CLN trust’s receipt of payments from, and the CLN trust’s potential obligations, to the counterparties
to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the CLN trust invests. For example, the CLN trust may sell one or more credit
default swaps, under which the CLN trust would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event
of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default were to occur, the stream
of payments may stop and the CLN trust would be obligated to pay the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced
debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and principal that a Fund would receive as an investor in the CLN trust.
A Fund may enter in CLNs to
gain access to sovereign debt and securities in emerging markets, particularly in markets where the Fund is not able to purchase securities
directly due to domicile restrictions or tax restrictions or tariffs. In such an instance, the issuer of the CLN may purchase the reference
security directly and/or gain exposure through a credit default swap or other derivative.
A Fund’s investments
in CLNs are subject to the risks associated with the underlying reference obligations and derivative instruments, including, among others,
credit risk, default risk, counterparty risk, interest rate risk, leverage risk and management risk.
Structured notes may also
include exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), which are typically unsecured and unsubordinated like other structured notes. ETN
returns are based upon the performance of one or more underlying indicators and typically, no periodic coupon payments are distributed
and no principal protections exists, even at maturity. ETNs are listed on an exchange and traded in the secondary market. An ETN can be
held until maturity, at which time the issuer pays the investor a cash amount equal to the principal amount, subject to the day’s
market benchmark or strategy factor. When a Fund invests in ETNs, it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne
by the ETN. Because fees reduce the amount of return at maturity or upon redemption, if the value of the underlying indicator decreases
or does not increase significantly, a Fund may receive less than the principal amount of its investment at maturity or upon redemption.
In addition, the value of an ETN also may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack
of liquidity in underlying indicator, changes in the applicable interest rates, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that
affect the underlying indicator. Some ETNs that use leverage can, at times, be relatively illiquid, and thus they may be difficult to
purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage in any form. There
may be restrictions on a Fund’s right to redeem its investment in an ETN, which are generally meant to be held until maturity. A
decision by a Fund to sell ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. In addition, although an ETN may be
listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing, and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will
exist for an ETN.
Sukuk. Sukuk
are financial certificates which are structured to comply with Shariah law and its investment principles, which prohibit the charging
or payment of interest. Sukuk represent undivided shares in the ownership of tangible assets relating to a specific investment activity.
The sukuk issuer, often a special purpose vehicle established to issue the sukuk, holds title to an asset or pool of assets. The sukuk
represent an interest in that asset, so the income to the investor comes from a share in revenues generated from the asset, not from interest
on the investor’s money. The sukuk investor’s investment in the sukuk does not represent a debt by the issuer of the underlying
asset to the entity that issued the sukuk. The issuer of the sukuk agrees in advance to repurchase the sukuk from the investor on a certain
date at a certain price.
As unsecured investments,
sukuk are backed only by the credit of the issuing entity, which may be a special purpose vehicle that holds no other assets. They are
thus subject to the risk that the issuer may not be able to repurchase the instrument at the agreed upon date for the agreed upon price,
if at all. Furthermore, since the purchasers of sukuk are investors in the underlying asset, they are subject to the risk that the asset
may not perform as expected, and the flow of income from the investments may be slower than expected or may cease altogether. In the event
of default, the process may take longer to resolve than conventional bonds. Evolving interpretations of Islamic law by courts or prominent
scholars may affect the free transferability of sukuk in ways that cannot now be foreseen. In that event, a Fund may be required to hold
its sukuk for longer than intended, even if their condition is deteriorating.
While the sukuk market has
grown significantly in recent years, there may be times when the market is illiquid and it is difficult for a Fund to make an investment
in or dispose of sukuk. Furthermore, the global sukuk market is significantly smaller than the conventional bond markets and restrictions
imposed by the Shariah board of the issuing entity may limit the investable universe of the Fund. Although a Fund may invest in sukuk,
other investments by the Fund, and the Fund as a whole, will not conform to Shariah law.
Terrorism Risks.
The terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, had a disruptive effect on the U.S. economy and financial markets.
Terrorist attacks and other geopolitical events have led to, and may in the future lead to, increased short-term market volatility and
may have long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and financial markets. Those events could also have an acute effect on individual
issuers, related groups of issuers, or issuers concentrated in a single geographic area. A similar disruption of the financial markets
or other terrorist attacks could adversely impact interest rates, auctions, secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation and other
factors relating to portfolio securities and adversely affect Fund service providers and the Funds’ operations.
U.S. Government
and Agency Securities. “U.S. Government Securities” are obligations of the U.S. Treasury Department backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States. During times of market turbulence, investors may turn to the safety of securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury Department, causing the prices of these securities to rise and their yields to decline. As a result
of this and other market influences, yields of short-term U.S. Treasury Department debt instruments are currently near historical lows.
“U.S. Government
Agency Securities” are issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or by instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, such as
Ginnie Mae (also known as the Government National Mortgage Association), Fannie Mae (also known as the Federal National Mortgage Association),
Freddie Mac (also known as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), SLM Corporation (formerly, the Student Loan Marketing Association)
(commonly known as “Sallie Mae”), Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLB”), and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Some
U.S. Government Agency Securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, while others may be supported by the
issuer’s ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury Department, subject to the U.S. Treasury Department’s discretion in certain
cases, or only by the credit of the issuer. Accordingly, there is at least a possibility of default. U.S. Government Agency Securities
include U.S. Government agency mortgage-backed securities. (See “Mortgage-Backed Securities” above.) The market prices of
U.S. Government Agency Securities are not guaranteed by the U.S. Government and generally fluctuate inversely with changing interest
rates.
U.S. Government Agency Securities
are deemed to include (i) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued
by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities and (ii) participations in loans made to foreign governments or
their agencies that are so guaranteed. The secondary market for certain of these participations is extremely limited. In the absence of
a suitable secondary market, such participations may therefore be regarded as illiquid.
A Fund may invest in separately
traded principal and interest components of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury Department. The principal and interest
components of selected securities are traded independently under the Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities
(“STRIPS”) program. Under the STRIPS program, the principal and interest components are individually numbered and separately
issued by the U.S. Treasury Department at the request of depository financial institutions, which then trade the component parts independently.
The market prices of STRIPS generally are more volatile than that of U.S. Treasury Department bills with comparable maturities.
Policies and Limitations.
Under normal circumstances, each of Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund and Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund
may invest up to 20% of its total assets in U.S. Government and Agency Securities.
Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman
Municipal Impact Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income
Fund have no specific limits or requirements relating to the amount of assets invested in U.S. Government and Agency Securities; however,
each of these Funds must invest according to its investment objective and policies.
Variable or Floating
Rate Securities; Demand and Put Features. Variable rate and floating rate securities provide for automatic adjustment
of the interest rate at fixed intervals (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, or semi-annually) or automatic adjustment of the interest rate
whenever a specified interest rate or index changes. The interest rate on variable and floating rate securities (collectively, “Adjustable
Rate Securities”) ordinarily is determined by reference to a particular bank’s prime rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury Department
Bill rate, the rate of return on commercial paper or bank CDs, an index of short-term tax-exempt rates or some other objective measure.
Adjustable Rate Securities
frequently permit the holder to demand payment of the obligations’ principal and accrued interest at any time or at specified intervals
not exceeding one year. The demand feature usually is backed by a credit instrument (e.g., a bank letter of credit) from a creditworthy
issuer and sometimes by insurance from a creditworthy insurer. Without these credit enhancements, some Adjustable Rate Securities might
not meet a Fund’s quality standards. Accordingly, in purchasing these securities, a Fund relies primarily on the creditworthiness
of the credit instrument issuer or the insurer. A Fund can also buy fixed rate securities accompanied by a demand feature or by a put
option, which permits the Fund to sell the security to the issuer or third party at a specified price. A Fund may rely on the creditworthiness
of issuers of the credit enhancements in purchasing these securities.
Policies and Limitations.
No Fund may invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities backed by credit instruments from any one issuer or by insurance from
any one insurer. For purposes of this limitation, each Fund excludes securities that do not rely on the credit instrument or insurance
for their ratings, i.e., stand on their own credit. For purposes of determining its dollar-weighted average maturity, a Fund calculates
the remaining maturity of variable and floating rate instruments as provided in Rule 2a-7. In calculating its dollar-weighted average
maturity and duration, a Fund is permitted to treat certain Adjustable Rate Securities as maturing on a date prior to the date on which
the final repayment of principal must unconditionally be made. In applying such maturity shortening devices, the Manager considers whether
the interest rate reset is expected to cause the security to trade at approximately its par value.
Warrants and Rights.
Warrants and rights may be acquired by a Fund in connection with other securities or separately. Warrants are securities permitting, but
not obligating, their holder to subscribe for other securities or commodities and provide a Fund with the right to purchase at a later
date other securities of the issuer. Rights are similar to warrants but typically are issued by a company to existing holders of its stock
and provide those holders the right to purchase additional shares of stock at a later date. Rights also normally have a shorter duration
than warrants. Warrants and rights do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that
they entitle their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. Warrants and rights may be more
speculative than certain other types of investments and entail risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional
equity instrument. While warrants and rights are generally considered equity securities, because the value of a warrant or right is derived,
at least in part, from the value of the underlying securities, they may be considered hybrid instruments that have features of both equity
securities and derivative instruments. However, there are characteristics of warrants and rights that differ from derivatives, including
that the value of a warrant or right does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities. The purchase of warrants
and rights involves the risk that a Fund could lose the purchase value of the warrants or rights if the right to subscribe to additional
shares is not exercised prior to the warrants’ or rights’ expiration date because warrants and rights cease to have value
if they are not exercised prior to their expiration date. Also, the purchase of warrants and rights involves the risk that the effective
price paid for the warrants or rights added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s
market price such as when there is no movement in the price of the underlying security. The market for warrants or rights may be very
limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price.
Policies and Limitations.
Neuberger Berman Strategic
Income Fund normally will not invest more than 10% of its total assets in rights, warrants or common stock.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery
Securities and Forward Commitments. A Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis and may purchase
or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. These transactions involve a commitment by a Fund to purchase or sell securities at
a future date (ordinarily within two months, although a Fund may agree to a longer settlement period). These transactions may involve
mortgage-backed securities, such as GNMA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates. The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed
in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction
is negotiated. When-issued and delayed-delivery purchases and forward commitment transactions are negotiated directly with the other party,
and such commitments are not traded on exchanges.
When-issued and delayed-delivery
purchases and forward commitment transactions enable a Fund to “lock in” what the Manager believes to be an attractive price
or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising
interest rates and falling prices, a Fund might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling
prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, a Fund might purchase a security on a when-issued, delayed-delivery or
forward commitment basis and sell a similar security to settle such purchase, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields.
When-issued, delayed-delivery and forward commitment transactions are subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to complete the
purchase or sale of the security. If this occurs, a Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon
price. To reduce this risk, a Fund will enter into transactions with established counterparties and the Manager will monitor the creditworthiness
of such counterparties.
The value of securities purchased
on a when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation
of a Fund’s NAV starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities. Because a Fund has not yet paid for the securities,
this produces an effect similar to leverage. A Fund does not earn interest on securities it has committed to purchase until the securities
are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. Because a Fund is committed to buying them at a certain price, any change in the value
of these securities, even prior to their issuance, affects the value of the Fund’s interests. The purchase of securities on a when-issued
or delayed-delivery basis also involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date.
When a Fund makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in that Fund’s
assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in a Fund’s NAV as long as the commitment
to sell remains in effect.
When-issued, delayed-delivery
and forward commitment transactions may cause a Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy
its purchase or sale obligations.
A Fund will purchase securities
on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing
the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, a
Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it has been entered into. A Fund also may sell securities it has committed to purchase
before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. A Fund may realize capital gains or losses in connection with
these transactions. Depending on the terms of the when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward commitment transactions, these transactions
may meet the definition of a derivatives transaction under Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act and, if they do, they will be subject to the
requirements of that rule.
Each Fund may also enter into
a TBA agreement and “roll over” such agreement prior to the settlement date by selling the obligation to purchase the pools
set forth in the agreement and entering into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage-backed securities. TBA mortgage-backed
securities may increase prepayment risks because the underlying mortgages may be less favorable than anticipated by a Fund.
Zero Coupon Securities,
Step Coupon Securities, Pay-in-Kind Securities and Discount Obligations. A Fund may invest in zero coupon securities, step
coupon securities and pay-in-kind securities. These do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or
that specify a future date when the securities begin to pay current interest. A Fund may also acquire certain debt securities at a discount.
These discount obligations involve special risk considerations. Zero coupon securities and step coupon securities are debt obligations
that are issued and traded at a discount from their face amount or par value (known as “original issue discount” or “OID”).
OID varies depending on prevailing interest rates, the time remaining until cash payments begin, the liquidity of the security, and the
perceived credit quality of the issuer.
Zero coupon securities and
step coupon securities are redeemed at face value when they mature. Accrued OID must be included in a Fund’s gross income for federal
tax purposes ratably each taxable year prior to the receipt of any actual payments. Pay-in-kind securities pay “interest”
through the issuance of additional securities.
Because each Fund must distribute
substantially all of its net investment income (including non-cash income attributable to OID and “interest” on pay-in-kind
securities) and net realized gains to its shareholders each taxable year to continue to qualify for treatment as a RIC and to minimize
or avoid payment of federal income and excise taxes, a Fund may have to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances
to generate cash, or may be required to borrow, to satisfy the distribution requirements. See “Additional Tax Information –
Taxation of the Funds.”
The market prices of zero
coupon securities, step coupon securities, pay-in-kind securities and discount obligations generally are more volatile than the prices
of securities that pay cash interest periodically. Those securities and obligations are likely to respond to changes in interest rates
to a greater degree than other types of debt securities having a similar maturity and credit quality.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Each Fund’s performance
figures are based on historical results and are not intended to indicate future performance. The yield and total return of each Fund will
vary. The share price of each Fund will vary, and an investment in a Fund, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than an investor’s
original cost.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The following tables set forth
information concerning the Fund Trustees and Officers of the Trust. All persons named as Fund Trustees and Officers also serve in similar
capacities for other funds administered or managed by NBIA. A Fund Trustee who is not an “interested person” of NBIA (including
its affiliates) or the Trust is deemed to be an independent Fund Trustee (“Independent Fund Trustee”).
Information about the Board of Trustees
Name,
(Year of
Birth), and
Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served (2) |
Principal
Occupation(s)(3) |
Number
of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Fund
Trustee |
Other
Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Fund Trustee(3) |
Independent
Fund Trustees |
Michael
J. Cosgrove (1949) |
Trustee
since 2015 |
President,
Carragh Consulting USA, since 2014; formerly, Executive, General Electric Company, 1970 to 2014, including President, Mutual Funds
and Global Investment Programs, GE Asset Management, 2011 to 2014, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mutual Funds and Intermediary
Business, GE Asset Management, 2007 to 2011, President, Institutional Sales and Marketing, GE Asset Management, 1998 to 2007, and
Chief Financial Officer, GE Asset Management, and Deputy Treasurer, GE Company, 1988 to 1993. |
49 |
Member
of Advisory Board, Burke Neurological Institute, since 2021; Parish Councilor, St. Pius X, since 2021, and Treasurer, since 2020;
formerly, Director, America Press, Inc. (not-for-profit Jesuit publisher), 2015 to 2021; formerly, Director, Fordham University,
2001 to 2018; formerly, Director, The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust, June 2015 to June 2016; formerly, Director, Skin Cancer Foundation
(not-for-profit), 2006 to 2015; formerly, Director, GE Investments Funds, Inc., 1997 to 2014; formerly, Trustee, GE Institutional
Funds, 1997 to 2014; formerly, Director, GE Asset Management, 1988 to 2014; formerly, Director, Elfun Trusts, 1988 to 2014; formerly,
Trustee, GE Pension & Benefit Plans, 1988 to 2014; formerly, Member of Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute. |
Marc
Gary (1952) |
Trustee
since 2015 |
Executive
Vice Chancellor Emeritus, The Jewish Theological Seminary, since 2020; formerly, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer,
The Jewish Theological Seminary, 2012 to 2020; formerly, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Fidelity Investments, 2007
to 2012; formerly, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, BellSouth Corporation, 2004 to 2007; formerly, Vice President and
Associate General Counsel, BellSouth Corporation, 2000 to 2004; formerly, Associate, Partner, and National Litigation Practice Co-Chair,
Mayer, Brown LLP, 1981 to 2000; formerly, Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel, 1990 to 1992. |
49 |
Director,
Jewish Federation of Atlanta, since 2023; Director, Israel Policy Forum, since 2023; Director, JCC of Westchester, since 2022; Director,
Jewish Democratic Counsel of America, since 2022; Chair and Director, USCJ Supporting Foundation, since 2021; Director, UJA Federation
of Greater New York, since 2019; Trustee, The Jewish Theological Seminary, since 2014; Director, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights
Under Law (not-for-profit), since 2005; formerly, Director, Jewish Federation of New York, 2017 to 2023; formerly, Director, Legility,
Inc. (privately held for-profit company), 2012 to 2021; formerly, Director, Equal Justice Works (not-for-profit), 2005 to 2014; formerly,
Director, Corporate Counsel Institute, Georgetown University Law Center, 2007 to 2012; formerly, Director, Greater Boston Legal Services
(not-for-profit), 2007 to 2012. |
Name,
(Year of
Birth), and
Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served (2) |
Principal
Occupation(s)(3) |
Number
of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Fund
Trustee |
Other
Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Fund Trustee(3) |
Martha
C. Goss (1949) |
Trustee
since 2007 |
Formerly,
President, Woodhill Enterprises Inc./Chase Hollow Associates LLC (personal investment vehicle), 2006 to 2020; formerly, Consultant,
Resources Global Professionals (temporary staffing), 2002 to 2006; formerly, Chief Financial Officer, Booz-Allen & Hamilton,
Inc., 1995 to 1999; formerly, Enterprise Risk Officer, Prudential Insurance, 1994 to 1995; formerly, President, Prudential Asset
Management Company, 1992 to 1994; formerly, President, Prudential Power Funding (investments in electric and gas utilities and alternative
energy projects), 1989 to 1992; formerly, Treasurer, Prudential Insurance Company, 1983 to 1989. |
49 |
Director,
American Water (water utility), since 2003; Director, Allianz Life of New York (insurance), since 2005; formerly, Director, Berger
Group Holdings, Inc. (engineering consulting firm), 2013 to 2018; formerly, Director, Financial Women’s Association of New
York (not-for-profit association), 1987 to 1996 and 2003 to 2019; Trustee Emerita, Brown University, since 1998; Director, Museum
of American Finance (not-for-profit), since 2013; formerly, Non-Executive Chair and Director, Channel Reinsurance (financial guaranty
reinsurance), 2006 to 2010; formerly, Director, Ocwen Financial Corporation (mortgage servicing), 2005 to 2010; formerly, Director,
Claire’s Stores, Inc. (retailer), 2005 to 2007; formerly, Director, Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. (engineering consulting firm),
2007 to 2010; formerly, Director, Bank Leumi (commercial bank), 2005 to 2007; formerly, Advisory Board Member, Attensity (software
developer), 2005 to 2007; formerly, Director, Foster Wheeler Manufacturing, 1994 to 2004; formerly, Director, Dexter Corp. (Manufacturer
of Non-Wovens, Plastics, and Medical Supplies), 1992 to 2001. |
Name,
(Year of
Birth), and
Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served (2) |
Principal
Occupation(s)(3) |
Number
of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Fund
Trustee |
Other
Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Fund Trustee(3) |
Ami Kaplan
(1960) |
Trustee
since 2023 |
Formerly,
Partner, Deloitte LLP, 1982 to 2023, including Vice Chair, 2017 to 2020; formerly, President and Board Chair, Women’s Forum
of New York, 2014 to 2016. |
49 |
None.
|
Michael
M. Knetter (1960) |
Trustee
since 2007 |
President
and Chief Executive Officer, University of Wisconsin Foundation, since 2010; formerly, Dean, School of Business, University of Wisconsin
- Madison; formerly, Professor of International Economics and Associate Dean, Amos Tuck School of Business - Dartmouth College, 1998
to 2002. |
49 |
Director,
1WS Credit Income Fund, since 2018; Board Member, American Family Insurance (a mutual company, not publicly traded), since March
2009; formerly, Trustee, Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc., 2007 to 2011; formerly, Director, Wausau Paper, 2005 to 2011; formerly,
Director, Great Wolf Resorts, 2004 to 2009. |
Deborah
C. McLean (1954) |
Trustee
since 2015 |
Member,
Circle Financial Group (private wealth management membership practice), since 2011; Managing Director, Golden Seeds LLC (an angel
investing group), since 2009; Adjunct Professor (Corporate Finance), Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs,
since 2008; formerly, Visiting Assistant Professor, Fairfield University, Dolan School of Business, Fall 2007; formerly, Adjunct
Associate Professor of Finance, Richmond, The American International University in London, 1999 to 2007. |
49 |
Board
Member, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, since 2020; Board Member, Norwalk Community College Foundation, since 2014; formerly, Dean’s
Advisory Council, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, 2014 to 2023; formerly, Director and Treasurer, At Home in Darien (not-for-profit),
2012 to 2014; formerly, Director, National Executive Service Corps (not-for-profit), 2012 to 2013; formerly, Trustee, Richmond, The
American International University in London, 1999 to 2013. |
Name,
(Year of
Birth), and
Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served (2) |
Principal
Occupation(s)(3) |
Number
of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Fund
Trustee |
Other
Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Fund Trustee(3) |
Paul
M. Nakasone (1963) |
Trustee
since 2024 |
Formerly,
Director, National Security Agency, 2018 to 2024; formerly, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, 2018-2024. |
49 |
None. |
Tom
D. Seip (1950) |
Trustee
since 2000; Chairman of the Board since 2008; formerly, Lead Independent Trustee from 2006 to 2008 |
Formerly,
Managing Member, Ridgefield Farm LLC (a private investment vehicle), 2004 to 2016; formerly, President and CEO, Westaff, Inc. (temporary
staffing), May 2001 to January 2002; formerly, Senior Executive, The Charles Schwab Corporation, 1983 to 1998, including Chief Executive
Officer, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; formerly, Trustee, Schwab Family of Funds and Schwab Investments, 1997 to 1998;
formerly, Executive Vice President-Retail Brokerage, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., 1994 to 1997. |
49 |
Trustee,
University of Maryland, Shore Regional Health System, since 2020; formerly, Director, H&R Block, Inc. (tax services company),
2001 to 2018; formerly, Director, Talbot Hospice Inc., 2013 to 2016; formerly, Chairman, Governance and Nominating Committee, H&R
Block, Inc., 2011 to 2015; formerly, Chairman, Compensation Committee, H&R Block, Inc., 2006 to 2010; formerly, Director, Forward
Management, Inc. (asset management company), 1999 to 2006. |
Franklyn
E. Smith (1961) |
Trustee
since 2023 |
Formerly,
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 1989 to 2021. |
49 |
Director,
Zurich American Insurance Company, Zurich American Life Insurance Company and Zurich American Life Insurance Company of New York,
since 2023. |
Name,
(Year of
Birth), and
Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served (2) |
Principal
Occupation(s)(3) |
Number
of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Fund
Trustee |
Other
Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Fund Trustee(3) |
Fund
Trustees who are “Interested Persons” |
Joseph
V. Amato* (1962) |
Chief
Executive Officer and President since 2018 and Trustee since 2009 |
President
and Director, Neuberger Berman Group LLC, since 2009; President and Chief Executive Officer, Neuberger Berman BD LLC and Neuberger
Berman Holdings LLC (including its predecessor, Neuberger Berman Inc.), since 2007; Chief Investment Officer (Equities) and President
(Equities), NBIA (formerly, Neuberger Berman Fixed Income LLC and including predecessor entities), since 2007, and Board Member of
NBIA, since 2006; formerly, Global Head of Asset Management of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.’s (“LBHI”) Investment
Management Division, 2006 to 2009; formerly, member of LBHI’s Investment Management Division’s Executive Management Committee,
2006 to 2009; formerly, Managing Director, Lehman Brothers Inc. (“LBI”), 2006 to 2008; formerly, Chief Recruiting and
Development Officer, LBI, 2005 to 2006; formerly, Global Head of LBI’s Equity Sales and a Member of its Equities Division Executive
Committee, 2003 to 2005; President and Chief Executive Officer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment
manager and/or administrator. |
49 |
Member
of Board of Advisors, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, since 2001; Member of New York City Board of Advisors,
Teach for America, since 2005; Trustee, Montclair Kimberley Academy (private school), since 2007; Member of Board of Regents, Georgetown
University, since 2013. |
| (1) | The business address of each listed person is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104. |
| (2) | Pursuant to the Trust’s Amended and Restated Trust Instrument, (“Trust Instrument”)
subject to any limitations on the term of service imposed by the By-Laws or any retirement policy adopted by the Fund Trustees, each Fund
Trustee shall hold office for life or until his or her successor is elected or the Trust terminates; except that (a) any Fund Trustee
may resign by delivering a written resignation; (b) any Fund Trustee may be removed with or without cause at any time by a written instrument
signed by at least two-thirds of the other Fund Trustees; (c) any Fund Trustee who requests to be retired, or who has become unable to
serve, may be retired by a written instrument signed by a majority of the other Fund Trustees; and (d) any Fund Trustee may be removed
at any shareholder meeting by a vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares. |
| (3) | Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the positions shown during at least the last five
years. |
| * | Indicates a Fund Trustee who is an “interested person” within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
Mr. Amato is an interested person of the Trust by virtue of the fact that he is an officer of NBIA and/or its affiliates. |
Information about the Officers of the Trust
Name, (Year of Birth), and
Address(1) |
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2) |
Principal
Occupation(s)(3) |
Claudia
A. Brandon (1956) |
Executive
Vice President since 2008 and Secretary since 1985 |
Senior
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2007 and Employee since 1999; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2008 and Assistant Secretary
since 2004; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2002 to 2006; formerly, Vice President, Mutual Fund Board Relations, NBIA,
2000 to 2008; formerly, Vice President, NBIA, 1986 to 1999 and Employee, 1984 to 1999; Executive Vice President and Secretary,
twenty-eight registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
Anthony
DiBernardo (1979) |
Assistant
Treasurer since 2011 |
Senior
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2014; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2014, and Employee since 2003; formerly, Vice President,
Neuberger Berman, 2009 to 2014; Assistant Treasurer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager
and/or administrator. |
Corey A. Issing
(1978) |
Chief
Compliance Officer since 2024 and Chief Legal Officer since 2016 (only for purposes of sections 307 and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002) |
General
Counsel, Mutual Funds, since 2016 and Managing Director, NBIA, since 2017; formerly, Associate General Counsel, 2015 to 2016; Counsel,
2007 to 2015; Senior Vice President, 2013 to 2016; Vice President, 2009 to 2013; Chief Legal Officer (only for purposes of sections
307 and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), twenty-eight registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager
and/or administrator. |
Name, (Year of Birth), and
Address(1) |
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2) |
Principal
Occupation(s)(3) |
Sheila
R. James (1965) |
Assistant
Secretary since 2002 |
Senior
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2023 and Employee since 1999; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2023; formerly, Vice President,
Neuberger Berman, 2008 to 2023; Assistant Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2007; Employee, NBIA, 1991 to 1999; Assistant Secretary,
twenty-eight registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
Brian
Kerrane (1969) |
Chief
Operating Officer since 2015 and Vice President since 2008 |
Managing
Director, Neuberger Berman, since 2013; Chief Operating Officer, Mutual Funds and Managing Director, NBIA, since 2015; formerly,
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2006 to 2014; Vice President, NBIA, 2008 to 2015 and Employee since 1991; Chief Operating
Officer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator; Vice President, twenty-eight
registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
Josephine
Marone (1963) |
Assistant
Secretary since 2017 |
Senior
Paralegal, Neuberger Berman, since 2007 and Employee since 2007; Assistant Secretary, twenty-eight registered investment companies
for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
Owen
F. McEntee, Jr. (1961) |
Vice
President since 2008 |
Vice
President, Neuberger Berman, since 2006; Vice President, NBIA, since 2006 and Employee since 1992; Vice President, ten registered
investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
John
M. McGovern (1970) |
Treasurer
and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer since 2005 |
Managing
Director, Neuberger Berman, since 2022; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2007 and Employee since 1993; formerly, Senior Vice President,
Neuberger Berman, 2007 to 2021; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2004 to 2006; formerly, Assistant Treasurer, 2002 to
2005; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment
manager and/or administrator. |
Name, (Year of Birth), and
Address(1) |
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2) |
Principal
Occupation(s)(3) |
Frank
Rosato (1971) |
Assistant
Treasurer since 2005 |
Vice
President, Neuberger Berman, since 2006; Vice President, NBIA, since 2006 and Employee since 1995; Assistant Treasurer, ten registered
investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
Daniel
Tracer (1987) |
Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Officer since 2023 |
Senior
Vice President and Head of Financial Regulation, Neuberger Berman, since February 2023; Assistant United States Attorney, Southern
District of New York, 2016 to 2023; Trial Attorney, Department of Justice Antitrust Division, 2012 to 2015; Senior Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Officer, five registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
John
Triolo (1974) |
Vice
President since 2024 |
Vice
President, Neuberger Berman, since 2023; Vice President, NBIA, since 2023 and Employee since 2024; Vice President, ten registered
investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
| (1) | The business address of each listed person is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104. |
| (2) | Pursuant to the By-Laws of the Trust, each officer elected by the Fund Trustees shall hold office until
his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, inability to serve, or resignation. Officers
serve at the pleasure of the Fund Trustees and may be removed at any time with or without cause. |
| (3) | Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the positions shown during at least the last five
years. |
The Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees (“Board”)
is responsible for managing the business and affairs of the Trust. Among other things, the Board generally oversees the portfolio management
of each Fund and reviews and approves each Fund’s investment advisory and sub-advisory contracts and other principal contracts.
The Board has appointed an
Independent Fund Trustee to serve in the role of Chairman of the Board. The Chair’s primary responsibilities are (i) to participate
in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the Board and in the identification of information to be presented to the Board; (ii)
to preside at all meetings of the Board; (iii) to act as the Board’s liaison with management between meetings of the Board; and
(iv) to act as the primary contact for board communications. The Chair may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board
from time to time. Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-laws, the designation
as Chair does not impose on such Independent Fund Trustee any duties, obligations or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations
or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally.
As described below, the Board
has an established committee structure through which the Board considers and addresses important matters involving the Funds, including
those identified as presenting conflicts or potential conflicts of interest for management. The Independent Fund Trustees also regularly
meet outside the presence of management and are advised by experienced independent legal counsel knowledgeable in matters of investment
company regulation. The Board periodically evaluates its structure and composition as well as various aspects of its operations. The Board
believes that its leadership structure, including its Independent Chair and its committee structure, is appropriate in light of, among
other factors, the asset size of the fund complex overseen by the Board, the nature and number of funds overseen by the Board, the number
of Fund Trustees, the range of experience represented on the Board, and the Board’s responsibilities.
Additional Information About Fund Trustees
In choosing each Fund Trustee
to serve, the Board was generally aware of each Fund Trustee’s skills, experience, judgment, analytical ability, intelligence, common
sense, previous profit and not-for-profit board membership and, for each Independent Fund Trustee, his or her demonstrated willingness
to take an independent and questioning stance toward management. Each Fund Trustee also now has considerable familiarity with the Trust
and each Fund of the Trust, their investment manager, sub-advisers, administrator and distributor, and their operations, as well as the
special regulatory requirements governing regulated investment companies and the special responsibilities of investment company directors,
and in the case of each Trustee who has served on the Board over multiple years, as a result of his or her substantial prior service as
a Trustee of the Trust. No particular qualification, experience or background establishes the basis for any Fund Trustee’s position
on the Board and the Governance and Nominating Committee and individual Board members may have attributed different weights to the various
factors.
In addition to the information
set forth in the table above and other relevant qualifications, experience, attributes or skills applicable to a particular Fund Trustee,
the following provides further information about the qualifications and experience of each Fund Trustee.
Independent Fund Trustees
Michael J. Cosgrove:
Mr. Cosgrove is President of an asset management consulting firm. He has experience as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief
Financial Officer of the asset management division of a major multinational corporation. He also has experience as a President of institutional
sales and marketing for the asset management division of the same corporation, where he was responsible for all distribution, marketing,
and development of mutual fund products. He also has served as a member of the boards of various not-for-profit organizations. He has
served as a trustee for the Neuberger Berman fund complex for multiple years.
Marc Gary: Mr.
Gary has legal and investment management experience as executive vice president and general counsel of a major asset management firm.
He also has experience as executive vice president and general counsel at a large corporation, and as national litigation practice chair
at a large law firm. He has served as a member of the boards of various profit and not-for-profit organizations. He formerly served as
the executive vice chancellor and COO of a religious seminary where he oversaw the seminary’s institutional budget. He has served
as a trustee for the Neuberger Berman fund complex for multiple years.
Martha Clark Goss:
Ms. Goss has experience as chief operating and financial officer of an insurance holding company. She has experience as an investment
professional, head of an investment unit and treasurer for a major insurance company, experience as the Chief Financial Officer of two
consulting firms, and experience as a lending officer and credit analyst at a major bank. She has experience managing a personal investment
vehicle. She has served as a member of the boards of various profit and not-for-profit organizations, including five NYSE listed companies,
and a university. She has served as a trustee for the Neuberger Berman fund complex for multiple years.
Ami Kaplan: Ms. Kaplan
has experience in the financial services industry. She was a partner at a large professional service firm, where she worked with global
financial services clients on various matters. In her 40 years at that firm, she served in many different roles, including as Vice Chair
of the firm and Deputy New York Regional Managing Partner. She is member of the New York and New Jersey State Societies of CPA and has
held a variety of roles with not-for-profit company boards.
Michael M. Knetter:
Dr. Knetter has organizational management experience as a dean of a major university business school and as President and CEO of a university
supporting foundation. He also has responsibility for overseeing management of the university’s endowment. He has academic experience
as a professor of international economics. He has served as a member of the boards of various public companies and another mutual fund.
He has served as a trustee for the Neuberger Berman fund complex for multiple years.
Deborah C. McLean:
Ms. McLean has experience in the financial services industry. She is currently involved with a high-net-worth private wealth management
membership practice and an angel investing group, where she is active in investment screening and deal leadership and execution. For
many years she has been engaged in numerous roles with a variety of not-for-profit and private company boards and has taught corporate
finance at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She commenced her professional training at a major financial services corporation,
where she was employed for multiple years. She has served as a trustee for the Neuberger Berman fund complex for multiple years.
Paul M. Nakasone:
General Nakasone has organizational management and cybersecurity experience. He has held many leadership roles with the United States
Army and Department of Defense over the span of nearly four decades, including serving as commander of United States Cyber Command, director
of the National Security Agency, chief of the Central Security Service, and numerous other leadership roles across all levels of the
Joint Force and Army, with assignments in Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In these roles, General Nakasone has led forces in peace and
war along with advising on geopolitical and cybersecurity matters. He has served as a trustee for the Neuberger Berman fund complex since
2024.
Tom D. Seip: Mr.
Seip has experience in senior management and as chief executive officer and director of a financial services company overseeing other
mutual funds and brokerage. He has experience as director of an asset management company. He has experience in management of a private
investment partnership. He has served as a trustee for the Neuberger Berman fund complex for multiple years and as Independent Chair
and/or Lead Independent Trustee of the Board.
Franklyn E. Smith:
Mr. Smith has experience in the financial services industry. He was a partner at a large professional service firm, where he was the
Market Team leader and Primary Reporting Partner in the New York office’s Asset & Wealth Management Practice. He spent 32 years
at that firm servicing financial services clients, with a focus on mutual fund clients for the last 25 years. He is a CPA with a license
in New York and holds an advanced degree in public accounting. He serves on the boards of a major insurance company and a not-for-profit
organization.
Fund Trustees who are “Interested
Persons”
Joseph V. Amato:
Mr. Amato has investment management experience as an executive with Neuberger Berman and another financial services firm. Effective July
1, 2018, Mr. Amato began serving as Chief Executive Officer and President of the funds in the Neuberger Berman fund complex. He also
serves as Neuberger Berman’s Chief Investment Officer for equity investments. He has experience in leadership roles within Neuberger
Berman and its affiliated entities. He has served as a member of the board of a major university business school. He has served as a
trustee for the Neuberger Berman fund complex for multiple years.
Information About Committees
The Board has established
several standing committees to oversee particular aspects of the Funds’ management. The standing committees of the Board are described
below.
Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee’s purposes are: (a) in accordance with exchange requirements and Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, to oversee
the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Funds and, as the Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the internal control
over financial reporting of service providers; (b) in accordance with exchange requirements and Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, to oversee
the quality and integrity of the Funds’ financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (c) in accordance with exchange
requirements and Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, to oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Funds’ compliance
with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Funds’ accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial
reporting and independent audits; (d) to approve prior to appointment by the Board, the engagement of the Funds’ independent registered
public accounting firm and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Funds’
independent registered public accounting firm; (e) to act as a liaison between the Funds’ independent registered public accounting
firm and the full Board; (f) to oversee the operation of policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that each portfolio holding
is valued in an appropriate and timely manner, reflecting information known to management (including management’s internal Valuation
Committee) about the issuer, current market conditions, and other material factors (“Pricing Policy”); (g) to consider and
evaluate, and recommend to the Board when the Committee deems it appropriate, amendments to the Pricing Policy proposed by management,
counsel, the auditors, the Committee itself or others; and (h) to oversee fair value determinations performed by the Manager as the Funds’
valuation designee and, in connection therewith, to receive and review the reports and notifications required to be provided by the valuation
designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act and to request such information from the valuation designee as the Committee deems
necessary to oversee the performance of fair valuation determinations by the valuation designee. Its members are Michael J. Cosgrove
(Chair), Martha C. Goss (Vice Chair), Deborah C. McLean, and Paul M. Nakasone. All members are Independent Fund Trustees. During the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, the Committee met seven times.
Contract Review Committee.
The Contract Review Committee is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding whether to approve or
renew the Trust’s principal contractual arrangements, Rule 12b-1 plans, and such other agreements or plans involving the Trust
as the Board determines from time to time. The Contract Review Committee oversees and guides the process by which the Independent Trustees
annually consider whether to approve or renew such contracts and plans. Its members are Michael J. Cosgrove, Marc Gary, Deborah C. McLean
(Chair), and Franklyn E. Smith (Vice Chair). All members are Independent Fund Trustees. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024,
the Committee met seven times.
Ethics and Compliance
Committee. The Ethics and Compliance Committee generally: (a) coordinates the Board’s oversight of the Trust’s Chief
Compliance Officer (“CCO”) in connection with the implementation of the Trust’s program for compliance with Rule 38a-1
and the Trust’s implementation and enforcement of its compliance policies and procedures; (b) oversees the compliance with the
Trust’s Code of Ethics, which restricts the personal securities transactions, including transactions in Fund shares, of employees,
officers, and trustees; (c) considers and evaluates management’s framework for identifying, prioritizing, and managing compliance
risks; (d) oversees the program by which the manager seeks to monitor and improve the quality of execution for portfolio transactions;
and (e) considers and evaluates management’s reports regarding internal audit reviews involving compliance matters; payments made
to third-party intermediaries; and proxy voting policies, guidelines and procedures. The Committee shall not assume oversight duties
to the extent that such duties have been assigned by the Board expressly to another Committee of the Board (such as oversight of internal
controls over financial reporting, which has been assigned to the Audit Committee) or to the Board as a whole. The Committee’s
primary function is oversight. Each investment adviser, subadviser, principal underwriter, administrator, custodian and transfer agent,
as applicable (collectively, “Service Providers”) is responsible for its own compliance with the federal securities laws
and for devising, implementing, maintaining and updating appropriate policies, procedures and codes of ethics to ensure compliance with
applicable laws and regulations and their contracts with the Funds. The CCO is responsible for administering each Fund’s compliance
program, including devising and implementing appropriate methods of testing compliance by the Fund and its Service Providers. Its members
are Marc Gary, Ami G. Kaplan (Chair), Michael M. Knetter (Vice Chair), and Tom D. Seip. All members are Independent Fund Trustees. The
entire Board will receive at least annually a report on the compliance programs of the Trust and service providers and the required annual
reports on the administration of the Code of Ethics and the required annual certifications from the Trust, NBIA and NBEL. During the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, the Committee met four times.
Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee is responsible for acting in an emergency when a quorum of the Board is not available; the Committee has
all the powers of the Board when the Board is not in session to the extent permitted by Delaware law. Its members are Joseph V. Amato
(Vice Chair), Michael J. Cosgrove, Marc Gary, Martha C. Goss, Michael M. Knetter, Deborah C. McLean, and Tom D. Seip (Chair). All members,
except for Mr. Amato, are Independent Fund Trustees. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, the Committee did not meet.
Governance and Nominating
Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for: (a) considering and evaluating the structure, composition
and operation of the Board and each committee thereof, including the operation of the annual self-evaluation by the Board; (b) evaluating
and nominating individuals to serve as Fund Trustees including as Independent Fund Trustees, as members of committees, as Chair of the
Board and as officers of the Trust; (c) recommending for Board approval any proposed changes to Committee membership and recommending
for Board and Committee approval any proposed changes to the Chair and Vice Chair appointments of any Committee following consultation
with members of each such Committee; and (d) considering and making recommendations relating to the compensation of Independent Fund
Trustees. Its members are Martha C. Goss (Chair), Michael M. Knetter, Paul M. Nakasone (Vice Chair), and Tom D. Seip. All members are
Independent Fund Trustees. The selection and nomination of candidates to serve as independent trustees is committed to the discretion
of the current Independent Fund Trustees. The Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders; shareholders may send resumes
of recommended persons to the attention of Claudia A. Brandon, Secretary, Neuberger Berman Income Funds, 1290 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10104. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, the Committee met five times.
Investment Performance
Committee. The Investment Performance Committee is responsible for overseeing and guiding the process by which the Board reviews
Fund performance and interfacing with management personnel responsible for investment risk management. Each Fund Trustee is a member
of the Committee. Michael M. Knetter and Deborah C. McLean are the Chair and the Vice Chair, respectively, of the Committee. All members,
except for Mr. Amato, are Independent Fund Trustees. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, the Committee met four times.
Risk Management Oversight
As an integral part of its
responsibility for oversight of the Funds in the interests of shareholders, the Board oversees risk management of the Funds’ administration
and operations. The Board views risk management as an important responsibility of management.
A Fund faces a number of risks,
such as investment risk, counterparty risk, valuation risk, liquidity risk, reputational risk, risk of operational failure or lack of
business continuity, cybersecurity risk, and legal, compliance and regulatory risk. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks,
i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance
or reputation of a Fund. Under the overall supervision of the Board, the Funds, the Funds’ investment manager, a Fund’s sub-adviser
(as applicable), and the affiliates of the investment manager and the sub-adviser, or other service providers to the Funds, employ a variety
of processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their
occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Different processes, procedures and controls
are employed with respect to different types of risks.
The Board exercises oversight
of the investment manager’s risk management processes primarily through the Board’s committee structure. The various committees,
as appropriate, and/or, at times, the Board, meet periodically with the Chief Risk Officer, head of operational risk, the Chief Information
Security Officer, the Chief Compliance Officer, the Treasurer, the Chief Investment Officers for equity, alternative and fixed income,
the heads of Internal Audit, and the Funds’ independent auditor. The committees or the Board, as appropriate, review with these
individuals, among other things, the design and implementation of risk management strategies in their respective areas, and events and
circumstances that have arisen and responses thereto.
The Board recognizes that
not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain
risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Funds’ goals, and that the
processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received
by the Fund Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Furthermore, it is in the very
nature of certain risks that they can be evaluated only as probabilities, and not as certainties. As a result of the foregoing and other
factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations, and no risk management program can predict
the likelihood or seriousness of, or mitigate the effects of, all potential risks.
Compensation and Indemnification
The Trust’s Trust Instrument
provides that the Trust will indemnify its Fund Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust, unless it is adjudicated that they (a) engaged
in bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their offices, or
(b) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that their action was in the best interest of the Trust. In the case of settlement,
such indemnification will not be provided unless it has been determined (by a court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition,
by a majority of disinterested trustees based upon a review of readily available facts, or in a written opinion of independent counsel)
that such officers or Fund Trustees have not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of their
duties.
Officers and Fund Trustees
who are interested persons of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, receive no salary or fees from the Trust.
Effective
January 1, 2024, for serving as a trustee of the Neuberger Berman Funds, each Independent Fund Trustee and any Fund Trustee who is an
“interested person” of the Trust but who is not an employee of NBIA or its affiliates receives an annual retainer of $200,000,
paid quarterly, and a fee of $17,500 for each of the regularly scheduled meetings he or she attended in-person or by telephone. For any
additional special in-person or telephonic meeting of the Board, the Governance and Nominating Committee will determine whether a fee
is warranted. To compensate for the additional time commitment, the Chair of the Contract Review Committee (effective January 1, 2025)
receives $35,000 per year, and each Chair of the other Committees (effective January 1, 2025) receives $25,000 per year, with the exception
of the Chair of the Executive Committee who receives no additional compensation for this role. No additional compensation is provided
for service on a Board committee. The Chair of the Board who is also an Independent Fund Trustee receives an additional $90,000 per year.
The Neuberger Berman Funds
reimburse Independent Fund Trustees for their travel and other out-of-pocket expenses related to attendance at Board meetings. The Independent
Fund Trustee compensation is allocated to each fund in the fund family based on a method the Board finds reasonable.
The following table sets forth
information concerning the compensation of the Fund Trustees. The Trust does not have any retirement plan for the Fund Trustees.
TABLE OF COMPENSATION
FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED 10/31/2024
Name and Position with the Trust | |
Aggregate
Compensation from the Trust | | |
Total
Compensation from Investment Companies
in the Neuberger
Berman Fund Complex Paid to Fund Trustees | |
Independent Fund Trustees | |
| | |
| |
Michael J. Cosgrove Trustee | |
$ | 52,952 | | |
$ | 287,500 | |
Marc Gary Trustee | |
$ | 51,801 | | |
$ | 281,250 | |
Martha C. Goss Trustee | |
$ | 51,801 | | |
$ | 281,250 | |
Ami Kaplan Trustee | |
$ | 48,343 | | |
$ | 262,500 | |
Michael M. Knetter Trustee | |
$ | 51,801 | | |
$ | 281,250 | |
Deborah C. McLean Trustee | |
$ | 52,952 | | |
$ | 287,500 | |
George W. Morriss* Trustee | |
$ | 50,714 | | |
$ | 287,500 | |
Paul M. Nakasone** Trustee | |
$ | 19,452 | | |
$ | 109,725 | |
Tom D. Seip Chairman of the Board and Trustee | |
$ | 64,018 | | |
$ | 347,500 | |
Franklyn E. Smith Trustee | |
$ | 48,343 | | |
$ | 262,500 | |
James G. Stavridis*** Trustee | |
$ | 37,152 | | |
$ | 195,000 | |
Fund Trustees who are “Interested Persons” |
Joseph V. Amato President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| * | George W. Morriss retired
from his position as Fund Trustee effective December 31, 2024. |
| ** | Paul M. Nakasone became
a Fund Trustee in September 2024. Amounts are estimated for the current fiscal year; actual
amounts may vary. |
| *** | James G. Stavridis
retired from his position as Fund Trustee effective June 30, 2024. |
Ownership of Equity Securities by the Fund Trustees
The following table sets forth
the dollar range of securities owned by each Fund Trustee in each Fund as of December 31, 2024.
|
Core
Bond |
Emerging
Markets
Debt |
Floating
Rate
Income |
High
Income
Bond |
Municipal
High
Income |
Municipal
Impact |
Municipal
Intermediate
Bond |
Strategic
Income |
Independent
Fund Trustees |
Michael
J. Cosgrove |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
Marc
Gary |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
Martha
C. Goss |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
Ami
Kaplan |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
Michael
M. Knetter |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
Deborah
C. McLean |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
C |
Paul
M. Nakasone |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
Tom
D. Seip |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
Franklyn
E. Smith |
A |
A |
A |
B |
A |
A |
A |
C |
Fund
Trustees who are “Interested Persons” |
Joseph
V. Amato |
A |
A |
A |
E |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001 - $50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000;
E = over $100,000
The following table sets
forth the aggregate dollar range of securities owned by each Fund Trustee in all the funds in the fund family overseen by the Fund Trustee,
valued as of December 31, 2024.
Name of Fund Trustee |
Aggregate
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Held in all
Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Fund
Trustee in Family of Investment Companies |
Independent
Fund Trustees |
Michael
J. Cosgrove |
E |
Marc
Gary |
E |
Martha
C. Goss |
E |
Ami
Kaplan |
A |
Michael
M. Knetter |
E |
Deborah
C. McLean |
E |
Paul
M. Nakasone |
A |
Tom
D. Seip |
E |
Franklyn
E. Smith |
E |
Fund
Trustees who are “Interested Persons” |
Joseph
V. Amato |
E |
A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001 - $50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000;
E = over $100,000
As
of January 31, 2025, the Fund Trustees and officers of the Trust, as a group, owned beneficially or of record less than 1% of the outstanding
shares of each class of each Fund except that they owned beneficially or of record 9.12% of the outstanding shares of Class E of Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund.
Independent Fund Trustees’ Ownership of Securities
No Independent Fund Trustee
(including his/her immediate family members) owns any securities (not including shares of registered investment companies) in any Neuberger
Berman entity.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
Investment Manager and Administrator
NBIA serves as the investment
manager to each Fund pursuant to management agreements with the Trust, one for Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman
Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund
and Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund dated May 4, 2009, and one for Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund dated May 4, 2009 (each a “Management
Agreement” and collectively, the “Management Agreements”).
Each Management Agreement
provides, in substance, that NBIA will make and implement investment decisions for each Fund in its discretion and will continuously develop
an investment program for each Fund’s assets. Each Management Agreement permits NBIA to effect securities transactions on behalf
of each Fund through associated persons of NBIA. Each Management Agreement also specifically permits NBIA to compensate, through higher
commissions, brokers and dealers who provide investment research and analysis to the Funds.
NBIA provides to each Fund,
without separate cost, office space, equipment, and facilities and the personnel necessary to perform executive, administrative, and clerical
functions. NBIA pays all salaries, expenses, and fees of the officers, trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors,
or employees of NBIA. One director of NBIA, who also serves as an officer of NBIA, presently serves as a Fund Trustee and/or officer of
the Trust. See “Trustees and Officers.” Each Fund pays NBIA a management fee based on the Fund’s average daily net assets,
as described below.
NBIA engages NBEL as sub-adviser
to Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund to choose the Fund’s investments and handle its day-to-day investment business.
See “Sub-Adviser” below.
NBIA also provides facilities,
services, and personnel as well as accounting, record keeping and other services to each Fund pursuant to nine administration agreements
with the Trust, one for the Investor Class dated May 4, 2009, one for the Institutional Class dated May 4, 2009, one for the Trust Class
of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund dated May 4, 2009, one for Class A dated May 4, 2009, one for Class C dated May 4, 2009,
one for Class R3 dated May 15, 2009, one for Class R6 dated March 14, 2013, and one for Class E dated July 2, 2021 (each an “Administration
Agreement” and collectively, the “Administration Agreements”). For such administrative services, each Class of a Fund
pays NBIA a fee based on the Class’s average daily net assets, as described below.
Under each Administration
Agreement, NBIA provides to each Class and its shareholders certain shareholder, shareholder-related, and other services that are not
furnished by the Fund’s shareholder servicing agent or third party investment providers. NBIA provides the direct shareholder services
specified in the Administration Agreements and assists the shareholder servicing agent or third party investment providers in the development
and implementation of specified programs and systems to enhance overall shareholder servicing capabilities. NBIA or the third party investment
provider solicits and gathers shareholder proxies, performs services connected with the qualification of each Fund’s shares for
sale in various states, and furnishes other services the parties agree from time to time should be provided under the Administration Agreements.
The services provided by NBIA
under the Management Agreements and Administration Agreements include, among others, overall responsibility for providing all supervisory,
management, and administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Funds, which may include, among others, compliance
monitoring, operational and investment risk management, legal and administrative services and portfolio accounting services. These services
also include, among other things: (i) coordinating and overseeing all matters relating to the operation of the Funds, including overseeing
the shareholder servicing agent, custodian, accounting services agent, independent auditors, legal counsel and other agents and contractors
engaged by the Funds; (ii) assuring that all financial, accounting and other records required to be prepared and preserved by each Fund
are prepared and preserved by it or on its behalf in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; (iii) assisting in the preparation
of all periodic reports by the Funds to shareholders; (iv) assisting in the preparation of all reports and filings required to maintain
the registration and qualification of each Fund and its shares, or to meet other regulatory or tax requirements applicable to the Fund
under federal and state securities and tax laws; and (v) furnishing such office space, office equipment and office facilities as are adequate
for the needs of the Funds.
NBIA also plays an active
role in the daily pricing of Fund shares, provides information to the Board necessary to its oversight of certain valuation functions,
and annually conducts due diligence on the outside independent pricing services. NBIA prepares reports and other materials necessary and
appropriate for the Board’s ongoing oversight of each Fund and its service providers; prepares an extensive report in connection
with the Board’s annual review of the Management Agreement, Sub-Advisory Agreement, Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans
and, in connection therewith, gathers and synthesizes materials from the Subadviser; and monitors the Subadviser’s implementation
of its compliance program and code of ethics as they relate to the applicable Funds.
Each Management Agreement
continues until October 31, 2025. Each Management Agreement is renewable thereafter from year to year with respect to a Fund, so
long as its continuance is approved at least annually (1) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and (2) by
the vote of a majority of the Fund Trustees or by a 1940 Act majority vote of the outstanding shares of that Fund. Each Administration
Agreement continues until October 31, 2025. Each Administration Agreement is renewable thereafter from year to year with respect
to a Fund, so long as its continuance is approved at least annually (1) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and
(2) by the vote of a majority of the Fund Trustees or by a 1940 Act majority vote of the outstanding shares of that Fund.
Each Management Agreement
is terminable, without penalty, with respect to a Fund on 60 days’ written notice either by the Trust or by NBIA. Each Administration
Agreement is terminable, without penalty, with respect to a Fund on 60 days’ written notice either by the Trust or by NBIA. Each
Agreement terminates automatically if it is assigned.
From time to time, NBIA or
a Fund may enter into arrangements with registered broker-dealers or other third parties pursuant to which it pays the broker-dealer or
third party a per account fee or a fee based on a percentage of the aggregate NAV of Fund shares purchased by the broker-dealer or third
party on behalf of its customers, in payment for administrative and other services rendered to such customers.
NBIA may engage one or more
of foreign affiliates that are not registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“participating affiliates”)
in accordance with applicable SEC no-action letters. As participating affiliates, whether or not registered with the SEC, the affiliates
may provide designated investment personnel to associate with NBIA as “associated persons” of NBIA and perform specific advisory
services for NBIA, including services for the Funds, which may involve, among other services, portfolio management and/or placing orders
for securities and other instruments. The designated employees of a participating affiliate act for NBIA and are subject to certain NBIA
policies and procedures as well as supervision and periodic monitoring by NBIA. The Funds will pay no additional fees and expenses as
a result of any such arrangements. NBEL, Neuberger Berman Singapore Pte. Limited and Neuberger Berman Asset Management Ireland Limited
are considered participating affiliates of NBIA pursuant to applicable regulatory guidance.
Third parties may be subject
to federal or state laws that limit their ability to provide certain administrative or distribution related services. NBIA and the Funds
intend to contract with third parties for only those services they may legally provide. If, due to a change in laws governing those third
parties or in the interpretation of any such law, a third party is prohibited from performing some or all of the above-described services,
NBIA or a Fund may be required to find alternative means of providing those services. Any such change is not expected to impact the Funds
or their shareholders adversely.
From time to time, NBIA or its affiliates may invest
“seed” capital in a Fund. These investments are generally intended to enable the Fund to commence investment operations and
achieve sufficient scale and may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at such time as NBIA or its affiliates determine to be appropriate.
NBIA and its affiliates may, from time to time, hedge some or all of the investment exposure of the seed capital invested in the Fund.
Management and Administration Fees
For investment management
services, Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.18% of the first $2 billion of the Fund’s
average daily net assets and 0.15% of average daily net assets in excess of $2 billion. Prior to January 15, 2020, for investment management
services, Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund paid NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of the first $500 million of the Fund’s
average daily net assets, 0.225% of the next $500 million, 0.20% of the next $500 million, 0.175% of the next $500 million, and 0.15%
of average daily net assets in excess of $2 billion.
For investment management
services, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.55% of average daily net assets.
For investment management
services, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.40% of average daily net assets. Prior
to January 15, 2021, for investment management services, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund paid NBIA a fee at the annual
rate of 0.50% of average daily net assets.
For investment management
services, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.48% of average daily net assets.
For investment management
services, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.400% of the first $500 million of
the Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.375% of the next $500 million, 0.350% of the next $500 million, 0.325% of the next $500 million,
and 0.300% of average daily net assets in excess of $2 billion.
For investment management
services, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of the first $500 million of the Fund’s
average daily net assets, 0.225% of the next $500 million, 0.20% of the next $500 million, 0.175% of the next $500 million, and 0.15%
of average daily net assets in excess of $2 billion.
For investment management
services, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.14% of the Fund’s average
daily net assets. Prior to September 12, 2019, for investment management services, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond
Fund paid NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.23% of the first $500 million of the Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.225% of the
next $500 million, 0.20% of the next $500 million, 0.175% of the next $500 million and 0.15% of average daily net assets in excess of
$2 billion.
For investment management
services, Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund’s average
daily net assets.
Investor Class. For
administrative services, the Investor Class of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund,
and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund each pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.27% of that Class’s average
daily net assets, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses for technology used for shareholder servicing and shareholder communications subject
to the prior approval of an annual budget by the Fund Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and periodic reports
to the Board on actual expenses. With a Fund’s consent, NBIA may subcontract to third parties, including investment providers,
some of its responsibilities to that Fund under the Administration Agreement. In addition, a Fund may compensate third parties, including
investment providers, for recordkeeping, accounting and other services. (For the Investor Class of Neuberger Berman Core Bond
Fund, a portion of this compensation may be derived from the Rule 12b-1 fee paid to the Distributor by this Class of the Fund; see “Distribution
Arrangements” below.)
The Investor Class of
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate
Bond Fund accrued management and administration fees of the following amounts (before any reimbursement of the Funds, described below)
for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022:
Investor
Class | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Core Bond Fund | |
$ | 45,925 | | |
$ | 46,209 | | |
$ | 53,363 | |
High Income Bond Fund | |
$ | 413,272 | | |
$ | 444,479 | | |
$ | 493,057 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund | |
$ | 35,201 | | |
$ | 35,717 | | |
$ | 43,619 | |
Institutional Class. For
administrative services, the Institutional Class of each Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.15% of that Class’s average
daily net assets, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses for technology used for shareholder servicing and shareholder communications subject
to the prior approval of an annual budget by the Fund Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and periodic reports
to the Board on actual expenses. With a Fund’s consent, NBIA may subcontract to third parties, including investment providers, some
of its responsibilities to that Fund under the Administration Agreement and may compensate each such third party that provides such services.
In addition, a Fund may compensate third parties, including investment providers, for recordkeeping, accounting and other services.
The Institutional Class
of each Fund accrued management and administration fees of the following amounts (before any reimbursement of the Funds, described below)
for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022:
Institutional
Class | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Core Bond Fund | |
$ | 2,198,303 | | |
$ | 1,765,909 | | |
$ | 1,701,737 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund | |
$ | 1,049,794 | | |
$ | 916,124 | | |
$ | 1,101,153 | |
Floating Rate Income Fund | |
$ | 2,358,252 | | |
$ | 2,358,590 | | |
$ | 2,435,155 | |
High Income Bond Fund | |
$ | 2,837,736 | | |
$ | 3,428,931 | | |
$ | 5,566,805 | |
Municipal High Income Fund | |
$ | 343,626 | | |
$ | 409,314 | | |
$ | 665,906 | |
Municipal Impact Fund | |
$ | 301,558 | | |
$ | 299,090 | | |
$ | 334,013 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund | |
$ | 492,294 | | |
$ | 499,757 | | |
$ | 555,110 | |
Strategic Income Fund | |
$ | 20,106,476 | | |
$ | 12,780,665 | | |
$ | 13,215,534 | |
Trust Class. For
administrative services, the Trust Class of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.40%
of its average daily net assets, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses for technology used for shareholder servicing and shareholder communications
subject to the prior approval of an annual budget by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and periodic reports
to the Board on actual expenses. With the Fund’s consent, NBIA may subcontract to third parties, including investment providers,
some of its responsibilities to the Fund under the Administration Agreement and may compensate each such third party that provides such
services. (For the Trust Class of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, a portion of this compensation may be derived from the
Rule 12b-1 fee paid to the Distributor by this Class of the Fund; see “Distribution Arrangements” below.)
The Trust Class of Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund accrued management and administration fees of the following amounts (before any reimbursement of
the Fund, described below) for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022:
Trust
Class | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Strategic Income Fund | |
$ | 59,452 | | |
$ | 56,357 | | |
$ | 67,013 | |
Class A and Class C.
For administrative services, Class A and Class C of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets
Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal
High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund each pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.27% of that Class’s average daily net assets,
plus certain out-of-pocket expenses for technology used for shareholder servicing and shareholder communications, subject to the prior
approval of an annual budget by the Fund Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and periodic reports to the
Board on actual expenses. With a Fund’s consent, NBIA may subcontract to third parties, including investment providers, some of
its responsibilities to that Fund under the Administration Agreement, and may compensate each such third party that provides such services.
(A portion of this compensation may be derived from the Rule 12b-1 fee paid to the Distributor by Class A and Class C of each Fund; see
“Distribution Arrangements” below.)
Class A of Neuberger Berman
Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund,
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund accrued management and administration
fees of the following amounts (before any reimbursement of the Funds, described below) for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2024,
2023, and 2022:
Class
A | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Core Bond Fund | |
$ | 107,027 | | |
$ | 92,248 | | |
$ | 95,208 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund | |
$ | 5,130 | | |
$ | 3,619 | | |
$ | 3,797 | |
Floating Rate Income Fund | |
$ | 107,292 | | |
$ | 91,820 | | |
$ | 78,455 | |
High Income Bond Fund | |
$ | 102,646 | | |
$ | 94,206 | | |
$ | 111,737 | |
Municipal High Income Fund | |
$ | 5,614 | | |
$ | 6,178 | | |
$ | 7,180 | |
Municipal Impact Fund | |
$ | 607 | | |
$ | 873 | | |
$ | 642 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund | |
$ | 13,920 | | |
$ | 11,647 | | |
$ | 8,166 | |
Strategic Income Fund | |
$ | 915,989 | | |
$ | 769,513 | | |
$ | 760,844 | |
Class C of Neuberger Berman
Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund,
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund accrued management and administration
fees of the following amounts (before any reimbursement of the Funds, described below) for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2024,
2023, and 2022:
Class
C | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Core Bond Fund | |
$ | 15,441 | | |
$ | 8,962 | | |
$ | 5,210 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund | |
$ | 7,422 | | |
$ | 5,790 | | |
$ | 5,485 | |
Floating Rate Income Fund | |
$ | 36,518 | | |
$ | 41,292 | | |
$ | 46,760 | |
High Income Bond Fund | |
$ | 16,105 | | |
$ | 22,266 | | |
$ | 30,527 | |
Municipal High Income Fund | |
$ | 650 | | |
$ | 517 | | |
$ | 855 | |
Municipal Impact Fund | |
$ | 200 | | |
$ | 500 | | |
$ | 249 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund | |
$ | 2,541 | | |
$ | 1,628 | | |
$ | 4,751 | |
Strategic Income Fund | |
$ | 348,814 | | |
$ | 277,263 | | |
$ | 371,090 | |
Class R3. For administrative
services, Class R3 of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.27% of that Class’s
average daily net assets, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses for technology used for shareholder servicing and shareholder communications,
subject to the prior approval of an annual budget by the Fund Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and periodic
reports to the Board on actual expenses. With the Fund’s consent, NBIA may subcontract to third parties, including investment providers,
some of its responsibilities to the Fund under the Administration Agreement, and may compensate each such third party that provides such
services. (A portion of this compensation may be derived from the Rule 12b-1 fee paid to the Distributor by this Class of the Fund; see
“Distribution Arrangements” below.)
Class R3 of Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund accrued management and administration fees of the following amounts (before any reimbursement of
the Fund, described below) for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022:
Class R3 | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
High Income Bond Fund | |
$ | 12,451 | | |
$ | 10,653 | | |
$ | 11,722 | |
Class R6. For administrative
services, Class R6 of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic
Income Fund each pays NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.05% of that Class’s average daily net assets, plus certain out-of-pocket
expenses for technology used for shareholder servicing and shareholder communications, subject to the prior approval of an annual budget
by the Fund Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and periodic reports to the Board on actual expenses. Prior
to December 6, 2018, Class R6 of each Fund paid NBIA a fee at the annual rate of 0.08% of the Class’s average daily net assets for
administrative services, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses for technology used for shareholder servicing and shareholder communications,
subject to the prior approval of an annual budget by the Fund Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and periodic
reports to the Board on actual expenses.
Class R6 of Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund accrued
management and administration fees of the following amounts (before any reimbursement of the Funds, described below) for the fiscal years
ended October 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022:
Class
R6 | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Core Bond Fund | |
$ | 107,736 | | |
$ | 46,010 | | |
$ | 17,688 | |
High Income Bond Fund | |
$ | 636,317 | | |
$ | 641,429 | | |
$ | 1,133,051 | |
Strategic Income Fund | |
$ | 2,217,466 | | |
$ | 1,889,354 | | |
$ | 1,915,298 | |
For administrative services,
Class E of each Fund pays NBIA a fee at an annual rate of 0.00% of the Class’s average daily net assets, plus certain out-of-pocket
expenses for technology used for shareholder servicing and shareholder communications, subject to the prior approval of an annual budget
by the Fund Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees, and periodic reports to the Board on actual expenses.
During the fiscal years
ended October 31, 2024, and 2023, Class E of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund accrued management and administration fees
as follows:
Class
E | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022* | |
High Income Bond | |
$ | 89,342 | | |
$ | 77,447 | | |
$ | 61,850 | |
| * | Class E commenced operations on January 11, 2022. |
Contractual Expense Limitations
NBIA has contractually undertaken,
during the respective period noted below, to waive fees and/or reimburse annual operating expenses of each Class of each Fund listed below
so that its total operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales,
acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, and extraordinary expenses, if any) (“Operating
Expenses”) do not exceed the rate per annum noted below. Commitment fees relating to borrowings are treated as interest for purposes
of this exclusion. Because the contractual undertaking excludes certain expenses, a Fund’s net expenses may exceed its contractual
expense limitation.
Each Fund listed agrees to
repay NBIA out of assets attributable to each of its respective Classes noted below for any fees waived by NBIA under the expense limitation
or any Operating Expenses NBIA reimburses in excess of the expense limitation, provided that the repayment does not cause that Class’
Operating Expenses to exceed the expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived and/or the expenses were reimbursed, or
the expense limitation in place at the time the Fund repays NBIA, whichever is lower. Any such repayment must be made within three years
after the year in which NBIA incurred the expense.
With respect to any Fund,
the appropriateness of these undertakings is determined on a Fund-by-Fund and Class-by-Class basis.
Fund |
Class |
Limitation
Period |
Expense
Limitation |
Core Bond Fund |
Class A |
10/31/2028 |
0.78%~ |
|
Class C |
10/31/2028 |
1.53%~ ~ |
|
Investor |
10/31/2028 |
0.78%~ |
|
Institutional |
10/31/2028 |
0.38%~ ~ ~ |
|
R6 |
10/31/2028 |
0.28%~ ~ ~ ~ |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
Class A |
10/31/2028 |
1.15% |
|
Class C |
10/31/2028 |
1.90% |
|
Institutional |
10/31/2028 |
0.78% |
Floating Rate Income Fund |
Class A |
10/31/2028 |
0.97%^ |
|
Class C |
10/31/2028 |
1.72%^^ |
|
Institutional |
10/31/2028 |
0.60%^^^ |
High Income Bond Fund |
Institutional |
10/31/2028 |
0.75% |
|
Investor |
10/31/2028 |
1.00% |
|
Class A |
10/31/2028 |
1.12% |
|
Class C |
10/31/2028 |
1.87% |
|
R3 |
10/31/2028 |
1.37% |
|
R6 |
10/31/2028 |
0.65% |
Fund |
Class |
Limitation
Period |
Expense
Limitation |
Municipal High Income Fund |
Institutional |
10/31/2028 |
0.50% |
|
Class A |
10/31/2028 |
0.87% |
|
Class C |
10/31/2028 |
1.62% |
Municipal Impact Fund |
Institutional |
10/31/2028 |
0.43% |
|
Class A |
10/31/2028 |
0.80% |
|
Class C |
10/31/2028 |
1.55% |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund |
Investor |
10/31/2028 |
0.45% |
|
Class A |
10/31/2028 |
0.67% |
|
Class C |
10/31/2028 |
1.42% |
|
Institutional |
10/31/2028 |
0.30% |
Strategic Income Fund |
Class A |
10/31/2028 |
0.99% |
|
Class C |
10/31/2028 |
1.69% |
|
Institutional |
10/31/2028 |
0.59% |
|
Trust |
10/31/2028 |
0.94% |
|
R6 |
10/31/2028 |
0.49% |
~ 0.85% prior to January
15, 2020.
~ ~ 1.60% prior to
January 15, 2020.
~ ~ ~ 0.45% prior
to January 15, 2020.
~ ~ ~ ~ 0.35 prior
to January 15, 2020.
^ 1.07% prior to January
15, 2021.
^^ 1.82% prior to
January 15, 2021.
^^^ 0.70% prior to
January 15, 2021.
NBIA reimbursed each Class
of each Fund listed below the following amount of expenses pursuant to that Fund’s contractual expense limitation:
Fund | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Core Bond Fund – Class A | |
$ | 538 | | |
$ | 3,727 | | |
$ | 3,834 | |
Core Bond Fund – Class C | |
$ | 391 | | |
$ | 618 | | |
$ | 511 | |
Core Bond Fund – Investor Class | |
$ | 15,647 | | |
$ | 14,528 | | |
$ | 17,290 | |
Core Bond Fund – Institutional Class | |
$ | 187,968 | | |
$ | 232,273 | | |
$ | 219,953 | |
Core Bond Fund – Class R6 | |
$ | 13,006 | | |
$ | 10,361 | | |
$ | 4,462 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund - Class A | |
$ | 1,872 | | |
$ | 1,956 | | |
$ | 1,777 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund - Class C | |
$ | 2,219 | | |
$ | 2,016 | | |
$ | 1,843 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund - Institutional Class | |
$ | 334,209 | | |
$ | 343,109 | | |
$ | 347,064 | |
Floating Rate Income Fund – Class A | |
$ | 17,660 | | |
$ | 18,698 | | |
$ | 15,422 | |
Floating Rate Income Fund – Class C | |
$ | 5,109 | | |
$ | 6,780 | | |
$ | 8,329 | |
Floating Rate Income Fund – Institutional Class | |
$ | 361,391 | | |
$ | 449,378 | | |
$ | 494,544 | |
Municipal High Income Fund – Institutional Class | |
$ | 337,865 | | |
$ | 345,088 | | |
$ | 368,149 | |
Municipal High Income Fund – Class A | |
$ | 6,904 | | |
$ | 4,146 | | |
$ | 6,041 | |
Municipal High Income Fund – Class C | |
$ | 1,965 | | |
$ | 290 | | |
$ | 2,728 | |
Municipal Impact Fund – Class A | |
$ | 2,185 | | |
$ | 445 | | |
$ | 2,788 | |
Municipal Impact Fund – Class C | |
$ | 1,565 | | |
$ | 295 | | |
$ | 2,471 | |
Municipal Impact Fund – Institutional Class | |
$ | 319,045 | | |
$ | 310,517 | | |
$ | 315,217 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund – Investor Class | |
$ | 21,347 | | |
$ | 17,677 | | |
$ | 22,599 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund – Class A | |
$ | 7,571 | | |
$ | 4,759 | | |
$ | 5,749 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund – Class C | |
$ | 2,364 | | |
$ | 244 | | |
$ | 4,207 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund – Institutional Class | |
$ | 311,393 | | |
$ | 308,562 | | |
$ | 306,017 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Class C | |
$ | 8,764 | | |
$ | 11,667 | | |
$ | 18,239 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Institutional Class | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 87,652 | | |
$ | 209,081 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Trust Class | |
$ | 5,803 | | |
$ | 3,707 | | |
$ | 4,533 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Class R6 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 22,907 | | |
$ | 40,769 | |
Each Class of each Fund
listed below repaid NBIA the following amounts of expenses that NBIA had reimbursed to each Class.
| |
Expenses
Repaid for Fiscal Years Ended
October 31, | |
Fund | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
High Income Bond Fund – Class A | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 4,199 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Class A | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 8,697 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Institutional Class | |
$ | 263,167 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Class R6 | |
$ | 30,130 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Contractual Fee Waiver
Class E. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive its
management fee for the Class E shares until October 31, 2026. This undertaking may not be terminated during its term without the consent
of the Board. During the fiscal years ended fiscal years ended October 31, 2024, and 2023, NBIA waived its management fee for Class
E for Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund as follows:
Class E | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022* | |
High Income Bond | |
$ | 89,342 | | |
$ | 77,447 | | |
$ | 61,846 | |
| * | Class E commenced operations on January 11, 2022. |
Advisory Fee Waiver
For so long as a Fund invests
any assets in an affiliated underlying fund (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes affiliated underlying ETFs), NBIA undertakes
to waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee equal to (i) the advisory fee it receives from such affiliated underlying fund on
those assets, as described in the affiliated underlying fund’s prospectus; or (ii) for any affiliated underlying fund for which
NBIA is paid a unitary management fee (as opposed to a separate advisory fee and administration fee), the fees paid to NBIA or its affiliates
but excluding the expenses paid by NBIA or its affiliates to third-party service providers of the affiliated underlying fund. This undertaking
may not be terminated without the consent of the Board.
The table below shows the
amounts reimbursed by NBIA pursuant to this arrangement:
| |
Expenses
Reimbursed for Fiscal Years Ended
October 31, | |
Fund | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Trust Class | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 14 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Institutional Class | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 3,788 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Class A | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 202 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Class C | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 79 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Class R6 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 776 | |
Sub-Adviser
NBIA retains NBEL, Lansdowne
House, 57 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6ER, as sub-adviser with respect to Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund pursuant
to a sub-advisory agreement dated December 1, 2013.
Pursuant to the sub-advisory
agreement, NBIA has delegated responsibility for the Fund’s day-to-day investment management to NBEL. The sub-advisory agreement
provides in substance that NBEL will make and implement investment decisions for the Fund in its discretion and will continuously develop
an investment program for the portion of the Fund’s assets allocated to it. The sub-advisory agreement permits NBEL to effect securities
transactions on behalf of the Fund through associated persons of NBEL. The sub-advisory agreement also specifically permits NBEL to compensate,
through higher commissions, brokers and dealers who provide investment research and analysis to the Fund.
The sub-advisory agreement
continues until October 31, 2025 for the Fund and is renewable from year to year thereafter, subject to approval of its continuance
in the same manner as each Management Agreement. The sub-advisory agreement is subject to termination, without penalty, with respect
to the Fund by the Fund Trustees or by a 1940 Act majority vote of the outstanding shares of that Fund, by NBIA, or by NBEL on not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior written notice to the Fund. The sub-advisory agreement also terminates automatically
with respect to the Fund if it is assigned or if the Management Agreement terminates with respect to the Fund.
Portfolio Manager Information
The table below lists the Portfolio Manager(s)
of each Fund and the Fund(s) for which the Portfolio Manager has day-to-day management responsibility.
Portfolio Manager |
Fund(s) Managed |
Thanos Bardas |
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund |
|
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund |
Ashok Bhatia |
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund |
David M. Brown |
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund |
|
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund |
Stephen Casey |
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund |
Robert Dishner |
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund |
Rob Drijkoningen |
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
Jennifer Gorgoll |
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
Jeffrey Hunn |
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund |
James L. Iselin |
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund |
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund |
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund |
Vera Kartseva |
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
Christopher Kocinski |
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund |
Nathan Kush |
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund |
Joseph Lind |
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund |
Raoul Luttik |
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
Joseph Lynch |
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund |
S. Blake Miller |
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund |
Portfolio Manager |
Fund(s)
Managed |
|
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund |
|
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund |
Olumide
Owolabi |
Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund |
Eric
Pelio |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund |
Nish
Popat |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
Thomas
Sobanski |
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund |
Gorky
Urquieta |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
Bart
Van der Made |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
Accounts Managed
The table below describes the accounts for which each Portfolio
Manager has day-to-day management responsibility as of October 31, 2024, unless otherwise indicated.
Type of Account |
Number
of
Accounts
Managed |
Total Assets
Managed
($ millions) |
Number of
Accounts
Managed for
which Advisory
Fee is
Performance-
Based |
Assets Managed for
which Advisory Fee is
Performance-Based
($ millions) |
Thanos Bardas*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
18 |
7,406 |
10 |
192 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
15 |
4,009 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
69 |
23,843 |
- |
- |
Ashok Bhatia*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
13 |
7,388 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
22 |
12,009 |
1 |
848 |
Other Accounts** |
28 |
7,083 |
- |
- |
Type of Account |
Number
of
Accounts
Managed |
Total Assets
Managed
($ millions) |
Number of
Accounts
Managed for
which Advisory
Fee is
Performance-
Based |
Assets Managed for
which Advisory Fee is
Performance-Based
($ millions) |
David M. Brown*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
26 |
7,751 |
10 |
192 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
112 |
29,489 |
1 |
848 |
Other Accounts** |
339 |
41,694 |
- |
- |
Stephen Casey*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
1 |
466 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
96 |
27,090 |
35 |
16,882 |
Other Accounts** |
19 |
264 |
1 |
6 |
Robert Dishner***^ |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
5,489 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
8 |
6,829 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
1 |
145 |
- |
- |
Rob Drijkoningen*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
914 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
29 |
14,389 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
31 |
8,933 |
1 |
681 |
Type of Account |
Number
of
Accounts
Managed |
Total Assets
Managed
($ millions) |
Number of
Accounts
Managed for
which Advisory
Fee is
Performance-
Based |
Assets Managed for
which Advisory Fee is
Performance-Based
($ millions) |
Jennifer Gorgoll*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
883 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
14 |
8,697 |
1 |
655 |
Other Accounts** |
3 |
1,396 |
- |
- |
Jeffrey Hunn*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
1 |
74 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
579 |
827 |
- |
- |
James L. Iselin*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
5 |
1,535 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
5 |
285 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
67 |
2,793 |
- |
- |
Vera Kartseva*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
883 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
6 |
1,467 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Type of Account |
Number
of
Accounts
Managed |
Total Assets
Managed
($ millions) |
Number of
Accounts
Managed for
which Advisory
Fee is
Performance-
Based |
Assets Managed for
which Advisory Fee is
Performance-Based
($ millions) |
Christopher Kocinski*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
953 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
21 |
10,038 |
1 |
655 |
Other Accounts** |
21 |
5,532 |
3 |
244 |
Nathan Kush*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
17 |
2,082 |
10 |
192 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
5 |
1,007 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
28 |
8,129 |
- |
- |
Joseph Lind*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
953 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
21 |
10,038 |
1 |
655 |
Other Accounts** |
22 |
5,604 |
3 |
244 |
Raoul Luttik*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
883 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
11 |
3,403 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
5 |
2,406 |
- |
- |
Type of Account |
Number
of
Accounts
Managed |
Total Assets
Managed
($ millions) |
Number of
Accounts
Managed for
which Advisory
Fee is
Performance-
Based |
Assets Managed for
which Advisory Fee is
Performance-Based
($ millions) |
Joseph Lynch*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
3 |
957 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
104 |
31,609 |
36 |
17,730 |
Other Accounts** |
33 |
6,486 |
1 |
6 |
S. Blake Miller*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
4 |
909 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
430 |
1,488 |
- |
- |
Olumide Owolabi *** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
7 |
1,414 |
1 |
91 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
3 |
764 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
49 |
15,035 |
- |
- |
Eric Pelio*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
1 |
64 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
12 |
1,960 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
30 |
109 |
- |
- |
Type of Account |
Number
of
Accounts
Managed |
Total Assets
Managed
($ millions) |
Number of
Accounts
Managed for
which Advisory
Fee is
Performance-
Based |
Assets Managed for
which Advisory Fee is
Performance-Based
($ millions) |
Nish Popat*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
883 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
14 |
7,539 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
7 |
1,835 |
- |
- |
Thomas Sobanski***^ |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
5,489 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
5 |
6,633 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Gorky Urquieta*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
914 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
29 |
14,389 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
31 |
8,933 |
1 |
681 |
Bart Van der Made*** |
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies* |
2 |
891 |
- |
- |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
19 |
12,200 |
- |
- |
Other Accounts** |
21 |
5,748 |
1 |
681 |
| * | Registered Investment Companies include all funds managed by
the Portfolio Manager, including the Funds. |
| ** | Other Accounts include: Institutional Separate Accounts, Sub-Advised
Accounts, and Managed Accounts (WRAP Accounts). |
| *** | A portion of certain accounts may be managed by other Portfolio
Managers; however, the total assets of such accounts are included even though the Portfolio Manager listed is not involved in the day-to-day
management of the entire account. |
| ^ | Information as of November
1, 2024. |
Conflicts of Interest
Actual or apparent conflicts
of interest may arise when a Portfolio Manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one Fund or other
account. The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) may give rise to actual or potential conflicts
of interest if the funds and accounts have different or similar objectives, benchmarks, time horizons, and fees, as the Portfolio Manager
must allocate his or her time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. The Portfolio Manager may execute transactions
for another fund or account that may adversely impact the value of securities or instruments held by a Fund, and which may include transactions
that are directly contrary to the positions taken by a Fund. For example, a Portfolio Manager may engage in short sales of securities
or instruments for another account that are the same type of securities or instruments in which a Fund it manages also invests. In such
a case, the Portfolio Manager could be seen as harming the performance of the Fund for the benefit of the account engaging in short sales
if the short sales cause the market value of the securities or instruments to fall. Additionally, if a Portfolio Manager identifies a
limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one fund or other account, a Fund may not be able to take full advantage
of that opportunity. There may also be regulatory limitations that prevent a Fund from participating in a transaction that another account
or fund managed by the same Portfolio Manager will invest. For example, the 1940 Act prohibits the Funds from participating in certain
transactions with certain of its affiliates and from participating in “joint” transactions alongside certain of its affiliates.
The prohibition on “joint” transactions may limit the ability of the Funds to participate alongside its affiliates in privately
negotiated transactions unless the transaction is otherwise permitted under existing regulatory guidance and may reduce the amount of
privately negotiated transactions that the Funds may participate. Further, the Manager may take an investment position or action for a
fund or account that may be different from, inconsistent with, or have different rights than (e.g., voting rights, dividend or repayment
priorities or other features that may conflict with one another), an action or position taken for one or more other funds or accounts,
including a Fund, having similar or different objectives. A conflict may also be created by investing in different parts of an issuer’s
capital structure (e.g., equity or debt, or different positions in the debt structure). Those positions and actions may adversely impact,
or in some instances benefit, one or more affected accounts, including the funds. Potential conflicts may also arise because portfolio
decisions and related actions regarding a position held for a fund or another account may not be in the best interests of a position held
by another fund or account having similar or different objectives. If one account were to buy or sell portfolio securities or instruments
shortly before another account bought or sold the same securities or instruments, it could affect the price paid or received by the second
account. Securities selected for funds or accounts other than a Fund may outperform the securities selected for the Fund. Finally, a conflict
of interest may arise if the Manager and a Portfolio Manager have a financial incentive to favor one account over another, such as a performance-based
management fee that applies to one account but not all funds or accounts for which the Portfolio Manager is responsible. In the ordinary
course of operations, certain businesses within the Neuberger Berman organization (the “Firm”) will seek access to material
non-public information. For instance, NBIA portfolio managers may obtain and utilize material non-public information in purchasing loans
and other debt instruments and certain privately placed or restricted equity instruments. From time to time, NBIA portfolio managers will
be offered the opportunity on behalf of applicable clients to participate on a creditors or other similar committee in connection with
restructuring or other “work-out” activity, which participation could provide access to material non-public information. The
Firm maintains procedures that address the process by which material non-public information may be acquired intentionally by the Firm.
When considering whether to acquire material non-public information, the Firm will attempt to balance the interests of all clients, taking
into consideration relevant factors, including the extent of the prohibition on trading that would occur, the size of the Firm’s
existing position in the issuer, if any, and the value of the information as it relates to the investment decision-making process. The
acquisition of material non-public information would likely give rise to a conflict of interest since the Firm may be prohibited from
rendering investment advice to clients regarding the securities or instruments of such issuer and thereby potentially limiting the universe
of securities or instruments that the Firm, including a Fund, may purchase or potentially limiting the ability of the Firm, including
a Fund, to sell such securities or instruments. Similarly, where the Firm declines access to (or otherwise does not receive or share within
the Firm) material non-public information regarding an issuer, the portfolio managers could potentially base investment decisions with
respect to assets of such issuer solely on public information, thereby limiting the amount of information available to the portfolio managers
in connection with such investment decisions. In determining whether or not to elect to receive material non-public information, the Firm
will endeavor to act fairly to its clients as a whole. The Firm reserves the right to decline access to material non-public information,
including declining to join a creditors or similar committee.
NBIA, NBEL and each Fund have
adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such
procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers
Our compensation philosophy
is one that focuses on rewarding performance and incentivizing our employees. We are also focused on creating a compensation process that
we believe is fair, transparent, and competitive with the market.
Compensation for Portfolio
Managers consists of either (i) fixed (salary) and variable (discretionary bonus) compensation but is more heavily weighted on the variable
portion of total compensation, (ii) on a production model, whereby formulaic compensation is paid from the team compensation pool on a
fixed schedule (typically monthly) or (iii) a combination of salary, bonus and/or production compensation. Compensation is paid from a
team compensation pool made available to the portfolio management team with which the Portfolio Manager is associated. The size
of the team compensation pool is determined based on a formula that takes into consideration a number of factors including the pre-tax
revenue that is generated by that particular portfolio management team, less certain adjustments. The amount allocated to individual Portfolio
Managers is determined on the basis of a variety of criteria, including investment performance (including the aggregate multi-year track
record), utilization of central resources (including research, sales and operations/support), business building to further the longer
term sustainable success of the investment team, effective team/people management, and overall contribution to the success of Neuberger
Berman. Certain Portfolio Managers may manage products other than mutual funds, such as high net worth separate accounts. The share of
pre-tax revenue a Portfolio Manager receives pursuant to any such arrangement will vary based on certain revenue thresholds.
The terms of our long-term
retention incentives are as follows:
Employee-Owned Equity.
Certain employees (primarily senior leadership and investment professionals) participated in Neuberger Berman’s equity ownership
structure, which was launched as part of the firm’s management buyout in 2009 and designed to incentivize and retain key personnel.
We currently offer an equity acquisition program which allows employees a more direct opportunity to invest in Neuberger Berman.
Contingent Compensation.
Certain employees may participate in the Neuberger Berman Group Contingent Compensation Plan (the “CCP”) to serve as a means
to further align the interests of our employees with the success of the firm and the interests of our clients, and to reward continued
employment. Under the CCP, up to 20% of a participant’s annual total compensation in excess of $500,000 is contingent and subject
to vesting. The contingent amounts are maintained in a notional account that is tied to the performance of a portfolio of Neuberger Berman
investment strategies as specified by the firm on an employee-by-employee basis. By having a participant’s contingent compensation
tied to Neuberger Berman investment strategies, each employee is given further incentive to operate as a prudent risk manager and to collaborate
with colleagues to maximize performance across all business areas. In the case of members of investment teams, including Portfolio Managers,
the CCP is currently structured so that such employees have exposure to the investment strategies of their respective teams as well as
the broader Neuberger Berman portfolio.
Restrictive Covenants.
Most investment professionals, including Portfolio Managers, are subject to notice periods and restrictive covenants which include
employee and client non-solicit restrictions as well as restrictions on the use of confidential information. In addition, depending on
participation levels, certain senior professionals who have received equity grants have also agreed to additional notice and transition
periods and, in some cases, non-compete restrictions.
Ownership of Securities
Set forth below is the
dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Portfolio Manager in the Fund(s) that the Portfolio Manager manages, as
of October 31, 2024, unless otherwise indicated.
Portfolio Manager |
Fund(s)
Managed |
Dollar
Range of
Equity Securities
Owned in the Fund |
Thanos
Bardas |
Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund |
E |
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund |
G |
Ashok
Bhatia |
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund |
F |
David
M. Brown |
Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund |
A |
|
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund |
F |
Stephen
Casey |
Neuberger
Berman Floating Rate Income Fund |
E |
Robert
Dishner^ |
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund |
C |
Rob
Drijkoningen |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
F |
Jennifer
Gorgoll |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
C |
Jeffrey
Hunn |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund |
A |
James
L. Iselin |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund |
G |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund |
G |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund |
G |
Vera
Kartseva |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
B |
Christopher
Kocinski |
Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund |
G |
Nathan
Kush |
Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund |
C |
Joseph
Lind |
Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund |
G |
Raoul
Luttik |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
E |
Joseph
Lynch |
Neuberger
Berman Floating Rate Income Fund |
G |
S.
Blake Miller |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund |
B |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund |
C |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund |
C |
Olumide
Owolabi |
Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund |
C |
Portfolio Manager |
Fund(s)
Managed |
Dollar
Range of
Equity Securities
Owned in the Fund |
Eric
Pelio |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund |
B |
Nish
Popat |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
D |
Thomas
Sobanski^ |
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund |
A |
Gorky
Urquieta |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
G |
Bart
Van der Made |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
E |
A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001 - $50,000;
D = $50,001-$100,000;
E = $100,001 - $500,000; F = $500,001 - $1,000,000;
G = Over $1,000,001
^ Information as of December 31, 2024.
Other Investment Companies or Accounts Managed
The investment decisions concerning
the Funds and the other registered investment companies managed by NBIA and/or NBEL (collectively, “Other NB Funds”) have
been and will continue to be made independently of one another. In terms of their investment objectives, most of the Other NB Funds differ
from the Funds. Even where the investment objectives are similar, however, the methods used by the Other NB Funds and the Funds to achieve
their objectives may differ. The investment results achieved by all of the registered investment companies managed by NBIA and NBEL have
varied from one another in the past and are likely to vary in the future. In addition, NBIA or its affiliates may manage one or more Other
NB Funds or other accounts with similar investment objectives and strategies as the Funds that may have risks that are greater or less
than the Funds.
There may be occasions when
a Fund and one or more of the Other NB Funds or other accounts managed by NBIA or NBEL are contemporaneously engaged in purchasing or
selling the same securities from or to third parties. When this occurs, the transactions may be aggregated to obtain favorable execution
to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations. The transactions will be allocated according to one or more methods designed
to ensure that the allocation is equitable to the funds and accounts involved. Although in some cases this arrangement may have a detrimental
effect on the price or volume of the securities as to a Fund, in other cases it is believed that a Fund’s ability to participate
in volume transactions may produce better executions for it. In any case, it is the judgment of the Fund Trustees that the desirability
of a Fund having its advisory arrangements with NBIA and, as applicable, NBEL outweighs any disadvantages that may result from contemporaneous
transactions.
The Funds are subject to certain
limitations imposed on all advisory clients of NBIA or NBEL (including the Funds, the Other NB Funds, and other managed funds or accounts)
and personnel of NBIA or NBEL and their affiliates. These include, for example, limits that may be imposed in certain industries or by
certain companies, and policies of NBIA or NBEL that limit the aggregate purchases, by all accounts under management, of the outstanding
shares of public companies.
Codes of Ethics
The Funds, NBIA, and NBEL
have personal securities trading policies that restrict the personal securities transactions of employees, officers, and Fund Trustees.
Their primary purpose is to ensure that personal trading by these individuals does not disadvantage any fund managed by NBIA. The Funds’
Portfolio Managers and other investment personnel who comply with the policies’ preclearance and disclosure procedures may be permitted
to purchase, sell or hold certain types of securities which also may be or are held in the funds they advise, but are restricted from
trading in close conjunction with their funds or taking personal advantage of investment opportunities that may belong to the funds. Text-only
versions of the Codes of Ethics can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet web site at www.sec.gov.
Management and Control of NBIA and NBEL
NBIA and NBEL are indirect
subsidiaries of Neuberger Berman Group LLC (“NBG”). The directors, officers and/or employees of NBIA who are deemed “control
persons” are: Joseph Amato, Ashok Bhatia, Kenneth deRegt, Douglas Kramer, and Stephen Wright. Mr. Amato is a Trustee of the Trust.
The directors, officers and/or employees of NBEL who are deemed “control persons,” all of whom have offices at the same address
as NBEL, are: Dik Van Lomwel, Joseph Amato and Heather Zuckerman.
NBG’s voting equity is
owned by NBSH Acquisition, LLC (“NBSH”). NBSH is owned by portfolio managers, members of the NBG’s management team,
and certain of NBG’s key employees and senior professionals.
DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS
Each Fund offers the classes
of shares shown below:
Fund |
Investor
Class |
Trust
Class |
Institutional
Class |
Class
A |
Class
C |
Class
R3 |
Class
R6 |
Class
E |
Core
Bond Fund |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
Emerging
Markets Debt Fund |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Floating
Rate Income Fund |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
High
Income Bond Fund |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Municipal
High Income Fund |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Municipal
Impact Fund |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Municipal
Intermediate Bond Fund |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Strategic
Income Fund |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
Distributor
Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“Neuberger
Berman” or the “Distributor”) serves as the distributor in connection with the continuous offering of each Fund’s
shares. Investor Class, Trust Class, Institutional Class, Class R6, and Class E shares are offered on a no-load basis. As described in
the Funds’ Prospectuses, certain classes are available only through investment providers (“Institutions”) that have
made arrangements with the Distributor and/or NBIA for shareholder servicing and administration and/or entered into selling agreements
with the Distributor and/or NBIA.
In connection with the
sale of its shares, each Fund has authorized the Distributor to give only the information, and to make only the statements and representations,
contained in the Prospectuses and this SAI or that properly may be included in sales literature and advertisements in accordance with
the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, and applicable rules of self-regulatory organizations. Sales may be made only by a Prospectus, which may
be delivered personally, through the mails, or by electronic means. The Distributor is the Funds’ “principal underwriter”
within the meaning of the 1940 Act. It acts as agent in arranging for the sale of Investor Class shares of Neuberger Berman Core Bond
Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, Institutional
Class shares of each Fund, Trust Class shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, and Class R6 shares of Neuberger Berman
Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund without sales
commission or other compensation and either it or its affiliates bear all advertising and promotion expenses incurred in the sale of
those shares. The Distributor also acts as agent in arranging for the sale of Class A and Class C shares of each Fund offering Class
A and Class C shares and of Class R3 and Class E shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, to Institutions and either
it or its affiliates bear all advertising and promotion expenses incurred in the sale of those shares. However, for Class A shares, the
Distributor receives commission revenue consisting of the portion of the Class A sales charge remaining after the allowances by the Distributor
to Institutions. For Class C shares, the Distributor receives any contingent deferred sales charges that apply during the first year
after purchase. A Fund pays the Distributor for advancing the immediate service fees and commissions paid to qualified Institutions in
connection with Class C shares.
Sales charge revenues collected
and retained by the Distributor for the past three fiscal years are shown in the following table.
| |
| |
Sales Charge Revenue | | |
Deferred Sales Charge Revenue | |
Fund | |
Fiscal
Year Ended October
31, | |
Amount
Paid
to Distributor | | |
Amount
Retained by Distributor | | |
Amount
Paid to Distributor | | |
Amount
Retained by Distributor | |
Core Bond Fund – Class A | |
2024 | |
$ | 21,322 | | |
$ | 1,043 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 52,757 | | |
$ | 2,618 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 11,389 | | |
$ | 765 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Core Bond Fund – Class C | |
2024 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 1,009 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 31 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund – Class A | |
2024 | |
$ | 1,626 | | |
$ | 107 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 2,823 | | |
$ | 205 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 449 | | |
$ | 36 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund – Class C | |
2024 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 94 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Floating Rate Income Fund – Class A | |
2024 | |
$ | 43,450 | | |
$ | 3,607 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 24,555 | | |
$ | 1,916 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 82,285 | | |
$ | 9,842 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
| |
Sales Charge Revenue | | |
Deferred Sales Charge Revenue | |
Fund | |
Fiscal
Year Ended October
31, | |
Amount
Paid to Distributor | | |
Amount Retained by Distributor | | |
Amount Paid to
Distributor | | |
Amount Retained by Distributor | |
Floating Rate Income Fund – Class C | |
2024 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 100 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 219 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 1,493 | | |
$ | 0 | |
High Income Bond Fund – Class A | |
2024 | |
$ | 4,122 | | |
$ | 257 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 1,167 | | |
$ | 72 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 1,330 | | |
$ | 76 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
High Income Bond Fund – Class C | |
2024 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 110 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 191 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Municipal High Income Fund -- Class A | |
2024 | |
$ | 425 | | |
$ | 25 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 733 | | |
$ | 182 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 13,921 | | |
$ | 228 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Municipal High Income Fund -- Class C | |
2024 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Municipal Impact Fund -- Class A | |
2024 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Municipal Impact Fund -- Class C | |
2024 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund – Class A | |
2024 | |
$ | 1,339 | | |
$ | 104 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 19,846 | | |
$ | 217 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
| |
Sales Charge Revenue | | |
Deferred Sales Charge Revenue | |
Fund | |
Fiscal Year EndedOctober
31, | |
Amount
Paid to Distributor | | |
Amount Retained by Distributor | | |
Amount Paid to
Distributor | | |
Amount Retained by Distributor | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund – Class C | |
2024 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Class A | |
2024 | |
$ | 288,638 | | |
$ | 46,549 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 169,562 | | |
$ | 12,629 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 48,461 | | |
$ | 4,616 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
Strategic Income Fund – Class C | |
2024 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 10,249 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2023 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 4,778 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
2022 | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 0 | | |
$ | 9,835 | | |
$ | 0 | |
For each Fund that offers
a Class that is sold directly to investors, the Distributor or one of its affiliates may, from time to time, deem it desirable to offer
to shareholders of the Fund, through use of its shareholder list, the shares of other mutual funds for which the Distributor acts as distributor
or other products or services. Any such use of the Funds’ shareholder lists, however, will be made subject to terms and conditions,
if any, approved by a majority of the Independent Fund Trustees. These lists will not be used to offer the Funds’ shareholders any
investment products or services other than those managed by NBIA or distributed by the Distributor.
From time to time, the Distributor
and/or NBIA and/or their affiliates may enter into arrangements pursuant to which it compensates a registered broker-dealer or other third
party for services in connection with the distribution of Fund shares.
The Trust, on behalf of
each Fund, and the Distributor are parties to (i) Distribution Agreements with respect to Investor Class of each Fund offering Investor
Class (except Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund), Institutional Class of each Fund, and Class R6 shares of Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, and (ii) Distribution
and Services Agreements with respect to Investor Class of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Trust Class of Neuberger Berman Strategic
Income Fund, Class A and Class C of each Fund offering Class A and Class C, and Class R3 and Class E of Neuberger Berman High
Income Bond Fund (collectively, the “Distribution Agreements”). The Distribution Agreements continue until October 31,
2025. The Distribution Agreements may be renewed annually with respect to a Fund if specifically approved by (1) the vote of a majority
of the Independent Fund Trustees, and (2) the vote of a majority of the Fund Trustees or a 1940 Act majority vote of the outstanding
shares of that Fund. The Distribution Agreements may be terminated by either party and will terminate automatically on their assignment,
in the same manner as each Management Agreement.
Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries
The Distributor and/or NBIA
and/or their affiliates may pay additional compensation and/or provide incentives (out of their own resources and not as an expense of
the Funds) to certain brokers, dealers, or other financial intermediaries (“Financial Intermediaries”) in connection with
the sale, distribution, retention and/or servicing of Fund shares. Neuberger Berman does not provide ongoing payments to third parties
for any record-keeping or administrative services in connection with investments in Class R6 shares.
Such payments (often referred
to as revenue sharing payments) are intended to provide additional compensation to Financial Intermediaries for various services, including
without limitation, participating in joint advertising with a Financial Intermediary, granting the Distributor’s and/or NBIA’s
and/or their affiliates’ personnel reasonable access to a Financial Intermediary’s financial advisers and consultants, and
allowing the Distributor’s and/or NBIA’s and/or their affiliates’ personnel to attend conferences. The Distributor and/or
NBIA and/or their affiliates may make other payments or allow other promotional incentives to Financial Intermediaries to the extent permitted
by SEC and FINRA rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.
In addition, the Distributor
and/or NBIA and/or their affiliates may pay for: placing the Funds on the Financial Intermediary’s sales system, preferred or recommended
fund list, providing periodic and ongoing education and training of Financial Intermediary personnel regarding the Funds; disseminating
to Financial Intermediary personnel information and product marketing materials regarding the Funds; explaining to clients the features
and characteristics of the Funds; conducting due diligence regarding the Funds; providing reasonable access to sales meetings, sales representatives
and management representatives of a Financial Intermediary; training, due diligence, sales reporting data or information and other promotional
incentives, and furnishing marketing support and other services. Additional compensation also may include non-cash compensation, financial
assistance to Financial Intermediaries in connection with conferences, seminars for the public and advertising campaigns, technical and
systems support and reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a Financial Intermediary charges its representatives for effecting transactions
in Fund shares) and other similar charges.
The level of such payments
made to Financial Intermediaries may be a fixed fee or based upon one or more of the following factors: reputation in the industry, ability
to attract and retain assets, target markets, customer relationships, quality of service, actual or expected sales, current assets and/or
number of accounts of the Fund attributable to the Financial Intermediary, the particular Fund or fund type or other measures as agreed
to by the Distributor and/or NBIA and/or their affiliates and the Financial Intermediaries or any combination thereof. The amount of these
payments is determined at the discretion of the Distributor and/or NBIA and/or their affiliates from time to time, may be substantial,
and may be different for different Financial Intermediaries based on, for example, the nature of the services provided by the Financial
Intermediary.
Receipt of, or the prospect
of receiving, this additional compensation, may influence a Financial Intermediary’s recommendation of the Funds or of any particular
share class of the Funds. These payment arrangements, however, will not change the price that an investor pays for Fund shares or the
amount that a Fund receives to invest on behalf of an investor and will not increase Fund expenses. You should review your Financial Intermediary’s
compensation disclosure and/or talk to your Financial Intermediary to obtain more information on how this compensation may have influenced
your Financial Intermediary’s recommendation of a Fund.
In addition to the compensation
described above, the Funds and/or the Distributor and/or NBIA and/or their affiliates may pay fees to Financial Intermediaries and their
affiliated persons for maintaining Fund share balances and/or for subaccounting, administrative or transaction processing services related
to the maintenance of accounts for retirement and benefit plans and other omnibus accounts (“subaccounting fees”). Such subaccounting
fees paid by the Funds may differ depending on the Fund and are designed to be equal to or less than the fees the Funds would pay to their
transfer agent for similar services. Because some subaccounting fees are directly related to the number of accounts and assets for which
a Financial Intermediary provides services, these fees will increase with the success of the Financial Intermediary’s sales activities.
The Distributor and NBIA and
their affiliates are motivated to make the payments described above since they promote the sale of Fund shares and the retention of those
investments by clients of Financial Intermediaries. To the extent Financial Intermediaries sell more shares of the Funds or retain shares
of the Funds in their clients’ accounts, NBIA and/or its affiliates benefit from the incremental management and other fees paid
to NBIA and/or its affiliates by the Funds with respect to those assets.
Distribution Plan (Class A Only)
The Trust, on behalf of each
Fund, has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Plan”) with respect to Class A of each Fund.
The Plan provides that Class A of each Fund will compensate the Distributor for administrative and other services provided to Class A
of the Fund, its activities and expenses related to the sale and distribution of Class A shares, and ongoing services to investors in
Class A of the Fund. Under the Plan, the Distributor receives from Class A of each Fund a fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of that Class’s
average daily net assets. The Distributor may pay up to the full amount of this fee to Institutions that make available Class A shares
and/or provide services to Class A and its shareholders. The fee paid to an Institution is based on the level of such services provided.
Institutions may use the payments for, among other purposes, compensating employees engaged in sales and/or shareholder servicing. The
amount of fees paid by Class A of each Fund during any year may be more or less than the cost of distribution and other services provided
to that class of the Fund and its investors. FINRA rules limit the amount of annual distribution and service fees that may be paid by
a mutual fund and impose a ceiling on the cumulative distribution fees paid. Class A’s Plan complies with these rules.
The table below sets forth
the total amount of fees accrued for Class A of the Funds indicated below:
| |
Fiscal Years Ended October 31, | |
Class A | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Core Bond Fund | |
$ | 59,480 | | |
$ | 51,266 | | |
$ | 52,899 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund | |
$ | 1,611 | | |
$ | 1,103 | | |
$ | 1,159 | |
Floating Rate Income Fund | |
$ | 40,094 | | |
$ | 34,238 | | |
$ | 29,285 | |
High Income Bond Fund | |
$ | 34,264 | | |
$ | 31,109 | | |
$ | 37,414 | |
Municipal High Income Fund | |
$ | 2,094 | | |
$ | 2,305 | | |
$ | 2,675 | |
Municipal Impact Fund | |
$ | 292 | | |
$ | 420 | | |
$ | 309 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund | |
$ | 8,488 | | |
$ | 7,102 | | |
$ | 4,977 | |
Strategic Income Fund | |
$ | 342,014 | | |
$ | 287,204 | | |
$ | 283,860 | |
Distribution Plan (Class C Only)
The Trust, on behalf of each
Fund, has also adopted a Plan with respect to Class C of each Fund. The Plan provides that Class C of each Fund will compensate the Distributor
for administrative and other services provided to Class C of the Fund, its activities and expenses related to the sale and distribution
of Class C shares, and ongoing services to investors in Class C of the Fund. Under the Plan, the Distributor receives from Class C of
each Fund a fee at the annual rate of 1.00% of that Class’s average daily net assets, of which 0.75% is a distribution fee and 0.25%
is a service fee. The Distributor may pay up to the full amount of this fee to Institutions that make available Class C shares and/or
provide services to Class C and its shareholders. The fee paid to an Institution is based on the level of such services provided. Institutions
may use the payments for, among other purposes, compensating employees engaged in sales and/or shareholder servicing. The amount of fees
paid by Class C of each Fund during any year may be more or less than the cost of distribution and other services provided to that class
of the Fund and its investors. FINRA rules limit the amount of annual distribution and service fees that may be paid by a mutual fund
and impose a ceiling on the cumulative distribution fees paid. Class C’s Plan complies with these rules.
The table below sets forth
the total amount of fees accrued for Class C of the Funds indicated below:
Class
C | |
Fiscal Years Ended October 31, | |
| |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
Core Bond Fund | |
$ | 34,323 | | |
$ | 19,919 | | |
$ | 11,582 | |
Emerging Markets Debt Fund | |
$ | 9,050 | | |
$ | 7,062 | | |
$ | 6,682 | |
Floating Rate Income Fund | |
$ | 54,506 | | |
$ | 61,642 | | |
$ | 69,839 | |
High Income Bond Fund | |
$ | 21,478 | | |
$ | 29,684 | | |
$ | 40,655 | |
Municipal High Income Fund | |
$ | 970 | | |
$ | 770 | | |
$ | 1,276 | |
Municipal Impact Fund | |
$ | 384 | | |
$ | 962 | | |
$ | 479 | |
Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund | |
$ | 6,197 | | |
$ | 3,972 | | |
$ | 11,586 | |
Strategic Income Fund | |
$ | 520,877 | | |
$ | 414,129 | | |
$ | 553,986 | |
Distribution Plan (Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund Investor
Class Only)
The Trust, on behalf of Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund, has also adopted a Plan with respect to the Investor Class of the Fund. The Plan provides that the Investor
Class of the Fund will compensate the Distributor for administrative and other services provided to the Investor Class of the Fund, its
activities and expenses related to the sale and distribution of Investor Class shares, and ongoing services to investors in the Investor
Class of the Fund. Under the Plan, the Distributor receives from the Investor Class of the Fund a fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of that
Class’ average daily net assets. The Distributor may pay up to the full amount of this fee to Institutions that make available Investor
Class shares and/or provide services to the Investor Class and its shareholders. The fee paid to an Institution is based on the level
of such services provided. Institutions may use the payments for, among other purposes, compensating employees engaged in sales and/or
shareholder servicing. The amount of fees paid by the Investor Class of the Fund during any year may be more or less than the cost of
distribution and other services provided to that class of the Fund and its investors. FINRA rules limit the amount of annual distribution
and service fees that may be paid by a mutual fund and impose a ceiling on the cumulative distribution fees paid. The Investor Class’
Plan complies with these rules.
The table below sets forth
the total amount of fees accrued for the Investor Class of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund:
|
|
Fiscal Years Ended October 31, |
|
Investor Class |
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
Core Bond Fund |
|
$ |
25,517 |
|
|
$ |
25,686 |
|
|
$ |
29,661 |
|
Distribution Plan (Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
Trust Class Only)
The Trust, on behalf of Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund, has also adopted a Plan with respect to the Trust Class of the Fund. The Plan provides that the Trust
Class of the Fund will compensate the Distributor for administrative and other services provided to the Trust Class of the Fund, its activities
and expenses related to the sale and distribution of Trust Class shares, and ongoing services to investors in the Trust Class of the Fund.
Under the Plan, the Distributor receives from the Trust Class of the Fund a fee at the annual rate of 0.10% of that Class’s average
daily net assets. The Distributor may pay up to the full amount of this fee to Institutions that make available Trust Class shares and/or
provide services to the Trust Class and its shareholders. The fee paid to an Institution is based on the level of such services provided.
Institutions may use the payments for, among other purposes, compensating employees engaged in sales and/or shareholder servicing. The
amount of fees paid by the Trust Class of the Fund during any year may be more or less than the cost of distribution and other services
provided to that class of the Fund and its investors. FINRA rules limit the amount of annual distribution and service fees that may be
paid by a mutual fund and impose a ceiling on the cumulative distribution fees paid. The Trust Class’ Plan complies with these rules.
The table below sets forth
the total amount of fees accrued for the Trust Class of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund:
|
|
Fiscal Years Ended October 31, |
|
Trust Class |
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
Strategic Income Fund |
|
$ |
7,437 |
|
|
$ |
7,049 |
|
|
$ |
8,377 |
|
Distribution Plan (Class R3 Only)
The Trust, on behalf of Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund, has also adopted a Plan with respect to Class R3 of the Fund. The Plan provides that Class R3 of
the Fund will compensate the Distributor for administrative and other services provided to Class R3 of the Fund, its activities and expenses
related to the sale and distribution of Class R3 shares, and ongoing services to investors in Class R3 of the Fund. Under the Plan, the
Distributor receives from Class R3 of the Fund a fee at the annual rate of 0.50% of that Class’s average daily net assets, of which
0.25% is a distribution fee and 0.25% is a service fee. The Distributor may pay up to the full amount of this fee to Institutions that
make available Class R3 shares and/or provide services to Class R3 and its shareholders. The fee paid to an Institution is based on the
level of such services provided. Institutions may use the payments for, among other purposes, compensating employees engaged in sales
and/or shareholder servicing. The amount of fees paid by Class R3 of the Fund during any year may be more or less than the cost of distribution
and other services provided to that class of the Fund and its investors. FINRA rules limit the amount of annual distribution and service
fees that may be paid by a mutual fund and impose a ceiling on the cumulative distribution fees paid. Class R3’s Plan complies with
these rules.
The table below sets forth
the total amount of fees accrued for Class R3 of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund:
| |
Fiscal Years Ended October 31, | |
Class
R3 | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
High Income Bond Fund | |
$ | 8,301 | | |
$ | 7,099 | | |
$ | 7,805 | |
Distribution Plans
Each Plan requires that the
Distributor provide the Fund Trustees for their review a quarterly written report identifying the amounts expended by each Class and the
purposes for which such expenditures were made.
Prior to approving the Plans,
the Fund Trustees considered various factors relating to the implementation of each Plan and determined that there is a reasonable likelihood
that the Plans will benefit the applicable Classes of the Funds and their shareholders. To the extent the Plans allow the Funds to penetrate
markets to which they would not otherwise have access, the Plans may result in additional sales of Fund shares; this, in turn, may enable
the Funds to achieve economies of scale that could reduce expenses. In addition, certain on-going shareholder services may be provided
more effectively by Institutions with which shareholders have an existing relationship.
Each Plan is renewable from
year to year with respect to a Class of a Fund, so long as its continuance is approved at least annually (1) by the vote of a majority
of the Fund Trustees and (2) by a vote of the majority of those Independent Fund Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the Distribution Agreement or the Plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 12b-1 Trustees”). A Plan
may not be amended to increase materially the amount of fees paid by any Class of any Fund thereunder unless such amendment is approved
by a 1940 Act majority vote of the outstanding shares of the Class and by the Fund Trustees in the manner described above. A Plan is terminable
with respect to a Class of a Fund at any time by a vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees or by a 1940 Act majority vote of the
outstanding shares in the Class.
From time to time, one or
more of the Funds may be closed to new investors. Because the Plans pay for ongoing shareholder and account services, the Board may determine
that it is appropriate for a Fund to continue paying a 12b-1 fee, even though the Fund is closed to new investors.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE INFORMATION
Share Prices and Net Asset Value
Each Fund’s shares are
bought or sold at the offering price or at a price that is the Fund’s NAV per share. The NAV for each Class of a Fund is calculated
by subtracting total liabilities of that Class from total assets attributable to that Class (the market value of the securities the Fund
holds plus cash and other assets). Each Fund’s per share NAV is calculated by dividing its NAV by the number of Fund shares outstanding
attributable to that Class and rounding the result to the nearest full cent.
Each Fund normally calculates
its NAV on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange” or the “NYSE”) is open once daily as of 4:00 P.M.,
Eastern time. Because the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities changes every business day, its share price usually changes as
well. In the event of an emergency or other disruption in trading on the Exchange, a Fund’s share price would still normally be
determined as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. The Exchange is generally closed on all national holidays and Good Friday; Fund shares will
not be priced on those days or other days on which the Exchange is scheduled to be closed. When the Exchange is closed for unusual reasons,
Fund shares will generally not be priced although a Fund may decide to remain open and in such a case, the Fund would post a notice on
www.nb.com.
A Fund generally values its
investments based upon their last reported sale prices, market quotations, or estimates of value provided by an independent pricing service
as of the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated.
A Fund uses one or more independent
pricing services approved by NBIA to value its debt portfolio securities and other instruments, including certain derivative instruments
that do not trade on an exchange. Valuations of debt securities and other instruments provided by an independent pricing service are based
on readily available bid quotations or, if quotations are not readily available, by methods that include considerations such as: yields
or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers; and general market conditions.
Valuations of derivatives that do not trade on an exchange provided by an independent pricing service are based on market data about the
underlying investments. Short-term securities with remaining maturities of less than 60 days may be valued at cost, which, when combined
with interest earned, approximates market value, unless other factors indicate that this method does not provide an accurate estimate
of the short-term security’s value.
A Fund uses one or more independent
pricing services approved by NBIA to value its equity portfolio securities (including exchange-traded derivative instruments and securities
issued by ETFs). An independent pricing service values equity portfolio securities (including exchange-traded derivative instruments and
securities issued by ETFs) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT LLC or other national securities exchanges, and other securities or instruments
for which market quotations are readily available, at the last reported sale price on the day the securities are being valued. Securities
traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market are normally valued by the independent pricing service at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price
(“NOCP”) provided by NASDAQ each business day. The NOCP is the most recently reported price as of 4:00:02 p.m., Eastern time,
unless that price is outside the range of the “inside” bid and asked prices (i.e., the bid and asked prices that dealers quote
to each other when trading for their own accounts); in that case, NASDAQ will adjust the price to equal the inside bid or asked price,
whichever is closer. Because of delays in reporting trades, the NOCP may not be based on the price of the last trade to occur before the
market closes. If there is no sale of a security or other instrument on a particular day, the independent pricing services may value the
security or other instrument based on market quotations.
NBIA has developed a process
to periodically review information provided by independent pricing services for all types of securities.
Investments in non-exchange
traded investment companies are valued using the respective fund’s daily calculated NAV per share. The prospectuses for these funds
explain the circumstances under which the funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
If a valuation for a security
is not available from an independent pricing service or if NBIA believes in good faith that the valuation received does not reflect the
amount a Fund might reasonably expect to receive on a current sale of that security, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from brokers
or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available, the Fund may use a fair value estimate made according to methods NBIA has approved
in the good-faith belief that the resulting valuation will reflect the fair value of the security. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940
Act, the Board designated NBIA as the Funds’ valuation designee. As the Funds’ valuation designee, NBIA is responsible for
determining fair value in good faith for all Fund investments. A Fund may also use these methods to value certain types of illiquid securities
and instruments for which broker quotes are rarely, if ever, available, such as options that are out of the money, or for which no trading
activity exists. Fair value pricing generally will be used if the market in which a portfolio security trades closes early or if trading
in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to a Fund’s NAV calculation. Numerous factors may be
considered when determining the fair value of a security or other instrument, including available analyst, media or other reports, trading
in futures or ADRs, and whether the issuer of the security or other instrument being fair valued has other securities or other instruments
outstanding.
The value of a Fund’s
investments in foreign securities is generally determined using the same valuation methods used for other Fund investments, as discussed
above. Foreign security prices expressed in local currency values are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using the exchange
rates as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time.
If, after the close of the
principal market on which a security is traded and before the time a Fund’s securities are priced that day, an event occurs that
NBIA deems likely to cause a material change in the value of that security, NBIA may ascertain a fair value for such security. Such events
may include circumstances in which the value of the U.S. markets changes by a percentage deemed significant with respect to the security
in question.
NBIA has approved the
use of ICE Data Service (“ICE”) to assist in determining the fair value of foreign equity securities when changes in the
value of a certain index suggest that the closing prices on the foreign exchanges may no longer represent the amount that a Fund could
expect to receive for those securities or on days when foreign markets are closed and U.S. markets are open. In each of these events,
ICE will provide adjusted prices for certain foreign equity securities using a statistical analysis of historical correlations of multiple
factors. NBIA has also approved the use of ICE to evaluate the prices of foreign income securities as of the time at which a Fund’s
share price is calculated. ICE utilizes benchmark spread and yield curves and evaluates available market activity from the local
close to the time as of which a Fund’s share price is calculated to assist in determining prices for certain foreign income securities.
In the case of both foreign equity and foreign income securities, in the absence of precise information about the market values of these
foreign securities as of the time as of which a Fund’s share price is calculated, NBIA has determined based on available data that
prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer to the prices a Fund could realize on a current sale than the prices
of those securities established at the close of the foreign markets in which the securities primarily trade. Foreign securities are traded
in foreign markets that may be open on days when the NYSE is closed. As a result, the NAV of a Fund may be significantly affected on
days when shareholders do not have access to that Fund.
Under the 1940 Act, the Funds
are required to act in good faith in determining the fair value of portfolio securities. The SEC has recognized that a security’s
valuation may differ depending on the method used for determining value. The fair value ascertained for a security is an estimate and
there is no assurance, given the limited information available at the time of fair valuation, that a security’s fair value will
be the same as or close to the subsequent opening market price for that security.
Subscriptions in Kind
The Funds may from time to time accept securities in exchange
for Fund shares.
Financial Intermediaries
The Funds have authorized
one or more Financial Intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on their behalf. Such Financial Intermediaries are authorized
to designate other administrative intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Funds’ behalf. A Fund will be
deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a Financial Intermediary or its designee receives the order. Purchase and
redemption orders will be priced at the next share price or offering price to be calculated after the order has been “received in
proper form” as defined in the Prospectuses.
Automatic Investing and Dollar Cost Averaging
Shareholders that hold their
shares directly with a Fund (“Direct Shareholders”) may arrange to have a fixed amount automatically invested in Fund shares
of that Class each month. To do so, a Direct Shareholder must complete an application, available from the Distributor, electing to have
automatic investments funded either through (1) redemptions from his or her account in an eligible money market fund outside the
Neuberger Berman fund family or (2) withdrawals from the shareholder’s checking account. In either case, the minimum monthly
investment is $100. A Direct Shareholder who elects to participate in automatic investing through his or her checking account must include
a voided check with the completed application. A completed application should be sent to Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas
City, MO 64121-9189.
Automatic investing enables
a Direct Shareholder to take advantage of “dollar cost averaging.” As a result of dollar cost averaging, a Direct Shareholder’s
average cost of Fund shares generally would be lower than if the shareholder purchased a fixed number of shares at the same pre-set intervals.
Additional information on dollar cost averaging may be obtained from the Distributor.
Sales Charges
Dealer commissions and
compensation.
Commissions (up to 1.00%)
are paid to dealers who initiate and are responsible for certain Class A share purchases not subject to sales charges. Commissions on
such investments are paid to dealers at the following rates: 1.00% on amounts from $1 million to $2,999,999, 0.50% on amounts from $3
million to $29,999,999, and 0.25% on amounts from $30 million and above. Commissions are based on cumulative investments and are reset
annually.
See the Funds’ Prospectuses
for information regarding sales charge reductions and waivers.
ADDITIONAL EXCHANGE INFORMATION
Predecessor Investors (as
defined in Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund’s Prospectus ) of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund may exchange
Institutional Class shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund for (i) Class A shares of other funds in the Neuberger Berman
fund family (except Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Fund and Neuberger Berman International
Large Cap Fund) or, where Class A shares are not available, Investor Class shares of other funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family or
(ii) Trust Class shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Fund and Neuberger Berman International
Large Cap Fund. Predecessor Investors also may exchange (i) Class A or Investor Class shares of other funds in the Neuberger Berman fund
family or (ii) Trust Class shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Fund and Neuberger Berman
International Large Cap Fund, for Institutional Class shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund as long as they continuously
maintain an account in Institutional Class shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund. Predecessor Investors also may exchange
Class A shares of a fund in the Neuberger Berman fund family for Class A shares of other funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family or,
where Class A shares are not available, Investor Class shares of other funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family. Predecessor Investors
also may exchange Investor Class shares of a fund in the Neuberger Berman fund family for Class A shares of other funds in the Neuberger
Berman fund family or, where Class A shares are not available, Investor Class shares of other funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family.
Predecessor Investors also may exchange Trust Class shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Real Estate
Fund and Neuberger Berman International Large Cap Fund for Class A shares of other funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family or, where
Class A shares are not available, Investor Class shares of other funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family.
Additional Exchange Information for the Neuberger Berman Fund Family
As more fully set forth in
a Fund’s Prospectus (and except as otherwise set forth above), if shareholders purchased Institutional Class, Investor Class, Trust
Class, or Class R6 shares of a fund in the fund family directly, they may redeem at least $1,000 worth of the fund’s shares and
invest the proceeds in shares of the corresponding class of one or more of the other funds in the fund family, provided that the minimum
investment and other eligibility requirements of the other fund(s) are met. Investor Class shares of a fund in the fund family may also
be exchanged for Trust Class shares where the Distributor is the Institution acting as the record owner on behalf of the shareholder making
the exchange. Class R6 shares of a fund in the fund family may also be exchanged for Institutional shares where (1) the Distributor is
the Institution acting as the record owner on behalf of the shareholder making the exchange, and (2) Class R6 shares of the other fund
in the fund family are not available (otherwise, Class R6 shares would be exchanged for Class R6 shares of the other fund in the fund
family).
In addition, Grandfathered
Investors (as defined in the Class A and Class C shares prospectuses) may exchange their shares (either Investor Class or Trust Class)
for Class A shares where Investor Class or Trust Class shares of the other fund in the fund family are not available; otherwise, they
will exchange their shares into the corresponding class of the other fund in the fund family.
An Institution may exchange
a fund’s Advisor Class, Investor Class, Trust Class, Institutional Class, Class A, Class C, Class R3, and Class R6 shares (if the
shareholder did not purchase the fund’s shares directly) for shares of the corresponding class of one or more of the other funds
in the fund family, if made available through that Institution. Most Institutions allow you to take advantage of the exchange program.
If shareholders purchased
shares of a fund in the fund family directly, with the exception of Class R6 and Class E, they may exchange those shares for shares of
the following eligible money market funds (and classes): Investment Class shares of State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market
Fund and Investment Class shares of State Street Institutional Treasury Plus Money Market Fund. An investor may exchange shares of an
eligible money market fund for shares of a particular class of a fund in the Neuberger Berman fund family only if the investor holds,
through the Distributor, both shares of that eligible money market fund and shares of that particular class of that fund in the Neuberger
Berman fund family.
Exchanges are generally not
subject to any applicable sales charges. However, exchanges from eligible money market funds are subject to any applicable sales charges
on the fund in the Neuberger Berman fund family being purchased, unless the eligible money market fund shares were acquired through an
exchange from a fund in the Neuberger Berman fund family having a sales charge or by reinvestment or cross-reinvestment of dividends or
other distributions from a fund in the Neuberger Berman fund family having a sales charge.
Most investment providers
allow you to take advantage of the exchange program. Please contact your investment provider or the Distributor for further information
on exchanging your shares.
Before effecting an exchange,
fund shareholders must obtain and should review a currently effective prospectus of the fund into which the exchange is to be made. An
exchange is treated as a redemption (sale) and purchase, respectively, of shares of the two funds for federal income tax purposes and,
depending on the circumstances, a capital gain or loss may be realized on the exchange.
A Fund may terminate or materially
alter its exchange privilege without notice to shareholders.
ADDITIONAL REDEMPTION INFORMATION
Suspension of Redemptions
The right to redeem a Fund’s
shares may be suspended or payment of the redemption price postponed (1) when the NYSE or the bond market is closed, (2) when trading
on the NYSE is restricted, (3) when an emergency exists as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose
of securities it owns or fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or (4) for such other period as the SEC may by order permit
for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders. Applicable SEC rules and regulations shall govern whether the conditions prescribed
in (2) or (3) exist.
If the right of redemption
is suspended, shareholders may withdraw their offers of redemption, or they will receive payment at the NAV per share in effect at the
close of business on the first day the NYSE is open (“Business Day”) after termination of the suspension.
Redemptions in Kind
Each Fund reserves the right,
under certain conditions, to honor any request for redemption by making payment in whole or in part in securities valued as described
in “Share Prices and Net Asset Value” above. Each Fund (except Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund)
may pay in kind only those requests for redemption (or a combination of requests from the same shareholder in any 90-day period) exceeding
$250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund, whichever is less.
If payment is made in securities,
a shareholder or Institution generally will incur brokerage expenses or other transaction costs in converting those securities into cash
and will be subject to fluctuation in the market prices of those securities until they are sold. The Funds do not redeem in kind under
normal circumstances, but would do so when NBIA or the Fund Trustees determine that it is in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders
as a whole or the transaction is otherwise effected in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Trustees.
A Fund also may elect to honor
a shareholder’s request for the Fund to pay in kind for redemptions in an attempt to manage any liquidity needs, to manage and optimize
its portfolio composition, to offset transaction costs associated with portfolio transactions, and/or to more efficiently manage its portfolio.
The securities provided to investors in an in kind redemption may be a pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio or a non-pro-rata
portion of the Fund’s portfolio selected by the Manager based upon various circumstances and subject to the Fund’s policies
and procedures and any applicable laws or regulations. If the securities provided to investors in an in kind redemption are a non-pro-rata
portion of the Fund’s portfolio, it will only include securities that have been disclosed in the Fund’s most recent public
portfolio holdings disclosure.
Paying in kind for redemptions
could negatively impact the market value of the securities redeemed in kind based on the subsequent sale of such securities by the redeeming
stockholder and negatively impact the Fund. Redemptions in kind may benefit the Fund and its shareholders by reducing the need for the
Fund to maintain significant cash reserves and/or to sell Fund investments to either meet redemption requests or for other activities,
such as portfolio rebalancing and changing its portfolio composition. Accordingly, the Fund may be able to reduce transaction costs, to
reduce cash drag, and/or to lower capital gain realization.
CONVERSION INFORMATION
If consistent with your investment
provider’s program, Advisor Class, Investor Class, and Trust Class shares of a Fund that have been purchased by an investment provider
on behalf of clients participating in (i) certain qualified group retirement plans (including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored
403(b) plans), profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans or
(ii) investment programs in which the clients pay a fixed or asset-based fee, may be converted into Institutional Class shares of the
same Fund if the investment provider satisfies any then-applicable eligibility requirements for investment in Institutional Class shares
of the Fund. If consistent with your investment provider’s policy and/or investment program, Class A and Class C shares of a Fund
that have been purchased by an investment provider on behalf of clients may be converted into Institutional Class shares of the same Fund
provided any then-applicable eligibility requirements for investment in Institutional Class shares of the Fund are satisfied.
Investor Class, Trust Class,
Advisor Class, Institutional Class, Class A, Class C, and Class R3 shares of a Fund may be converted to Class R6 shares of the same Fund,
provided that any eligibility requirements of Class R6 shares are met and the investment provider determines such conversion is consistent
with its policy and/or investment program.
Investor Class, Trust Class,
Advisor Class and Institutional Class may be converted into Class A shares of the same Fund in connection with investor initiated transfers
from fee-based advisory accounts to transaction-based brokerage accounts at the same intermediary provided that: (i) the intermediary
does not offer the Class of shares the investor held in the fee-based advisory account in its brokerage accounts; and (ii) the financial
intermediary agrees to provide each impacted investor with prior notice about the conversion and disclosure about increases in the expenses
of Class A shares compared to the Class of shares the investor held in the fee-based advisory account.
Investor Class, Trust Class,
Advisor Class, Institutional Class, Class A, Class C, Class R3, and Class R6 shares of a Series may be converted to Class E shares of
the same Series, provided that any eligibility requirements of Class E shares are met.
Class C shares that are no
longer subject to a CDSC will be automatically converted into Class A shares of the same Fund at the end of the month following the eighth
anniversary of the purchase date. Class C shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions will convert into Class A shares based
on the date of the initial purchase of the shares on which the distribution was paid.
Class C shares held through
a financial intermediary in an omnibus account will be converted into Class A shares only if the financial intermediary can document that
the shareholder has met the required holding period. It is the financial intermediary’s (and not a Fund’s) responsibility
to keep records and to ensure that the shareholder is credited with the proper holding period. Not all financial intermediaries are able
to track purchases to credit individual shareholders’ holding periods. In particular, group retirement plans held through third
party intermediaries that hold Class C shares in an omnibus account may not track participant level share lot aging.
In addition, a financial intermediary
may sponsor and/or control programs or platforms that impose a different conversion schedule or eligibility requirements for conversions
of Class C shares. In these cases, Class C shares of certain shareholders may not be eligible for conversion as described above. A Fund
has no responsibility for overseeing, monitoring or implementing a financial intermediary’s process for determining whether a shareholder
meets the required holding period for conversion or for effecting such conversion.
Please consult with your financial
intermediary about your eligibility to exercise the Class C conversion privilege.
When an investor’s account
is transferred to an investment provider that does not offer the Class the investor held with their prior investment provider, at the
request of the investment provider, shares of one Class of a Fund may be converted to shares of another Class in the same Fund provided
that: (1) the investor qualifies for the new Class, and (2) if the new Class has a higher expense ratio, the investment provider demonstrates
that the investor consented in writing, which shall serve as prior notice of the change, to the conversion.
Conversions will be effected
at NAV without the imposition of any sales load, fee or other charges by the Fund. The Board may from time to time approve a Plan of Share
Class conversion for any Class of shares.
In general, conversions of
one Class for a different Class of the same Fund should not result in the realization by the investor of a taxable capital gain or loss
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, provided that the transaction is undertaken and processed, with respect to any shareholder, as a
conversion transaction. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors as to the federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of
an intra-Fund conversion.
Please contact your investment
provider about any fees that it may charge. Share conversion privileges may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered at
all investment providers.
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
Each Fund distributes to
its shareholders substantially all of the net investment income it earns (by Class, after deducting expenses attributable to the Class)
and any net capital gains (both long-term and short-term) and net gains from foreign currency transactions, if any, it realizes that are
allocable to that Class. A Fund’s net investment income, for financial accounting purposes, consists of all income accrued on its
assets less accrued expenses but does not include net capital and foreign currency gains and losses. Net investment income and realized
gains and losses of each Fund are reflected in its NAV until they are distributed.
Each Fund ordinarily declares
income dividends daily. Dividends declared for each month are ordinarily paid on the last Business Day of the month. Shares of each Fund
begin earning income dividends on the Business Day after the proceeds of a purchase order for the shares have been converted to “federal
funds” and continue to earn dividends through the Business Day they are redeemed.
Distributions of net realized
capital and foreign currency gains, if any, normally are paid once annually, in December.
Each Fund’s dividends
and other distributions are automatically reinvested in additional shares of the distributing Class of the Fund, unless the shareholder
elects to receive them in cash (“cash election”). If you use an investment provider, you must consult it about whether your
dividends and other distributions from a Fund will be reinvested in additional shares of the distributing Class of the Fund or paid to
you in cash. To the extent dividends and other distributions are subject to federal, state, and/or local income taxation, they are taxable
to the shareholders whether received in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares.
Direct Shareholders of
each Fund (other than Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund) may make a cash election on the original account application or
at a later date by writing to SS&C GIDS, Inc., (“SS&C”) at the following address: Attn: Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O.
Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189. Cash distributions can be paid by check or through an electronic transfer to a bank account or
used to purchase shares of another fund in the fund family, designated in the shareholder’s original account application. A cash
election with respect to any Fund remains in effect until the shareholder notifies SS&C in writing (at the above address) to discontinue
the election.
Direct Shareholders of Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund may make a cash election by contacting the Fund in writing (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189,
Kansas City, MO 64121-9189) or by phone (800-877-9700). Cash distributions can be paid by check or through an electronic transfer to a
designated bank account. A cash election with respect to the Fund remains in effect until the shareholder notifies the Fund in writing
(at the above address) to discontinue the election.
If it is determined that
the U.S. Postal Service cannot properly deliver a Fund’s mailings to a shareholder for 180 days, the Fund will terminate the shareholder’s
cash election and the shareholder’s dividends and other distributions thereafter will automatically be reinvested in additional
Fund shares of the distributing Class until the shareholder requests in writing to SS&C or the Fund that the cash election be reinstated.
Dividend or other distribution
checks that are not cashed or deposited within 180 days from being issued will be reinvested in additional shares of the distributing
Class of the relevant Fund at the NAV per share on the day the check is reinvested. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by
uncashed dividend or other distribution checks.
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION
Taxation of the Funds
All Funds. Each
Fund intends to qualify each taxable year for treatment as a RIC. To qualify for treatment as a RIC, each Fund, which is treated as a
separate corporation for federal tax purposes, must distribute to its shareholders for each taxable year at least the sum of (1) 90%
of its investment company taxable income (consisting generally of net investment income, the excess of net short-term capital gain over
net long-term capital loss, and, for Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger
Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
(each, a “Taxable Bond Fund”), net gains and losses from certain foreign currency transactions, all determined without regard
to any deduction for dividends paid) and (2) 90% of its net interest income excludable from gross income under section 103(a) of the
Code (“Distribution Requirement”) and must meet several additional requirements. With respect to each Fund, these requirements
include the following:
(1) the
Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from (a) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities
loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including gains from certain
Financial Instruments) derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or those currencies (“Qualifying Other Income”)
and (b) net income from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (i.e., a “publicly traded
partnership” that is treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes and satisfies certain qualifying income requirements but
derives less than 90% of its gross income from the items described in clause (a)) (“QPTP”) (“Income Requirement”);
and
(2) at the
close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the value of its total assets must be represented by
cash and cash items, Government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an
amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the issuer’s
outstanding voting securities (equity securities of QPTPs being considered voting securities for these purposes), and (b) not more
than 25% of the value of its total assets may be invested in (i) the securities (other than Government securities or securities of
other RICs) of any one issuer, (ii) the securities (other than securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers the Fund controls
(by owning 20% or more of their voting power) that are determined to be engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses,
or (iii) the securities of one or more QPTPs (collectively, “Diversification Requirements”).
If a Fund invests cash collateral
received in connection with securities lending in an unregistered fund (as noted above under “Investment Information -- Cash Management
and Temporary Defensive Positions”), the Fund generally will be treated as (1) owning a proportionate share of the unregistered
fund’s assets for purposes of determining the Fund’s compliance with the Diversification Requirements and certain other provisions
(including the provision that permits it to enable its shareholders to get the benefit of foreign taxes it pays, as described below) and
(2) being entitled to the income on that share for purposes of determining whether it satisfies the Income Requirement.
By qualifying for treatment
as a RIC, a Fund (but not its shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on the part of its investment company taxable income
and net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) that it distributes to
its shareholders. If a Fund failed to qualify for that treatment for any taxable year -- either (1) by failing to satisfy the Distribution
Requirement, even if it satisfied the Income and Diversification Requirements, or (2) by failing to satisfy the Income Requirement
and/or either Diversification Requirement and was unable, or determined not, to avail itself of Code provisions that enable a RIC to
cure a failure to satisfy any of the Income and Diversification Requirements as long as the failure “is due to reasonable cause
and not due to willful neglect” and the RIC pays a deductible tax calculated in accordance with those provisions and meets certain
other requirements -- then, (a) the Fund would be taxed on the full amount of its taxable income for that year without being able to
deduct the distributions it makes to its shareholders and (b) the shareholders would treat all those distributions, including distributions
of net capital gain, and amounts that otherwise would be “exempt-interest dividends” (described below), as ordinary dividends
to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits. Those dividends would be taxable as ordinary income, except that, for individual
and certain other non-corporate shareholders (each, an “individual shareholder”), the part thereof that is “qualified
dividend income” (as described in each Prospectus) (“QDI”) would be taxable for federal tax purposes at the rates for
net capital gain -- a maximum of 15% for a single shareholder with taxable income not exceeding $533,400, or $600,050 for married shareholders
filing jointly, and 20% for individual shareholders with taxable income exceeding those respective amounts, which apply for 2025 and
will be adjusted for inflation annually. In the case of corporate shareholders that meet certain holding period and other requirements
regarding their Fund shares, all or part of those dividends would be eligible for the dividends-received deduction available to corporations
(“DRD”). In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make
substantial distributions before requalifying for RIC treatment.
A Fund will be subject to
a nondeductible 4% excise tax (“Excise Tax”) to the extent it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially
all of its ordinary income for that year and capital gain net income for the one-year period ended on October 31 of that year, plus certain
other amounts. Each Fund intends to continue to make sufficient distributions each year to avoid liability for the Excise Tax.
A Fund’s use of
hedging strategies, such as writing (selling) and purchasing options and futures contracts and, in the case of a Taxable Bond Fund, entering
into forward contracts, involves complex rules that will determine for income tax purposes the amount, character, and timing of recognition
of the gains and losses it realizes in connection therewith. Gains from the disposition of foreign currencies (except certain gains that
may be excluded by future regulations), and gains from certain Financial Instruments a Fund derives with respect to its business of investing
in securities or foreign currencies, will be treated as Qualifying Other Income.
Some futures contracts, certain
foreign currency contracts, and “nonequity” options (i.e., certain listed options, such as those on a “broad-based”
securities index) -- except any “securities futures contract” that is not a “dealer securities futures contract”
(both as defined in the Code) and any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity
swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement -- in which a Fund invests may be subject to Code section
1256 (collectively, “Section 1256 contracts”). Any Section 1256 contracts a Fund holds at the end of its taxable year (and
generally for purposes of the Excise Tax, on October 31 of each year) must be “marked to market” (that is, treated as having
been sold at that time for their fair market value) for federal tax purposes, with the result that unrealized gains or losses will be
treated as though they were realized. Sixty percent of any net gain or loss recognized as a result of these deemed sales, and 60% of any
net realized gain or loss from any actual sales, of Section 1256 contracts are treated as long-term capital gain or loss; the remainder
is treated as short-term capital gain or loss. These rules may operate to increase the amount that a Fund must distribute to satisfy the
Distribution Requirement (i.e., with respect to the portion treated as short-term capital gain), which will be taxable to its shareholders
as ordinary income when distributed to them, and to increase the net capital gain the Fund recognizes, without in either case increasing
the cash available to it. Section 1256 contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of the Excise Tax. A Fund may elect to exclude
certain transactions from the operation of these rules, although doing so may have the effect of increasing the relative proportion of
short-term capital gain (taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income when distributed to them) and/or increasing the amount of dividends
it must distribute to meet the Distribution Requirement and avoid imposition of the Excise Tax.
The premium a Fund receives
for writing (selling) a put or call option that is not a Section 1256 contract is not included in gross income at the time of receipt.
If such an option written (sold) by a Fund expires, it realizes a short-term capital gain equal to the amount of the premium it received
for writing the option. If a Fund terminates its obligations under such an option by entering into a closing transaction, it realizes
a short-term capital gain (or loss), depending on whether the cost of the closing transaction is less (or more) than that amount. If
a call option written by a Fund is exercised, it is treated as having sold the underlying security, producing long-term or short-term
capital gain or loss, depending on the holding period of the underlying security and whether the sum of the option price it receives
on the exercise plus the premium it received when it wrote the option is more or less than its basis in the underlying security.
Neuberger Berman Emerging
Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income
Fund may invest in bonds that are purchased, generally not on their original issue, with “market discount” (that is,
at a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond that was issued with OID, a price less than the amount
of the issue price plus accrued OID) (“market discount bonds”). Market discount less than the product of (1) 0.25% of
the redemption price at maturity times (2) the number of complete years to maturity after a Fund acquired the bond is disregarded.
Market discount generally is accrued ratably, on a daily basis, over the period from the acquisition date to the date of maturity. Gain
on the disposition of a market discount bond, other than a bond with a fixed maturity date within one year from its issuance, generally
is treated as ordinary (taxable) income, rather than capital gain, to the extent of the bond’s accrued market discount at the time
of disposition. In lieu of treating the disposition gain as described above, a Fund may elect to include market discount in its gross
income currently, for each taxable year to which it is attributable.
Each Taxable Bond Fund
may acquire zero coupon or other securities issued with OID, and each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund, and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund (each, a “Municipal Bond Fund”)
may also acquire municipal securities issued with OID. Each Fund other than Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, and Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund may also acquire pay-in-kind securities, which pay “interest” through the
issuance of additional securities, and each Taxable Bond Fund may also acquire U.S. TIPS, the principal value of which is adjusted daily
in accordance with changes in the CPI-U. As a holder of those securities, a Fund must include in gross income (or take into account,
in the case of municipal OID securities) the OID that accrues on the securities during the taxable year, as well as such “interest”
received on pay-in-kind securities and principal adjustments on U.S. TIPS, even if it receives no corresponding payment on them during
the year. Because each Fund annually must distribute substantially all of its investment company taxable income, including net exempt
interest income, including any accrued OID and other non-cash income, to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and avoid imposition of
the Excise Tax, a Fund may be required in a particular year to distribute as a dividend an amount that is greater than the total amount
of cash it actually receives. Those distributions will be made from a Fund’s cash assets or, if necessary, from the proceeds of
sales of its securities. A Fund may realize capital gains or losses from those sales, which would increase or decrease its investment
company taxable income and/or net capital gain.
If a Fund has an “appreciated
financial position” – generally, an interest (including an interest through an option, futures or forward contract, or short
sale) with respect to any stock, debt instrument (other than “straight debt”), or partnership interest the fair market value
of which exceeds its adjusted basis – and enters into a “constructive sale” of the position, the Fund will be treated
as having made an actual sale thereof, with the result that it will recognize gain at that time. A constructive sale generally consists
of a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract, or a futures or forward contract a Fund or a related person enters into with
respect to the same or substantially identical property. In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short sale or
such a contract, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially identical property will be deemed a constructive sale. The foregoing
will not apply, however, to any Fund’s transaction during any taxable year that otherwise would be treated as a constructive sale
if the transaction is closed within 30 days after the end of that year and the Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged
for 60 days after that closing (i.e., at no time during that 60-day period is the Fund’s risk of loss regarding that position
reduced by reason of certain specified transactions with respect to substantially identical or related property, such as having an option
to sell, being contractually obligated to sell, making a short sale of, or granting an option to buy substantially identical stock or
securities).
Each of Neuberger Berman
Core Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund may invest in ownership units (i.e., limited partnership
or similar interests) in MLPs, which generally are classified as partnerships (and not treated as corporations) for federal tax purposes.
Most MLPs in which a Fund may invest are expected to be QPTPs, all the net income from which (regardless of source) would be “qualifying
income” for the Fund under the Income Requirement. If a Fund invests in an MLP, or an ETF organized as a partnership, that is not
a QPTP, including a company principally engaged in the real estate industry that is classified for federal tax purposes as a partnership
(and not as a corporation or REIT), the net income the Fund earns therefrom would be treated as such qualifying income only to the extent
it would be such if realized directly by the Fund in the same manner as realized by that MLP, ETF, or company. Effective for taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026, the Code (in general terms) allows individuals and certain non-corporate
entities a deduction for 20% of, among other things, the aggregate amount of its “qualified REIT dividends” and “qualified
publicly traded partnership income” (“QPTPI”) (the latter including income of an entity such as an MLP). Regulations
allow a RIC to pass the character of its qualified REIT dividends through to its shareholders provided certain holding period requirements
are met. The U.S. Treasury Department has announced that it is considering adopting regulations that would provide a similar pass-through
by RICs of QPTPI, but that pass-through is not currently available. As a result, a shareholder in a Fund that invests in REITs will be
eligible to receive the benefit of the deductions that are available to direct investors in REITs, but a shareholder in a Fund that invests
in MLPs will not currently receive the benefit of the deductions that are available to direct investors in MLPs.
A Fund may invest in one or
more wholly owned subsidiaries as special purpose entities to hold certain investments that, if held directly by the Fund, might not generate
qualifying income for the Fund under the Income Requirement. Any such special purpose entity likely would be subject to federal income
tax, resulting in a reduced after-tax return on the investment return of the assets held by it, as compared with a direct investment by
the Fund in such assets.
A Fund may sustain net capital
losses (i.e., realized capital losses in excess of realized capital gains, whether short-term or long-term) for a taxable year. A Fund’s
net capital losses, if any, cannot be used by its shareholders (i.e., they do not flow through to its shareholders). Rather, a Fund may
use its net capital losses realized in a particular taxable year, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its net capital gains realized
in one or more subsequent taxable years (a “capital loss carryover” or “CLCO”) -- realized net capital losses
may not be “carried back” -- without being required to distribute those gains to its shareholders. CLCOs may be applied against
realized capital gains in each succeeding taxable year, until they have been reduced to zero.
A Fund’s CLCOs may be
carried forward indefinitely. Capital losses carried over retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses.
As of October 31, 2024:
(1) Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Fund had an aggregate CLCO of approximately $86,911,670. This CLCO is available to offset future realized net capital gains.
(2) Neuberger Berman Emerging
Markets Debt Fund had an aggregate CLCO of approximately $43,040,125. This CLCO is available to offset future realized net capital
gains.
(3) Neuberger Berman Floating
Rate Income Fund had an aggregate CLCO of approximately $51,737,983. This CLCO is available to offset future realized net capital
gains.
(4) Neuberger Berman High
Income Bond Fund had an aggregate CLCO of approximately $311,172,598. This CLCO is available to offset future realized net capital
gains.
(5) Neuberger Berman Municipal
High Income Fund had an aggregate CLCO of approximately $10,597,912. This CLCO is available to offset future realized net capital
gains.
(6) Neuberger Berman Municipal
Impact Fund had an aggregate CLCO of approximately $3,040,188. This CLCO is available to offset future realized net capital gains.
(7) Neuberger Berman Municipal
Intermediate Bond Fund had an aggregate CLCO of approximately $5,782,023. This CLCO is available to offset future realized net capital
gains.
(8) Neuberger Berman Strategic
Income Fund had an aggregate CLCO of approximately $230,252,441. This CLCO is available to offset future realized net capital gains.
A Fund may retain or distribute
its net capital gain for each taxable year. If a Fund elects to retain its net capital gain, the Fund will be taxed thereon (except to
the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the corporate income tax rate. If a Fund elects to retain its net capital gain,
it is expected that the Fund also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of
such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term
capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain, and will increase the
tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.
Taxable Bond Funds
and Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund Only. Dividends and interest a Fund receives, and gains it realizes, on foreign
securities may be subject to income, withholding, or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions (“foreign taxes”)
that would reduce the total return on its investments. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which
entitle a Fund to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. Some countries require the filing of a tax reclaim or other
forms to receive the benefit of the reduced tax rate; whether or when a Fund will receive the tax reclaim is within the control of the
individual country. Information required on these forms may not be available such as shareholder information; therefore, a Fund may not
receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries have conflicting and changing instructions and restrictive timing
requirements which may cause a Fund not to receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries may subject capital
gains realized by a Fund on sale or disposition of securities of that country to taxation. It is impossible to determine the effective
rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of a Fund’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain
circumstances, a Fund may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits, although it reserves the right not to do so. In some instances it
may be more costly to pursue tax reclaims than the value of the benefits received by a Fund. If a Fund makes such an election and obtains
a refund of foreign taxes paid by a Fund in a prior year, a Fund may be eligible to reduce the amount of foreign taxes reported by a
Fund to its shareholders, generally by the amount of the foreign taxes refunded, for the year in which the refund is received.
Each Fund may invest in
the stock of “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”). A PFIC is any foreign corporation (with certain
exceptions) that, in general, meets either of the following tests for a taxable year: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive
or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. Under certain circumstances,
a Fund that holds stock of a PFIC will be subject to federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” it receives
on the stock and of any gain on its disposition of the stock (collectively, “PFIC income”), plus interest thereon, even if
the Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the
Fund’s investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent it distributes that income to
its shareholders. A Fund’s distributions attributable to PFIC income will not be eligible for the reduced maximum federal income
tax rates on individual shareholders’ QDI.
If a Fund invests in a PFIC
and elects to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”), then in lieu of the Fund’s incurring
the foregoing tax and interest obligation, the Fund would be required to include in income each taxable year its pro rata share
of the QEF’s annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain -- which the Fund most likely would have to distribute to satisfy the
Distribution Requirement and avoid imposition of the Excise Tax -- even if the Fund did not receive those earnings and gain from the QEF.
In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make this election because of certain requirements thereof.
A Fund may elect to “mark-to-market”
any stock in a PFIC it owns at the end of its taxable year. “Marking-to-market,” in this context, means including in gross
income each taxable year (and treating as ordinary income) the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock over a Fund’s
adjusted basis therein (including net mark-to-market gain or loss for each prior taxable year for which an election was in effect) as
of the end of that year. Pursuant to the election, a Fund also would be allowed to deduct (as an ordinary, not a capital, loss) the excess,
if any, of its adjusted basis in PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any
net mark-to-market gains with respect to that stock the Fund included in income for prior taxable years under the election. A Fund’s
adjusted basis in each PFIC’s stock subject to the election would be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and deductions
taken thereunder.
Investors should be aware
that determining whether a foreign corporation is a PFIC is a fact-intensive determination that is based on various facts and circumstances
and thus is subject to change, and the principles and methodology used therein are subject to interpretation. As a result, a Fund may
not be able, at the time it acquires a foreign corporation’s shares, to ascertain whether the corporation is a PFIC, and a foreign
corporation may become a PFIC after a Fund acquires shares therein. While each Fund generally will seek to minimize its investments in
PFIC shares, and to make appropriate elections when they are available, to lessen the adverse tax consequences detailed above, there are
no guarantees that it will be able to do so, and each Fund reserves the right to make such investments as a matter of its investment policy.
Under Code section 988,
gains or losses (1) from the disposition of foreign currencies, including forward contracts, (2) except in certain circumstances,
from Financial Instruments on or involving foreign currencies and from notional principal contracts (e.g., swaps, caps, floors,
and collars) involving payments denominated in foreign currencies, (3) on the disposition of each foreign-currency-denominated debt
security that are attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency between the dates of acquisition and disposition
of the security, and (4) that are attributable to exchange rate fluctuations between the time a Fund accrues interest, dividends,
or other receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time it actually collects the receivables
or pays the liabilities generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss. These gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount
of a Fund’s investment company taxable income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing
or decreasing the amount of its net capital gain. If a Fund’s section 988 losses exceed other investment company taxable income
for a taxable year, the Fund would not be able to distribute any dividends, and any distributions made during that year before the losses
were realized would be recharacterized as a “return of capital” to shareholders, rather than as a dividend, thereby reducing
each shareholder’s basis in his or her Fund shares and/or resulting in some shareholders’ recognition of capital gain. Although
each Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S.
dollars on a daily basis. A Fund will do so from time to time, incurring the costs of currency conversion.
A Fund may invest in REITs
that (1) hold residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or (2) engage in mortgage
securitization transactions that cause the REITs to be taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”) or have a qualified REIT subsidiary
that is a TMP. A portion of the net income allocable to REMIC residual interest holders may be an “excess inclusion.” The
Code authorizes the issuance of regulations dealing with the taxation and reporting of excess inclusion income of REITs and RICs that
hold residual REMIC interests and of REITs, or qualified REIT subsidiaries, that are TMPs. Although those regulations have not yet been
issued, in 2006 the U.S. Treasury Department and the Service issued a notice (“Notice”) announcing that, pending the issuance
of further guidance, the Service would apply the principles in the following paragraphs to all excess inclusion income, whether from
REMIC residual interests or TMPs.
The Notice provides that a
REIT must (1) determine whether it or its qualified REIT subsidiary (or a part of either) is a TMP and, if so, calculate the TMP’s
excess inclusion income under a “reasonable method,” (2) allocate its excess inclusion income to its shareholders generally
in proportion to dividends paid, (3) inform shareholders that are not “disqualified organizations” (i.e., governmental
units and tax-exempt entities that are not subject to tax on unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”)) of the amount and
character of the excess inclusion income allocated thereto, (4) pay tax (at the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations)
on the excess inclusion income allocated to its disqualified organization shareholders, and (5) apply the withholding tax provisions
with respect to the excess inclusion part of dividends paid to foreign persons without regard to any treaty exception or reduction in
tax rate. Excess inclusion income allocated to certain tax-exempt entities (including qualified retirement plans, individual retirement
accounts, and public charities) constitutes UBTI to them.
A RIC with excess inclusion
income is subject to rules identical to those in clauses (2) through (5) (substituting “that are nominees” for “that
are not ‘disqualified organizations’” in clause (3) and inserting “record shareholders that are” after
“its” in clause (4)). The Notice further provides that a RIC is not required to report the amount and character of the excess
inclusion income allocated to its shareholders that are not nominees, except that (1) a RIC with excess inclusion income from all
sources that exceeds 1% of its gross income must do so and (2) any other RIC must do so by taking into account only excess inclusion
income allocated to the RIC from REITs the excess inclusion income of which exceeded 3% of its dividends. A Fund will not invest directly
in REMIC residual interests and does not intend to invest in REITs that, to its knowledge, invest in those interests or are TMPs or have
a qualified REIT subsidiary that is a TMP.
Effective for taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026, the Code generally allows individuals and certain non-corporate
entities, such as partnerships (including LLCs classified as such) and S corporations (each, a “non-corporate entity”), a
deduction for 20% of the aggregate amount of the entity’s “qualified REIT dividends” and “qualified publicly
traded partnership income” (“QPTPI”) (the latter including income of a “publicly traded partnership” that
is not treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, such as an MLP). Regulations provide that a RIC can pass the character
of its qualified REIT dividends through to its shareholders provided certain holding period requirements are met. The U.S. Treasury Department
has announced that it is considering adopting regulations that would provide a similar pass-through by RICs of QPTPI, but that pass-through
is not currently available. As a result, a shareholder in a Fund that invests in REITs will be eligible to receive the benefit of the
deductions that are available to direct investors in REITs, but a shareholder in a Fund that invests in MLPs will not currently receive
the benefit of the deductions that are available to direct investors in MLPs.
Taxation of the Funds’ Shareholders
The following discussion
of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in a Fund is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury Department regulations, and
other applicable authority, all as in effect as of the date of the filing of this SAI. These authorities are subject to change by legislative
or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important U.S.
federal income tax considerations generally applicable to investments in a Fund. There may be other tax considerations applicable to
particular shareholders. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding their particular situation and the possible application
of foreign, state, and local tax laws.
A Fund receives ordinary income
generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. A Fund may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including,
but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income (subject to the different treatment accorded the
tax-exempt interest income received by Municipal Bond Funds, as discussed below), less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund,
constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net
investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits. In the case of a Fund
whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid by the Fund may be qualified dividend
income eligible to be taxed at reduced rates.
At the time of your purchase
of shares, the Fund’s NAV may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation of Fund
securities held by the Fund. A subsequent distribution of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable,
and would be taxed as ordinary income (some portion of which may be taxed as qualified dividend income), capital gains, or some combination
of both, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. The
Fund may be able to reduce the amount of such distributions from capital gains by utilizing its capital loss carryovers, if any.
Dividends and other distributions
by a Fund are generally treated under the Code as received by the shareholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made. However,
if any dividend or distribution is declared by a Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to its shareholders
of record on a specified date in such a month but is actually paid during the following January, such dividend or distribution will be
deemed to have been received by each shareholder on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.
A Fund is required to
withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury Department 24% of all dividends, capital gain distributions, and redemption proceeds (regardless
of the extent to which gain or loss may be realized) otherwise payable to any individual shareholders who do not provide a Fund with
a correct taxpayer identification number. Withholding at that rate also is required from dividends and other distributions otherwise
payable to individual shareholders who are subject to backup withholding for any other reason. Backup withholding is not an additional
tax, and any amounts so withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s federal income tax liability or refunded.
For Neuberger Berman Emerging
Markets Debt Fund, if more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities
of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to, and may (as the Fund has done in the past), file with the Service an election
that will enable its shareholders, in effect, to receive the benefit of the foreign tax credit with respect to any foreign taxes the
Fund paid. Pursuant to that election, the Fund would treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders and each shareholder would
be required to (1) include in gross income, and treat as paid by the shareholder, his or her share of those taxes, (2) treat his or her
share of those taxes and of any dividend the Fund paid that represents its income from foreign or U.S. possessions sources (collectively,
“foreign-source income”) as his or her own income from those sources, and (3) either use the foregoing information in calculating
the foreign tax credit against his or her federal income tax or, alternatively, deduct the foreign taxes deemed paid by him or her in
computing his or her taxable income. A Fund that makes this election will report to its shareholders shortly after each taxable year
their respective shares of the Fund’s foreign taxes and foreign-source income for that year. An individual shareholder of an electing
Fund who, for a taxable year, has no more than $300 ($600 for a married person filing jointly) of creditable foreign taxes included on
Forms 1099 and all of whose foreign-source income is “qualified passive income” may elect for that year to be exempt from
the extremely complicated foreign tax credit limitation and thus be able to claim a foreign tax credit without having to file the detailed
Form 1116 that otherwise is required.
If a Fund makes a “return
of capital” distribution to its shareholders -- i.e., a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits
-- the excess will (a) reduce each shareholder’s tax basis in its shares (thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a shareholder’s
subsequent taxable disposition of the shares) and (b) if for any shareholder the excess is greater than that basis, be treated as realized
capital gain.
For U.S. individuals with
income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax will apply on all or a portion of
their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains, which generally includes taxable distributions
received from a Fund. This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders
that are estates and trusts.
A sale or exchange of shares
in a Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated
as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition
of shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for
six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received
(or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of
shares will be disallowed if shares of the same Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the
basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
As noted above, for U.S. individuals
with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax will apply on “net investment
income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains, which generally includes taxable distributions received from a Fund and
taxable gains on the disposition of shares of the Fund.
A Fund generally is required
to withhold and to remit to the U.S. Treasury Department a percentage of the taxable distributions and sale or redemption proceeds paid
to any shareholder who fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest
income, or who fails to certify that he, she or it is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding tax rate is currently 24%.
As described in “Maintaining
Your Account” in each Prospectus, a Fund may close a shareholder’s account with it and redeem the remaining shares if the
account balance falls below the specified minimum and the shareholder fails to re-establish the minimum balance after being given the
opportunity to do so. If an account that is closed pursuant to the foregoing was maintained for an IRA (including a Roth IRA) or a qualified
retirement plan (including a simplified employee pension plan, savings incentive match plan for employees, Keogh plan, corporate profit-sharing
and money purchase pension plan, Code section 401(k) plan, and Code section 403(b)(7) account), the Fund’s payment of the redemption
proceeds may result in adverse tax consequences for the accountholder. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding any such
consequences.
A shareholder’s basis
in Fund shares that he or she acquired or acquires after December 31, 2011 (“Covered Shares”), will be determined in accordance
with the Funds’ default method, which is average basis, unless the shareholder affirmatively elects in writing (which may be electronic)
to use a different acceptable basis determination method, such as a specific identification method. The basis determination method a Fund
shareholder elects (or the default method) may not be changed with respect to a redemption of Covered Shares after the settlement date
of the redemption.
In addition to the requirement
to report the gross proceeds from a redemption of shares, each Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Service and furnish
to its shareholders the basis information for Covered Shares and indicate whether they had a short-term (one year or less) or long-term
(more than one year) holding period. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best Service-accepted basis
determination method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the basis reporting law applies to them.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
Dividends a Fund pays
to a nonresident alien individual, a foreign corporation or partnership, or foreign trust or estate (each, a “foreign shareholder”),
other than (1) dividends paid to a foreign shareholder whose ownership of shares is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business
the shareholder carries on (“effectively connected”) and (2) capital gain distributions paid to a nonresident alien
individual who is physically present in the United States for no more than 182 days during the taxable year, generally will be subject
to a federal withholding tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate). If a foreign shareholder’s ownership of Fund shares is effectively
connected, the foreign shareholder will not be subject to that withholding tax but will be subject to federal income tax on income dividends
from a Fund as if it were a U.S. shareholder. A foreign shareholder generally will be exempt from federal income tax on gain realized
on the sale of Fund shares and Fund distributions of net capital gain, unless the shareholder is a nonresident alien individual present
in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year (special rules apply in the case of
a shareholder that is a foreign trust or foreign partnership). Two categories of dividends, “interest-related dividends”
and “short-term capital gain dividends,” a Fund pays to foreign shareholders (with certain exceptions) and reports in writing
to its shareholders also are exempt from that tax. “Interest-related dividends” are dividends that are attributable to “qualified
net interest income” (i.e., “qualified interest income,” which generally consists of certain OID, interest on
obligations “in registered form,” and interest on deposits, less allocable deductions) from sources within the United States.
“Short-term capital gain dividends” are dividends that are attributable to “qualified short-term gain” (i.e.,
net short-term capital gain, computed with certain adjustments).
Under the Foreign Account
Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), “foreign financial institutions” (“FFIs”) and “non-financial
foreign entities” (“NFFEs”) that are shareholders of a Fund may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding
tax on income dividends a Fund pays. A withholding tax that would have applied to certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds
of redemptions of Fund shares it pays after December 31, 2018 would be eliminated by proposed regulations (having immediate effect while
pending). As discussed more fully below, the FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided (a) by an FFI, if it reports certain
information regarding direct and indirect ownership of financial accounts U.S. persons hold with the FFI, and (b) by an NFFE that
certifies its status as such and information regarding substantial U.S. owners.
An FFI can avoid FATCA withholding
by becoming a “participating FFI,” which requires the FFI to enter into a tax compliance agreement with the Service. Under
such an agreement, a participating FFI agrees to (1) verify and document whether it has U.S. accountholders, (2) report certain
information regarding their accounts to the Service, and (3) meet certain other specified requirements.
The U.S. Treasury Department
has negotiated intergovernmental agreements (“IGAs”) with certain countries and is in various stages of negotiations with
other foreign countries with respect to one or more alternative approaches to implement FATCA. An entity in one of those countries may
be required to comply with the terms of the IGA instead of U.S. Treasury Department regulations.
An FFI resident in a country
that has entered into a Model I IGA with the United States must report to that country’s government (pursuant to the terms of the
applicable IGA and applicable law), which will, in turn, report to the Service. An FFI resident in a Model II IGA country generally must
comply with U.S. regulatory requirements, with certain exceptions, including the treatment of recalcitrant accountholders. An FFI resident
in one of those countries that complies with whichever of the foregoing applies will be exempt from FATCA withholding.
An NFFE that is the beneficial
owner of a payment from a Fund can avoid FATCA withholding generally by certifying its status as such and, in certain circumstances, either
that (1) it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or (2) it does have one or more such owners and reports the name, address,
and taxpayer identification number of each such owner. The NFFE will report to the Fund or other applicable withholding agent, which may,
in turn, report information to the Service.
Those foreign shareholders
also may fall into certain exempt, excepted, or deemed compliant categories established by U.S. Treasury Department regulations, IGAs,
and other guidance regarding FATCA. An FFI or NFFE that invests in a Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying
the entity’s status under FATCA to avoid FATCA withholding. The requirements imposed by FATCA are different from, and in addition
to, the tax certification rules to avoid backup withholding described above. Foreign investors are urged to consult their tax advisers
regarding the application of these requirements to their own situation and the impact thereof on their investment in a Fund.
Taxable Bond Funds.
After calendar year-end, REITs can and often do change the category (e.g., ordinary income dividend, capital gain distribution,
or “return of capital”) of the distributions they have made during that year, which would result at that time in a Taxable
Bond Fund’s also having to re-categorize some of the distributions it has made to its shareholders. Those changes would be reflected
in your annual Form 1099, together with other tax information. Although those forms generally will be distributed to you in mid-February
of each year, a Taxable Bond Fund may request from the Service a 30-day extension of time to distribute those forms to enable it to receive
the latest information it can from the REITs in which it invests and thereby accurately report that information to you on a single form
(rather than having to send you an amended form).
Municipal Bond Funds.
Dividends a Municipal Bond Fund pays will qualify as “exempt-interest dividends” if it satisfies the requirement that, at
the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of securities the interest on which
is excludable from gross income under section 103(a) of the Code (“50% Exempt-Interest Dividend Requirement”); Neuberger Berman
Municipal High Income Fund intends to satisfy, and each other Municipal Bond Fund intends to continue to satisfy this requirement.
Exempt-interest dividends constitute the portion of a Municipal Bond Fund’s aggregate dividends equal to the excess of its excludable
interest over certain amounts disallowed as deductions.
Exempt-interest dividends
are excludable from a shareholder’s gross income for federal income tax purposes, although the amount of those dividends must be
reported on the recipient’s federal income tax return. Accordingly, the amount of exempt-interest dividends -- and, to the extent
determination thereof is possible after reasonable effort, the part thereof constituting interest that is a Tax Preference Item -- that
a Municipal Bond Fund pays to its shareholders will be reported to them annually on Forms 1099-INT (or substitutes therefor).
Interest on indebtedness incurred
or continued by a shareholder to purchase or carry Municipal Bond Fund shares generally is not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Entities or persons who are
“substantial users” (or persons related to “substantial users”) of facilities financed by PABs should consult
their tax advisers before purchasing Municipal Bond Fund shares because, for users of certain of these facilities, the interest on PABs
is not exempt from federal income tax. For these purposes, “substantial user” is defined to include a “non-exempt person”
who regularly uses in a trade or business a part of a facility financed from the proceeds of PABs. Except as noted in the following sentence,
interest on certain PABs is a Tax Preference Item, although that interest remains fully tax-exempt for regular federal income tax purposes.
Interest on PABs will not be a Tax Preference Item with respect to bonds issued during 2009 and 2010, including refunding bonds issued
during that period to refund bonds issued after 2003 and before 2009.
Up to 85% of social security
and railroad retirement benefits may be included in taxable income for a taxable year for recipients whose modified adjusted gross income
(including income from tax-exempt sources such as a Municipal Bond Fund) plus 50% of their benefits for the year exceeds certain base
amounts. Exempt-interest dividends from a Municipal Bond Fund still would be tax-exempt to the extent described above; they would only
be included in the calculation of whether a recipient’s income exceeded the established amounts.
If a Municipal Bond Fund invests
in instruments that generate taxable interest income, under the circumstances described in the Prospectuses and in the discussion of market
discount bonds above, the portion of any dividend that Fund pays that is attributable to the interest earned thereon will be taxable to
its shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of its earnings and profits, and only the remaining portion will qualify as an exempt-interest
dividend. The respective portions will be determined by the “actual earned” method, under which the portion of any dividend
that qualifies as an exempt-interest dividend may vary, depending on the relative proportions of tax-exempt and taxable interest earned
during the dividend period. Moreover, if a Municipal Bond Fund realizes capital gain as a result of market transactions, any distributions
of the gain will be taxable to its shareholders.
Shareholders’ treatment
of dividends from a Municipal Bond Fund under state and local income tax laws may differ from the treatment thereof under the Code. Investors
should consult their tax advisers concerning this matter.
Special Tax Considerations Pertaining to Funds of Funds
If a Fund invests its assets
in shares of underlying funds, the Fund’s distributable net income and net realized capital gains will include dividends and other
distributions, if any, from those underlying funds and reflect gains and losses on the disposition of underlying funds’ shares.
To the extent that an underlying fund realizes net losses on its investments for a given taxable year, a Fund that invests therein will
not be able to benefit from those losses unless and until (1) the underlying fund realizes gains that it can offset by those losses or
(2) the Fund in effect recognizes its (indirect) proportionate share of those losses (which will be reflected in the underlying fund’s
shares’ NAV) when it disposes of the shares. Moreover, even when a Fund does make such a disposition at a loss, a portion of its
loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss, which will not be treated as favorably for federal income tax purposes as a short-term
capital loss or an ordinary deduction. In particular, a Fund will not be able to offset any net capital losses from its dispositions of
underlying fund shares against its ordinary income (including distributions of any net short-term capital gains realized by an underlying
fund).
In addition, in certain circumstances,
the so-called “wash sale” rules may apply to Fund redemptions of underlying fund shares that have generated losses. A wash
sale occurs if a Fund redeems shares of an underlying fund (whether for rebalancing the Fund’s portfolio of underlying fund shares
or otherwise) at a loss and the Fund acquires other shares of that underlying fund during the period beginning 30 days before and ending
30 days after the date of the redemption. Any loss a Fund realizes on such a redemption will be disallowed to the extent of such a replacement,
in which event the basis in the acquired shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. These rules could defer a Fund’s
losses on wash sales of underlying fund shares for extended (and, in certain cases, potentially indefinite) periods of time.
As a result of the foregoing
rules, and certain other special rules, it is possible that the amounts of net investment income and net realized capital gains that a
Fund will be required to distribute to its shareholders will be greater than such amounts would have been had the Fund invested directly
in the securities held by the underlying funds in which it invests (“underlying funds’ securities”), rather than investing
in the underlying fund shares. For similar reasons, the character of distributions from a Fund (e.g., long-term capital gain, QDI, and
eligibility for the DRD) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the underlying fund’s
securities.
Depending on a Fund’s
percentage ownership in an underlying fund before and after a redemption of the underlying fund’s shares, the redemption may be
treated as a dividend in the full amount of the redemption proceeds instead of generating a capital gain or loss. This could be the case
where the underlying fund is not a “publicly offered [RIC]” (as defined in the Code) or is a closed-end fund and the Fund
redeems only a small portion of its interest therein. Dividend treatment of a redemption by a Fund would affect the amount and character
of income the Fund must distribute for the taxable year in which the redemption occurred. It is possible that such a dividend would qualify
as QDI if the underlying fund reports the distribution of the redemption proceeds as such; otherwise, it would be taxable as ordinary
income and could cause shareholders of the redeeming Fund to recognize higher amounts of ordinary income than if the shareholders had
held shares of the underlying fund directly.
If a Fund receives dividends
from an underlying fund that reports the dividends as QDI and/or as eligible for the DRD, then the Fund would be permitted, in turn, to
report to its shareholders the portions of its distributions attributable thereto as QDI and/or eligible for the DRD, respectively, provided
the Fund meets applicable holding period and other requirements with respect to the underlying fund’s shares.
If a Fund is a “qualified
fund of funds” (i.e., a RIC at least 50% of the value of the total assets of which is represented by interests in other RICs at
the close of each quarter of its taxable year), it will be able to (1) pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders without regard
to whether it satisfies the 50% Exempt-Interest Dividend Requirement and (2) elect to pass-through to its shareholders any foreign
taxes paid by an underlying fund in which the Fund invests that itself has elected to pass those taxes through to its shareholders, so
that shareholders of the Fund would be eligible to claim a tax credit or deduction for those taxes (as well as any foreign taxes paid
by the Fund). However, even if a Fund qualifies to make the election for any year, it may determine not to do so.
* * * * *
The foregoing is an abbreviated
summary of certain federal tax considerations affecting each Fund and its shareholders. It does not purport to be complete or to deal
with all aspects of federal taxation that may be relevant to shareholders in light of their particular circumstances. It is based on current
provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial decisions and administrative pronouncements published at
the date of this SAI, all of which are subject to change, some of which may be retroactive. Prospective investors are urged to consult
their own tax advisers for more detailed information and for information regarding other federal tax considerations and any state, local
or foreign taxes that may apply to them.
FUND TRANSACTIONS
Purchases and sales of portfolio
securities generally are transacted with issuers, underwriters, or dealers that serve as primary market-makers, who act as principals
for the securities on a net basis. The Funds typically do not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases and sales. Instead, the price
paid for newly issued securities usually includes a concession or discount paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and the prices quoted
by market-makers reflect a spread between the bid and the asked prices from which the dealer derives a profit.
In purchasing and selling
portfolio securities other than as described above (for example, in the secondary market), each Fund seeks to obtain best execution at
the most favorable prices through responsible broker-dealers and, in the case of agency transactions, at competitive commission rates.
In selecting broker-dealers to execute transactions, the Manager considers such factors as the price of the security, the rate of commission,
the size and difficulty of the order, and the reliability, integrity, financial condition, and general execution and operational capabilities
of competing broker-dealers. The Funds that are authorized to invest in loans will purchase them in individually negotiated transactions
with commercial banks, thrifts, insurance companies, finance companies and other financial institutions. In determining whether to purchase
loans from these financial institutions, NBIA may consider, among other factors, the financial strength, professional ability, level of
service and research capability of the institution. While financial institutions generally are not required to repurchase loans which
they have sold, they may act as principal or on an agency basis in connection with the Fund’s disposition of loans.
In effecting securities transactions,
the Funds seek to obtain the best price and execution of orders. While affiliates of NBIA are permitted to act as brokers for the Funds
in the purchase and sale of their portfolio securities (other than certain securities traded on the OTC market) where such brokers are
capable of providing best execution (“Affiliated Brokers”), the Funds generally will use unaffiliated brokers. For Fund transactions
which involve securities traded on the OTC market, each Fund purchases and sells OTC securities in principal transactions with dealers
who are the principal market makers for such securities.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2022, Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund paid brokerage commissions of $11,158, of which $0 was paid to Neuberger
Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2023, Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund paid brokerage commissions of $9,282, of which $0 was paid to Neuberger
Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2024, Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund paid brokerage commissions of $8,102, of which $0 was paid to Neuberger
Berman. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, transactions in which Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund used Neuberger Berman
as broker comprised 0% of the aggregate dollar amount of transactions involving the payment of commissions, and 0% of the aggregate brokerage
commissions paid by Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund. 100% of the $8,102 paid to other brokers by Neuberger Berman Core Bond
Fund during that fiscal year (representing commissions on transactions involving approximately $18,456) was directed to those brokers
at least partially on the basis of research services they provided. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, the Fund acquired
securities of the following of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as defined under the 1940 Act): Morgan Stanley & Co.,
Inc., Wells Fargo Brokerage Services, LLC, Barclays Capital, Inc., Citigroup, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., and JP Morgan Chase &
Co., Inc.; at that date, the Fund held the securities of its regular brokers or dealers with an aggregate value as follows: Morgan Stanley
& Co., Inc., $4,665,287; Wells Fargo Brokerage Services, LLC, $4,477,920; Barclays Capital, Inc., $2,358,479; Citigroup, Inc., $2,187,179;
Goldman Sachs & Co., $1,960,408; and JP Morgan Chase & Co., Inc., $748,856.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2022, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund paid brokerage commissions of $1,557, of which $0 was paid
to Neuberger Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2023, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund paid brokerage commissions of $1,247, of which $0 was paid
to Neuberger Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2024, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund paid brokerage commissions of $1,296, of which $0 was paid
to Neuberger Berman. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, transactions in which Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt
Fund used Neuberger Berman as broker comprised 0% of the aggregate dollar amount of transactions involving the payment of commissions,
and 0% of the aggregate brokerage commissions paid by Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund. 100% of the $1,296 paid to
other brokers by Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund during that fiscal year (representing commissions on transactions
involving approximately $2,355) was directed to those brokers at least partially on the basis of research services they provided. During
the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, the Fund did not acquire or hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2022, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund did not pay brokerage commissions.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2023, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund paid brokerage commissions of $87, of which $0 was paid to
Neuberger Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2024, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund paid brokerage commissions of $16,419, of which $0 was paid
to Neuberger Berman. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, transactions in which Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income
Fund used Neuberger Berman as broker comprised 0% of the aggregate dollar amount of transactions involving the payment of commissions,
and 0% of the aggregate brokerage commissions paid by Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund. 100% of the $16,419 paid to
other brokers by Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund during that fiscal year (representing commissions on transactions
involving approximately $67,641,339) was directed to those brokers at least partially on the basis of research services they provided.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, the Fund did not acquire or hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2022, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund paid brokerage commissions of $3,700, of which $0 was paid to Neuberger
Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2023, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund did not pay brokerage commissions.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2024, Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund did not pay brokerage commissions. During the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2024, the Fund did not acquire or hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2022, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund paid brokerage commissions of $4,672, of which $0 was paid
to Neuberger Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2023, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund paid brokerage commissions of $731, of which $0 was paid to
Neuberger Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2024, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income did not pay brokerage commissions. During the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2024, the Fund did not acquire or hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2022, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund did not pay brokerage commissions.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2023, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund did not pay brokerage commissions.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2024, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund did not pay brokerage commissions. During the fiscal
year ended October 31, 2024, the Fund did not acquire or hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2022, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund did not pay brokerage commissions.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2023, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund did not pay brokerage commissions.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2024, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund did not pay brokerage commissions. During the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2024, the Fund did not acquire or hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2022, Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund paid brokerage commissions of $118,344, of which $0 was paid to
Neuberger Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2023, Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund paid brokerage commissions of $268,044, of which $0 was paid to
Neuberger Berman.
During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2024, Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund paid brokerage commissions of $249,709, of which $0 was paid to
Neuberger Berman. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, transactions in which Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund
used Neuberger Berman as broker comprised 0% of the aggregate dollar amount of transactions involving the payment of commissions, and
0% of the aggregate brokerage commissions paid by Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. 100% of the $249,709 paid to other brokers
by Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund during that fiscal year (representing commissions on transactions involving approximately
$291,799,241) was directed to those brokers at least partially on the basis of research services they provided. During the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2024, the Fund acquired securities of the following of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as defined under
the 1940 Act): Citigroup, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., Wells Fargo Brokerage Services, LLC, Bank of
America Securities, LLC, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Inc., Barclays Capital, Inc., BNP Parabis, and Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.; at that
date, the Fund held the securities of its regular brokers or dealers with an aggregate value as follows: Citigroup, Inc., $30,856,397;
Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., $26,897,292; Goldman Sachs & Co., $26,097,545; Wells Fargo Brokerage Services, LLC, $25,192,253;
Bank of America Securities, LLC, $23,348,730; JP Morgan Chase & Co., Inc., $13,180,706; Barclays Capital, Inc., $8,667,201; BNP Parabis,
$7,474,475; and Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., $1,908,730.
The amount of brokerage commissions
paid by a Fund may vary significantly from year to year due to a variety of factors, including the types of investments selected by the
Manager, investment strategy changes, changing asset levels, shareholder activity, and/or portfolio turnover.
Commission rates, being a
component of price, are considered along with other relevant factors in evaluating best price and execution. In selecting a broker other
than an Affiliated Broker to execute Fund transactions, NBIA generally considers the quality and reliability of brokerage services, including
execution capability, speed of execution, overall performance, and financial responsibility, and may consider, among other factors, research
and other investment information or services (“research services”) provided by those brokers as well as any expense offset
arrangements offered by the brokers. Each Fund may use an Affiliated Broker where, in the judgment of NBIA, that firm is able to obtain
a price and execution at least as favorable as other qualified brokers.
To the Funds’ knowledge,
no affiliate of any Fund receives give-ups or reciprocal business in connection with its securities transactions. No Fund effects transactions
with or through broker-dealers in accordance with any formula or for selling shares of any Fund. However, broker-dealers who execute portfolio
transactions may from time to time effect purchases of Fund shares for their customers. The 1940 Act generally prohibits Neuberger Berman
from acting as principal in the purchase of portfolio securities from, or the sale of portfolio securities to, a Fund unless an appropriate
exemption is available.
The use of an Affiliated Broker
for each Fund is subject to the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Section 11(a) prohibits members
of national securities exchanges from retaining compensation for executing exchange transactions for accounts which they or their affiliates
manage, except where they have the authorization of the persons authorized to transact business for the account and comply with certain
annual reporting requirements. Before an Affiliated Broker is used, the Trust and NBIA expressly authorize the Affiliated Broker to retain
such compensation, and the Affiliate Broker would have to agree to comply with the reporting requirements of Section 11(a).
Under the 1940 Act, commissions
paid by each Fund to an Affiliated Broker in connection with a purchase or sale of securities on a securities exchange may not exceed
the usual and customary broker’s commission. Accordingly, with respect to each Fund the commissions paid an Affiliated Broker will
be at least as favorable to the Fund as those that would be charged by other qualified brokers having comparable execution capability
in NBIA’s judgment. The Funds do not deem it practicable and in their best interests to solicit competitive bids for commissions
on each transaction effected by an Affiliated Broker. However, when an Affiliated Broker is executing portfolio transactions on behalf
of a Fund, consideration regularly will be given to information concerning the prevailing level of commissions charged by other brokers
on comparable transactions during comparable periods of time. The 1940 Act generally prohibits an Affiliated Broker from acting as principal
in the purchase of portfolio securities from, or the sale of portfolio securities to, a Fund unless an appropriate exemption is available.
A committee of Independent
Fund Trustees from time to time will review, among other things, information relating to the commissions charged by an Affiliated Broker
to the Funds and to their other customers and information concerning the prevailing level of commissions charged by other brokers having
comparable execution capability.
To ensure that accounts of
all investment clients, including a Fund, are treated fairly in the event that an Affiliated Broker receives transaction instructions
regarding the same security for more than one investment account at or about the same time, the Affiliated Broker may combine orders placed
on behalf of clients, including advisory accounts in which affiliated persons have an investment interest, for the purpose of negotiating
brokerage commissions or obtaining a more favorable price. Where appropriate, securities purchased or sold may be allocated, in terms
of amount, to a client according to the proportion that the size of the order placed by that account bears to the aggregate size of orders
contemporaneously placed by the other accounts, subject to de minimis exceptions. All participating accounts will pay or receive the same
price when orders are combined.
Under policies adopted by
the Board, an Affiliated Broker may enter into agency cross-trades on behalf of a Fund. An agency cross-trade is a securities transaction
in which the same broker acts as agent on both sides of the trade and the broker or an affiliate has discretion over one of the participating
accounts. In this situation, the Affiliated Broker would receive brokerage commissions from both participants in the trade. The other
account participating in an agency cross-trade with a Fund cannot be an account over which the Affiliated Broker exercises investment
discretion. A member of the Board who will not be affiliated with the Affiliated Broker will review information about each agency cross-trade
that the Fund participates in.
In selecting a broker to execute
Fund transactions, NBIA considers the quality and reliability of brokerage services, including execution capability, speed of execution,
overall performance, and financial responsibility, and may consider, among other factors, research and other investment information provided
by non-affiliated brokers.
A committee comprised of officers
of NBIA and/or employees of NBEL who are portfolio managers of the Funds and Other NB Funds (collectively, “NB Funds”) and
some of NBIA’s and/or NBEL’s managed accounts (“Managed Accounts”) periodically evaluates throughout the year
the nature and quality of the brokerage and research services provided by other brokers. Based on this evaluation, the committee establishes
a list and projected rankings of preferred brokers for use in determining the relative amounts of commissions to be allocated to those
brokers. Ordinarily, the brokers on the list effect a large portion of the brokerage transactions for the NB Funds and the Managed Accounts.
However, in any semi-annual period, brokers not on the list may be used, and the relative amounts of brokerage commissions paid to the
brokers on the list may vary substantially from the projected rankings. These variations reflect the following factors, among others:
(1) brokers not on the list or ranking below other brokers on the list may be selected for particular transactions because they provide
better price and/or execution, which is the primary consideration in allocating brokerage; (2) adjustments may be required because
of periodic changes in the execution capabilities of or research or other services provided by particular brokers or in the execution
or research needs of the NB Funds and/or the Managed Accounts; and (3) the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions generated by
transactions for the NB Funds and the Managed Accounts may change substantially from one semi-annual period to the next.
The commissions paid to a
broker other than an Affiliated Broker may be higher than the amount another firm might charge if the Manager determines in good faith
that the amount of those commissions is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the broker.
The Manager believes that those research services benefit the Funds by supplementing the information otherwise available to the Manager.
That research may be used by the Manager in servicing Other NB Funds and, in some cases, by NBEL in servicing the Managed Accounts. On
the other hand, research received by the Manager from brokers effecting portfolio transactions on behalf of the Other NB Funds and by
NBEL from brokers effecting portfolio transactions on behalf of the Managed Accounts may be used for the Funds’ benefit.
In certain instances the Manager
may specifically allocate brokerage for research services (including research reports on issuers and industries, as well as economic and
financial data) which may otherwise be purchased for cash. While the receipt of such services has not reduced the Manager’s normal
internal research activities, the Manager’s expenses could be materially increased if it were to generate such additional information
internally. To the extent such research services are provided by others, the Manager is relieved of expenses it may otherwise incur. In
some cases research services are generated by third parties but provided to the Manager by or through broker dealers. Research obtained
in this manner may be used in servicing any or all clients of the Manager and may be used in connection with clients other than those
clients whose brokerage commissions are used to acquire the research services described herein. With regard to allocation of brokerage
to acquire research services described above, the Manager always considers its best execution obligation when deciding which broker to
utilize.
A Fund may, from time to
time, loan portfolio securities to broker-dealers affiliated with NBIA (“Affiliated Borrowers”) in accordance with the terms
and conditions of an order issued by the SEC. The order exempts such transactions from the provisions of the 1940 Act that would otherwise
prohibit these transactions, subject to certain conditions. In accordance with the order, securities loans made by a Fund to Affiliated
Borrowers are fully secured by cash collateral. Each loan to an Affiliated Borrower by a Fund will be made on terms at least as favorable
to the Fund as comparable loans to unaffiliated borrowers, and no loans will be made to an Affiliated Borrower unless the Affiliated Borrower
represents that the terms are at least as favorable to the Fund as those it provides to unaffiliated lenders in comparable transactions.
All transactions with Affiliated Borrowers will be reviewed periodically by officers of the Trust and reported to the Board.
Portfolio Turnover
A Fund’s portfolio
turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of the cost of the securities purchased or the proceeds from the securities
sold by the Fund during the fiscal year (other than securities, including options, whose maturity or expiration date at the time of acquisition
was one year or less) by (2) the month-end average of the value of such securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year.
Portfolio turnover may vary
significantly from year to year due to a variety of factors, including fluctuating volume of shareholder purchase and redemption orders,
market conditions, investment strategy changes, and/or changes in the Manager’s investment outlook, as well as changes in mortgage
dollar roll transaction volume.
Proxy Voting
The Board has delegated to
NBIA the responsibility to vote proxies related to the securities held in the Funds’ portfolios. Under this authority, NBIA is required
by the Board to vote proxies related to portfolio securities in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders. The Board permits
NBIA to contract with a third party to obtain proxy voting and related services, including research of current issues.
NBIA has implemented written
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Proxy Voting Policy”) that are designed to reasonably ensure that NBIA votes proxies
prudently and in the best interest of its advisory clients for whom NBIA has voting authority, including the Funds. The Proxy Voting Policy
also describes how NBIA addresses any conflicts that may arise between its interests and those of its clients with respect to proxy voting.
The following is a summary of the Proxy Voting Policy. The Proxy Voting Policy can be found in Appendix B to this SAI. NBIA’s Governance
and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“voting guidelines”) are available on www.nb.com.
NBIA’s Governance
and Proxy Committee (“Proxy Committee”) is responsible for developing, authorizing, implementing and updating the Proxy Voting
Policy, administering and overseeing the proxy voting process and engaging and overseeing any independent third-party vendors as voting
delegates to review, monitor and/or vote proxies. In order to apply the Proxy Voting Policy noted above in a timely and consistent manner,
NBIA utilizes Glass, Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) to vote proxies in accordance with NBIA’s voting guidelines. In
instances where a material conflict has been determined to exist, NBIA will generally instruct that such shares be voted in the same
proportion as other shares are voted with respect to a proposal, subject to applicable legal, regulatory and operational requirements.
NBIA retains final authority
and fiduciary responsibility for proxy voting. NBIA believes that this process is reasonably designed to address material conflicts of
interest that may arise between NBIA and a Fund or other clients as to how proxies are voted.
In the event that an investment
professional at NBIA believes that it is in the best interests of a client or clients to vote proxies in a manner inconsistent with the
voting guidelines, the Proxy Committee will review information submitted by the investment professional to determine that there is no
material conflict of interest between NBIA and the client with respect to the voting of the proxy in the requested manner. In the event
that the Proxy Committee determines that such vote will not present a material conflict, the Proxy Committee will make a determination
whether to vote such proxy as recommended by the NB investment professional.
If the Proxy Committee
determines that the voting of a proxy as recommended by the investment professional would not be appropriate, the Proxy Committee shall:
(i) take no further action, in which case NBIA shall vote such proxy in accordance with the voting guidelines; (ii) disclose
such conflict to the client or clients and obtain instructions or consent, which may be negative consent, from the client as to how to
vote the proxy; (iii) suggest that the client or clients engage another party to determine how to vote the proxy; (iv) instruct
that such shares be voted in the same proportion as other shares are voted with respect to a proposal, subject to applicable legal, regulatory
and operational requirements; or (v) engage another independent third party to determine how to vote the proxy.
Information regarding how
the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge,
by calling 1-800-877-9700 (toll-free) or by visiting www.nb.com or the website of the SEC, www.sec.gov.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policy
The Funds prohibit the disclosure
of their portfolio holdings, before such portfolio holdings are publicly disclosed, to any outside parties, including individual or institutional
investors, intermediaries, third party service providers to NBIA or the Funds, rating and ranking organizations, and affiliated persons
of the Funds or NBIA (the “Potential Recipients”) unless such disclosure is consistent with the Funds’ legitimate business
purposes and is in the best interests of their shareholders (the “Best Interests Standard”).
NBIA and the Funds have determined
that the only categories of Potential Recipients that meet the Best Interests Standard are certain mutual fund rating and ranking organizations
and third party service providers to NBIA or the Funds with a specific business reason to know the portfolio holdings of the Funds (e.g.,
custodians, prime brokers, etc.) (the “Allowable Recipients”). As such, certain procedures must be adhered to before the Allowable
Recipients may receive the portfolio holdings prior to their being made public. Allowable Recipients that get approved for receipt of
the portfolio holdings are known as “Approved Recipients.” NBIA may expand the categories of Allowable Recipients only if
it is determined that the Best Interests Standard has been met and only with the written concurrence of NBIA’s legal and compliance
department. These procedures are designed to address conflicts of interest between the shareholders, on the one hand, and NBIA or any
affiliated person of either NBIA or the Funds on the other, by creating a review and approval process of Potential Recipients of portfolio
holdings consistent with the Best Interests Standard.
NBIA serves as investment
adviser to various other funds and accounts that may have investment objectives, strategies and portfolio holdings that are substantially
similar to or overlap with those of the Funds, and in some cases, these other funds and accounts may publicly disclose portfolio holdings
on a more frequent basis than is required for the Funds. As a result, it is possible that other market participants may use such information
for their own benefit, which could negatively impact the Funds’ execution of purchase and sale transactions.
Public Disclosure
Portfolio Characteristics and Select Portfolio
Holdings Information – Generally, no earlier than five business days after month end, the Funds may publicly disclose on the
Funds’ website, including in Portfolio Manager commentaries, Fact Sheets or other marketing materials, certain portfolio characteristics
for the month or quarter as of month-end or quarter-end, as applicable, including but not limited to: up to the top 10 holdings of the
Fund; up to the top 10 holdings that contributed to or detracted from performance; or changes to portfolio composition, including up to
five Fund holdings that were bought or sold during the period. Funds that engage in short selling may also disclose up to the 10 top short
positions.
In addition, the Funds may distribute portfolio
attribution analyses, portfolio characteristics and related data and commentary that may be based on non-public portfolio holdings (“Portfolio
Data”) to third-parties upon request. Such parties may include, but are not limited to, members of the press, investors or potential
investors in the Fund, or representatives of such investors or potential investors, such as consultants, financial intermediaries, fiduciaries
of a 401(k) plan or a trust and their advisers and rating and ranking organizations. This permits the distribution of oral or written
information about the Funds, including, but not limited to, how each Fund’s investments are divided among: various sectors; industries;
countries; value and growth stocks; small-, mid- and large-cap stocks; and various asset classes such as stocks, bonds, currencies and
cash; as well as types of bonds, bond maturities, bond coupons and bond credit quality ratings. Portfolio Data may also include information
on how these various weightings and factors contributed to Fund performance including the attribution of a Fund’s return by asset
class, sector, industry and country. Portfolio Data may also include various financial characteristics of a Fund or its underlying portfolio
securities, including, but not limited to, alpha, beta, R-squared, duration, maturity, information ratio, Sharpe ratio, earnings growth,
pay-out ratio, price/book value, projected earnings growth, return on equity, standard deviation, tracking error, weighted average quality,
market capitalization, percent debt to equity, price to cash flow, dividend yield or growth, default rate, portfolio turnover and risk
and style characteristics.
Complete Portfolio Holdings – Typically,
public disclosure is achieved by required filings with the SEC and/or posting the information to the Funds’ website, which is accessible
to the public. The Funds typically disclose their complete portfolio holdings 15 to 30 calendar days after the relevant period end on
the Fund’s website at www.nb.com. A Fund may also post intra-month updates to holdings and certain portfolio characteristics to
www.nb.com. Any such intra-month update would be in addition to and not in lieu of the holdings disclosure policies described above.
Selective Disclosure Procedures
Disclosure of portfolio holdings
may be requested by completing and submitting a holdings disclosure form to NBIA’s legal and compliance department or to the Funds’
Chief Compliance Officer for review, approval and processing.
Neither the Funds, NBIA, nor
any affiliate of either may receive any compensation or consideration for the disclosure of portfolio holdings. Each Allowable Recipient
must be subject to a duty of confidentiality or sign a non-disclosure agreement, including an undertaking not to trade on the information,
before they may become an Approved Recipient. Allowable Recipients are (1) required to keep all portfolio holdings information confidential
and (2) prohibited from trading based on such information. The Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer shall report any material issues
that may arise under these policies to the Board.
Pursuant to a Code of Ethics
adopted by the Funds and NBIA (“NB Code”), employees are prohibited from revealing information relating to current or anticipated
investment intentions, portfolio holdings, portfolio transactions or activities of the Funds except to persons whose responsibilities
require knowledge of the information. The NB Code also prohibits any individual associated with the Funds or NBIA, from engaging directly
or indirectly, in any transaction in securities held or to be acquired by the Funds while in possession of material non-public information
regarding such securities or their issuer.
Portfolio Holdings Approved Recipients
The Funds currently have ongoing
arrangements to disclose portfolio holdings information prior to its being made public with the following Approved Recipients:
State Street Bank and Trust
Company (“State Street”). Each Fund has selected State Street as custodian for its securities and cash. Pursuant to a
custodian contract, each Fund employs State Street as the custodian of its assets. As custodian, State Street creates and maintains all
records relating to each Fund’s activities and supplies each Fund with a daily tabulation of the securities it owns and that are
held by State Street. Pursuant to such contract, State Street agrees that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business
of each Fund which are exchanged or received pursuant to the contract shall remain confidential, shall not be voluntarily disclosed to
any other person, except as may be required by law, and shall not be used by State Street for any purpose not directly related to the
business of any Fund, except with such Fund’s written consent. State Street receives reasonable compensation for its services and
expenses as custodian.
Securities Lending Agent.
Each Fund has entered into a securities lending agreement with State Street under which State Street acts as a principal borrower or agent
to lend securities to entities on State Street’s approved list of borrowers, which includes State Street and its affiliates. Those
principal borrowers or agents may receive each Fund’s portfolio holdings daily. Each such principal borrower that receives such
information is or will be subject to an agreement that all financial, statistical, personal, technical and other data and information
related to the Fund’s operations that is designated by the Fund as confidential will be protected from unauthorized use and disclosure
by the principal borrower. Each Fund pays State Street a fee for agency and/or administrative services related to its role as lending
agent. Each Fund also pays the principal borrowers a fee with respect to the cash collateral that it receives and retains the income earned
on reinvestment of that cash collateral.
Other Third-Party Service
Providers to the Funds. The Funds also disclose portfolio holdings information (including the portfolio composition file) prior to
its being made public, which may be daily, to Ernst & Young LLP, their independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel,
financial printers, authorized participants, proxy voting firms including Glass, Lewis & Co., class action service providers, including
Financial Recovery Technologies LLC, pricing vendors, and other third-party service providers to the Funds who require access to this
information to fulfill their duties to the Funds.
In addition, the Funds
may disclose portfolio holdings information to third parties that provide operational services, data analytic services or trading services,
or calculate information derived from holdings for use by NBIA and/or Neuberger Berman. The Funds provide their complete portfolio holdings
daily to FactSet Research Systems Inc., Aladdin, Bloomberg L.P., ConsenSys, EquiLend Holdings LLC, Liquidnet Holdings, Inc., State Street,
S&P Global Inc., Verity, Virtu Financial Inc., Inalytics and Acuity Knowledge Partners. These third parties may receive reasonable
compensation for their services.
The Funds also disclose
their portfolio holdings information daily, in a non-fund-specific manner, to pricing vendors Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and London
Stock Exchange Group plc. From time to time, the Funds may also disclose portfolio holdings information to trade organizations, such
as the Investment Company Institute.
Rating, Ranking and
Research Agencies. Each Fund sends its complete portfolio holdings information to rating, ranking and research agencies for the purpose
of having such agency develop a rating, ranking or specific research product for the Fund. Each Fund provides its complete portfolio
holdings to: Lipper, a Refinitiv company, on the sixth business day following each month-end, and to Bloomberg and Morningstar on the
sixteenth calendar day of each month. No compensation is received by any Fund, NBIA, or any other person in connection with the disclosure
of this information.
In all cases, the third-party
service provider receiving the information has agreed in writing (or is otherwise required by professional and/or written confidentiality
requirements or fiduciary duty) to keep the information confidential, to use it only for the agreed-upon purpose(s), and not to trade
securities on the basis of such information.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
Shareholders of each Fund
receive unaudited semi-annual financial statements, as well as year-end financial statements audited by the respective independent registered
public accounting firm for the Fund. Each Fund’s statements show the investments owned by it and the market values thereof and provide
other information about the Fund and its operations.
ORGANIZATION, CAPITALIZATION AND OTHER MATTERS
Each Fund is a separate
ongoing series of the Trust, a Delaware statutory trust organized pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Instrument dated as of March
27, 2014. The Trust is registered under the 1940 Act as a diversified, open-end management investment company, commonly known as a mutual
fund. The Trust has 8 separate operating series. The Fund Trustees may establish additional series or classes of shares without the approval
of shareholders. The assets of each series belong only to that series, and the liabilities of each series are borne solely by that series
and no other.
Prior to June 1, 2009, the
name of the Trust was Lehman Brothers Income Funds. Prior to June 1, 2007, the name of the Trust was Neuberger Berman Income Funds.
On February 28, 2007,
each of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund changed its name from Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund to Lehman Brothers High Income Bond Fund and Lehman Brothers
Strategic Income Fund, respectively. On September 26, 2008, each of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High
Income Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund changed its name from Lehman Brothers Core Bond Fund, Lehman
Brothers High Income Bond Fund, and Lehman Brothers Strategic Income Fund to Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman High Income
Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, respectively.
On February 28, 2007, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund changed its name from Neuberger Berman Municipal Securities Trust to Lehman Brothers Municipal
Securities Trust; on September 26, 2008, it changed its name from Lehman Brothers Municipal Securities Trust to Neuberger Berman Municipal
Securities Trust; and on February 27, 2009, it changed its name to Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund.
On June 2, 2014, Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund changed its name from Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Income Fund.
On June 16, 2018, Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund changed its name from Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Income Fund.
Description of Shares.
Each Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (par value $0.001 per share). Shares of each Fund
represent equal proportionate interests in the assets of that Fund only and have identical voting, dividend, redemption, liquidation,
and other rights except that expenses allocated to a Class may be borne solely by such Class as determined by the Fund Trustees and a
Class may have exclusive voting rights with respect to matters affecting only that Class. All shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable,
and shareholders have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe to any additional shares.
Shareholder Meetings.
The Fund Trustees do not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders of the Funds. The Fund Trustees will call special meetings of
shareholders of a Fund or Class only if required under the 1940 Act or in their discretion or upon the written request of holders of 25%
or more of the outstanding shares of that Fund or Class entitled to vote at the meeting.
Certain Provisions of
Trust Instrument. Under Delaware law, the shareholders of a Fund will not be personally liable for the obligations of any Fund;
a shareholder is entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to shareholders of a Delaware corporation. To guard against
the risk that Delaware law might not be applied in other states, the Trust Instrument requires that every written obligation of the Trust
or a Fund contain a statement that such obligation may be enforced only against the assets of the Trust or Fund and provides for indemnification
out of Trust or Fund property of any shareholder nevertheless held personally liable for Trust or Fund obligations, respectively, merely
on the basis of being a shareholder.
Other. For Fund
shares that can be bought, owned and sold through an account with an Institution, a client of an Institution may be unable to purchase
additional shares and/or may be required to redeem shares (and possibly incur a tax liability) if the client no longer has a relationship
with the Institution or if the Institution no longer has a contract with the Distributor to perform services. Depending on the policies
of the Institution involved, an investor may be able to transfer an account from one Institution to another.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
Each Fund has selected State
Street, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, as custodian for its securities and cash. SS&C serves as each Fund’s transfer
and shareholder servicing agent, administering purchases, redemptions, and transfers of Fund shares and the payment of dividends and other
distributions. All correspondence should be mailed to Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Each Fund has selected Ernst
& Young LLP, 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116 as the independent registered public accounting firm that will audit its financial
statements.
LEGAL COUNSEL
The Trust has selected K&L
Gates LLP, 1601 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-1600, as its legal counsel.
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
As of January 31, 2025,
the following are all of the beneficial and record owners of five percent or more of a Class of a Fund’s shares. Except where indicated
with an asterisk, the owners listed are record owners. These entities hold these shares of record for the accounts of certain of their
clients and have informed the Funds of their policy to maintain the confidentiality of holdings in their client accounts, unless disclosure
is expressly required by law.
Fund and Class |
Name
and Address |
Percentage of
Shares Held |
Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Fund
Class A |
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
29.01% |
|
|
|
|
UMB BANK, NA FIDUCIARY FOR VARIOUS
TAX DEFERRED ACCOUNTS
1 SW SECURITY BENEFIT PL
TOPEKA KS 66636-1000 |
28.21% |
|
|
|
|
SECURITY BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE CO
1 SW SECURITY BENEFIT PL
TOPEKA KS 66636-1000 |
10.92% |
|
|
|
|
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENE OF ITS CUST
1 NEW YORK PLZ FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1965 |
8.46% |
|
|
|
|
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
8.24% |
Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund
Class C |
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
31.1% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
20.75% |
|
|
|
|
RAYMOND JAMES OMNIBUS FOR
MUTUAL FUNDS HOUSE ACCOUNT
FIRM 92500015
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100 |
18.58% |
|
|
|
|
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523 |
13.96% |
|
|
|
|
LPL FINANCIAL
A/C 1000-0005
4707 EXECUTIVE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091 |
5.91% |
Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund
Class R6 |
STOLLER FOUNDATION
ATTN INVESTMENTS
10750 HAMMERLY BLVD STE 200
HOUSTON TX 77043-2317 |
49.84% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
18.44% |
|
|
|
|
EMPOWER TRUST FBO
RETIREMENT PLANS
8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2
GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002 |
11.09% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Core
Bond Fund
Institutional Class |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
38.36% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
13.78% |
|
|
|
|
LPL FINANCIAL
OMNIBUS CUSTOMER ACCOUNT
ATTN MUTUAL FUND TRADING
4707 EXECUTIVE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091 |
11.54% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
9.79% |
|
|
|
|
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENE OF ITS CUST
1 NEW YORK PLZ FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1965 |
9.56% |
|
|
|
|
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
6% |
Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund
Investor Class |
NEAR NORTH HEALTH SERV CORP
NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION
1276 N CLYBOURN AVE
CHICAGO IL 60610-2003 |
7.16% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Emerging
Markets Debt Fund
Class A |
PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002 |
27.98% |
|
|
|
|
DCGT AS TTEE AND/OR CUST
FBO PLIC VARIOUS RETIREMENT PLANS
OMNIBUS
ATTN NPIO TRADE DESK
711 HIGH ST
DES MOINES IA 50392-0001 |
23.74% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
23.03% |
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995 |
7.4% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
5.35% |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Class C |
PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002 |
94.97% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Emerging
Markets Debt Fund
Institutional Class |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
55.46% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
14.28% |
|
|
|
|
DETROIT EDISON QUALIFED NUCLEAR
DECOMMISSIONING TRUST
1 ENERGY PLZ
DETROIT MI 48226-1221 |
8.2% |
|
|
|
|
DTE ENERGY COMPANY
AFFILIATES EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
MASTER TRUST
ATTN: GREG DUREN
1 ENERGY PLZ
DETROIT MI 48226-1221 |
8.16% |
Neuberger
Berman Floating Rate Income Fund
Class A |
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
10.6% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
7.23% |
|
|
|
|
RAYMOND JAMES OMNIBUS FOR
MUTUAL FUNDS HOUSE ACCOUNT
FIRM 92500015
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100 |
6.52% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Floating
Rate Income Fund
Class C |
RAYMOND JAMES OMNIBUS FOR
MUTUAL FUNDS HOUSE ACCOUNT
FIRM 92500015
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100 |
41.25% |
|
|
|
|
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523 |
15.5% |
|
|
|
|
UBS WM USA
0O0 11011 6100
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
SPEC CDY A/C EBOC UBSFSI
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761 |
14.57% |
|
|
|
|
LPL FINANCIAL
A/C 1000-0005
4707 EXECUTIVE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091 |
13.08% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
9.84% |
Neuberger
Berman Floating Rate Income Fund
Institutional Class |
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT
SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
18.65% |
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERV CORP LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
15.86% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
14.83% |
|
|
|
|
EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT FUND OF THE
CITY OF DALLAS
1920 MCKINNEY AVE 10TH FL
DALLAS TX 75201-2483 |
11.47% |
|
|
|
|
UBS WM USA
0O0 11011 6100
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
SPEC CDY A/C EBOC UBSFSI
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761 |
8.38% |
|
|
|
|
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY EMPLOYEES
RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION (SJCERA)
6 S EL DORADO ST STE 400
STOCKTON CA 95202-2804 |
7.93% |
|
|
|
|
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523 |
6.82% |
Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund
Class A |
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT
OF
ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINSTRATION (97NX1)
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
23.66% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
12.11% |
|
|
|
|
PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002 |
10.1% |
|
|
|
|
EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3710 |
5.93% |
|
|
|
|
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523 |
5.58% |
Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund
Class C |
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523 |
53.62% |
|
|
|
|
UBS WM USA
0O0 11011 6100
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
SPEC CDY A/C EBOC UBSFSI
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761 |
15.17% |
|
|
|
|
PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002 |
8.88% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman High
Income Bond Fund
Class E |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SVCS CORP
FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMERS
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
100% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman High
Income Bond Fund
Class R3 |
VOYA RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND
ANNUITY COMPANY
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
ONE ORANGE WAY
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773 |
60.71% |
|
|
|
|
DCGT AS TTEE AND/OR CUST
FBO PLIC VARIOUS RETIREMENT PLANS
OMNIBUS
ATTN NPIO TRADE DESK
711 HIGH STREET
DES MOINES IA 50392-0001 |
24.64% |
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995 |
11.43% |
Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund
Class R6 |
DTE ENERGY COMPANY
AFFILIATES EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
MASTER TRUST1 ENERGY PLZ
DETROIT MI 48226-1221 |
26.94% |
|
|
|
|
NFS LLC FEBO
FIIOC AS AGENT FOR
QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLANS (401K) FINOPS-IC FUNDS
100 MAGELLAN WAY # KW1C
COVINGTON KY 41015-1987 |
26.66% |
|
|
|
|
DETROIT EDISON QUALIFED NUCLEAR
DECOMMISSIONING TRUST
1 ENERGY PLZ
DETROIT MI 48226-1221 |
26.54% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman High
Income Bond Fund
Institutional Class |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
19.85% |
|
|
|
|
SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY
C/O TRUIST ID 866
ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE
OAKS PA 19456-9989 |
19.27% |
|
|
|
|
EDWARD D JONES & CO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
12555 MANCHESTER RD
SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3710 |
18.34% |
|
|
|
|
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
13.51% |
|
|
|
|
CAPINCO
C/O US BANK NA
PO BOX 1787
MILWAUKEE WI 53201-1787 |
7.74% |
Neuberger
Berman High Income Bond Fund
Investor |
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
25.88% |
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
THEIR CLIENTS
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995 |
24.16% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal
High Income Fund
Class A |
VANGUARD BROKERAGE SERVICES
100 VANGUARD BLVD
MALVERN PA 19355-2331
|
26.89% |
|
|
|
|
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF
ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION (9EGS6)
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
20.24% |
|
|
|
|
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENE OF ITS CUST
1 NEW YORK PLZ FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1965 |
15.87% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
11.83% |
|
|
|
|
PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002 |
9.39% |
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995
|
5.33% |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund
Class C |
UBS WM USA
0O0 11011 6100
OMNI ACCOUNT M/F
SPEC CDY A/C EBOC UBSFSI
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761 |
61.25% |
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995
|
26.99% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
11.75% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal
High Income Fund
Institutional Class |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERV CORP LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
74.12% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
11.02% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
10.42% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal
Impact Fund
Class A |
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
38.77% |
|
|
|
|
UMB BANK NA
CUST SEP IRA FBO
2217 ISLE ROYALE LN
DAVIS CA 95616-6616 |
21.92% |
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995 |
20.22% |
|
|
|
|
VANGUARD BROKERAGE SERVICES
100 VANGUARD BLVD
MALVERN PA 19355-2331 |
14.67% |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Impact Fund
Class C |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995 |
65.69% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
34.31% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal
Impact Fund
Institutional Class |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995 |
20.64% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
13.83% |
|
|
|
|
PERSHING LLC
1 PERSHING PLZ
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002
|
6.2% |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Investor Class |
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
10.11% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
6.11% |
|
|
|
|
RICHARD REITMAN
16 CANDY LN
ROSLYN HTS NY 11577-1810
|
5.44% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal
Intermediate Bond Fund
Class A |
RAYMOND JAMES OMNIBUS FOR
MUTUAL FUNDS HOUSE ACCOUNT
FIRM 92500015
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100 |
30.81% |
|
|
|
|
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION (98055)
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
29.74% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
14.97% |
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995
|
10.25% |
|
|
|
|
LPL FINANCIAL
OMNIBUS CUSTOMER ACCOUNT
ATTN MUTUAL FUND TRADING
4707 EXECUTIVE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091 |
5.87% |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund
Class C |
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
59.15% |
|
|
|
|
RAYMOND JAMES OMNIBUS FOR
MUTUAL FUNDS HOUSE ACCOUNT
FIRM 92500015
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100 |
16.46% |
|
|
|
|
LPL FINANCIAL
A/C 1000-0005
4707 EXECUTIVE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091 |
8.7% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Municipal
Intermediate Bond Fund
Institutional Class |
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995 |
84.27% |
|
|
|
|
MLPF&S FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF
ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
6.72% |
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund
Class A |
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
17.1% |
|
|
|
|
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENE OF ITS CUST
1 NEW YORK PLZ FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1965 |
15.41% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
13.63% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
13.6% |
|
|
|
|
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523 |
11.73% |
|
|
|
|
RAYMOND JAMES OMNIBUS FOR
MUTUAL FUNDS HOUSE ACCOUNT
FIRM 92500015
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100 |
7.94% |
|
|
|
|
LPL FINANCIAL
OMNIBUS CUSTOMER ACCOUNT
ATTN MUTUAL FUND TRADING
4707 EXECUTIVE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091 |
5.93% |
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund
Class C |
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523 |
23.86% |
|
|
|
|
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
21.26% |
|
|
|
|
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENE OF ITS CUST
1 NEW YORK PLZ FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1965 |
14.45% |
|
|
|
|
RAYMOND JAMES OMNIBUS FOR
MUTUAL FUNDS HOUSE ACCOUNT
FIRM 92500015
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100 |
13.89% |
|
|
|
|
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
8.23% |
|
|
|
|
LPL FINANCIAL
A/C 1000-0005
4707 EXECUTIVE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091 |
6.61% |
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund
Class R6 |
CEMENT & CONCRETE WORKERS
DISTRICT
COUNCIL PENSION FUND
21438 42ND AVE FL 2ND
BAYSIDE NY 11361-2950 |
7.04% |
|
|
|
|
METAL LATHERS LOCAL 46 PENSION FUND
1322 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK NY 10021-3446
|
6.57% |
|
|
|
|
LOCAL 1205 PENSION PLAN
ATTN VENUS TEMPLE - FUND ADMIN
246 CONKLIN ST
FARMINGDALE NY 11735-2657 |
6.39% |
|
|
|
|
GEORGE F TRUICKO
JOHN H SHANNON TTEES
THE LABORERS' LOCAL 1298 PENSION FD
681 FULTON AVE
HEMPSTEAD NY 11550-4556 |
5.99% |
|
|
|
|
SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY
C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP
ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE
OAKS PA 19456-9989 |
5.42% |
|
|
|
|
JOHN HANCOCK TRUST COMPANY LLC
200 BERKELEY ST STE 7
BOSTON MA 02116-5038
|
5.06% |
Neuberger
Berman Strategic Income Fund
Institutional Class |
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT
SVC
FBO # 41999970
707 2ND AVE S
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402-2405 |
27.97% |
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
14.5% |
|
|
|
|
MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER &
SMITH INC FUND ADMINISTRATION
ATTN SERVICE TEAM
4800 DEER LAKE DR E FL 2
JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484 |
9.35% |
|
|
|
|
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN ST
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901 |
8.61% |
|
|
|
|
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENE OF ITS CUST
1 NEW YORK PLZ FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1965 |
8.18% |
|
|
|
|
LPL FINANCIAL
OMNIBUS CUSTOMER ACCOUNT
ATTN MUTUAL FUND TRADING
4707 EXECUTIVE DR
SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091 |
6.19% |
|
|
|
|
RAYMOND JAMES OMNIBUS FOR
MUTUAL FUNDS HOUSE ACCOUNT
FIRM 92500015
880 CARILLON PKWY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100 |
6.05% |
|
|
|
|
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523 |
5.56% |
|
|
|
Neuberger Berman Strategic
Income Fund
Trust Class |
UMB BANK NA
CUST IRA FBO
DAVID H LACOOK
2001 KARBACH ST STE J
HOUSTON TX 77092-8425 |
16.95% |
|
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERV CORP
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995 |
11.52% |
As of January 31, 2025, the following shareholders
owned of record or beneficially more than 25% of the outstanding shares of a Fund as set forth below. A shareholder who owns of record
or beneficially more than 25% of the outstanding shares of a Fund or who is otherwise deemed to “control” a Fund may be able
to determine or significantly influence the outcome of matters submitted to a vote of the Fund’s shareholders.
Fund |
Name and Address |
Percent Owned
|
Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund |
NATIONAL
FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
30.27% |
Neuberger
Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
NATIONAL
FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF
OUR CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
54.92% |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal High Income Fund |
NATIONAL
FINANCIAL SERV CORP LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT
499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 |
72.72% |
Neuberger
Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund |
NATIONAL
FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR
CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995 |
78.44% |
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
This SAI and the Prospectuses
do not contain all the information included in the Trust’s registration statement filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act with respect
to the securities offered by the Prospectuses. The registration statement, including the exhibits filed therewith, may be examined at
the SEC’s offices in Washington, D.C. The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains this SAI, material incorporated
by reference, and other information regarding the Funds.
Statements contained in this
SAI and in the Prospectuses as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete. In each instance
where reference is made to a contract or other document a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such
statement is qualified in all respects by such reference.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following financial
statements and related documents are incorporated herein by reference from each Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal
year ended October 31, 2024:
The audited financial statements of Neuberger
Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund,
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact
Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund, and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund, notes thereto,
and the reports of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, with respect to such audited financial
statements.
APPENDIX A
Long-Term and Short-Term Debt Securities Rating
Descriptions
S&P Global Ratings Long-Term Issue Credit
Ratings*:
The following descriptions have been published
by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.
AAA – An obligation rated
‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments
on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA – An obligation rated ‘AA’
differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the
obligation is very strong.
A – An obligation rated ‘A’
is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated
categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.
BBB – An obligation rated
‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely
to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
BB, B, CCC, CC, and C – Obligations
rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative
characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will
likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.
BB – An obligation rated ‘BB’
is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business,
financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the
obligation.
B – An obligation rated ‘B’
is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial
commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or
willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
CCC – An obligation rated
‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for
the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions,
the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
CC – An obligation rated ‘CC’
is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global
Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
C – An obligation rated ‘C’
is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery
compared with obligations that are rated higher.
D – An obligation rated ‘D’
is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when
payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within
the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar
days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where
default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to
‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.
*Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’
may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)
-- Global Long-Term Rating Scale:
The following descriptions have been published
by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
Aaa – Obligations rated Aaa
are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa – Obligations rated Aa
are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A – Obligations rated A are
judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa – Obligations rated Baa
are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba – Obligations rated Ba
are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B – Obligations rated B are
considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa – Obligations rated Caa
are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca – Obligations rated Ca
are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C – Obligations rated C are
the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers
1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher
end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower
end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued
by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.*
* By their terms, hybrid securities allow for
the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs.
Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with
the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated
with that security.
Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”)
-- Corporate Finance Obligations – Long-Term Rating Scale:
The following descriptions have been published
by Fitch Ratings, Inc., Fitch Ratings Ltd. and its subsidiaries.
AAA – Highest Credit Quality.
‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong
capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA – Very High Credit Quality.
‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial
commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A – High Credit Quality. ‘A’
ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity
may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB – Good Credit Quality.
‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments
is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB – Speculative. ‘BB’
ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions
over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.
B – Highly Speculative. ‘B’
ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.
CCC – Substantial Credit Risk.
‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.
CC – Very High Levels of Credit
Risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.
C – Exceptionally High Levels
of Credit Risk. ‘C’ indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.
Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’,
‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not
opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.
DBRS -- Long-Term Obligations Rating Scale:
The following descriptions have been published
by Morningstar DBRS.
AAA – Highest credit quality.
The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.
AA – Superior credit quality.
The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from AAA only to a small degree. Unlikely
to be significantly vulnerable to future events.
A – Good credit quality. The
capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than AA. May be vulnerable to future events,
but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.
BBB – Adequate credit quality.
The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.
BB – Speculative, non-investment-grade
credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.
B – Highly speculative credit
quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.
CCC, CC, C – Very highly
speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations. There is little difference between these three categories,
although CC and C rating categories are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default or subordinated to
obligations rated in the CCC to B range. Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place, but is considered inevitable,
may be rated in the C category.
D – When the issuer has
filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or winding-up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion
of grace periods, a downgrade to D may occur. Morningstar DBRS may also use SD (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities
are impacted, such as the case of a distressed exchange. See the Default Definition document on dbrs.morningstar.com under Understanding
Ratings for more information.
S&P Global Ratings -- Short-Term Issue
Credit Ratings:
The following descriptions have been published
by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.
A-1 – A short-term obligation
rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial
commitments on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates
that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2 – A short-term obligation
rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations
in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3 – A short-term obligation
rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
B – A short-term obligation
rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity
to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity
to meet its financial commitments.
C – A short-term obligation
rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions
for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
D – A short-term obligation
rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating
category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments
will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business
days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where
default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to
‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.
Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that
have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest
as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either
a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating
relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’ or ‘A-1+/A-1’).
With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the
rating (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).
Moody’s -- Global Short-Term Rating
Scale:
The following descriptions have been published
by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
P-1 – Ratings of Prime-1 reflect
a superior ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-2 – Ratings of Prime-2 reflect
a strong ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-3 – Ratings of Prime-3 reflect
an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP – Issuers (or supporting
institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Fitch -- Short-Term Ratings Assigned to
Issuers and Obligations:
The following descriptions have been published
by Fitch Ratings, Inc., Fitch Ratings Ltd. and its subsidiaries.
F1 – Highest Short-Term Credit
Quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added ‘+’ to
denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2 – Good Short-Term Credit
Quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3 – Fair Short-Term Credit
Quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B – Speculative Short-Term
Credit Quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes
in financial and economic conditions.
C - High Short-Term Default Risk.
Default is a real possibility.
RD – Restricted Default. Indicates
an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically
applicable to entity ratings only.
D – Default. Indicates a broad-based
default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
DBRS -- Commercial Paper and Short-Term
Debt Rating Scale:
The following descriptions have been published
by Morningstar DBRS.
R-1 (high) – Highest credit
quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely
affected by future events.
R-1 (middle) – Superior credit
quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs from R-1 (high) by a
relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.
R-1 (low) – Good credit quality.
The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is not as favourable
as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.
R-2 (high) – Upper end of
adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable
to future events.
R-2 (middle) – Adequate credit
quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future
events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.
R-2 (low) – Lower end of adequate
credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to
future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.
R-3 – Lowest end of adequate
credit quality. There is capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due. May be vulnerable to future events,
and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.
R-4 – Speculative credit quality.
The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.
R-5 – Highly speculative credit
quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.
D – When the issuer has filed under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, or winding up statute, or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods,
a downgrade to D may occur. Morningstar DBRS may also use SD (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such
as the case of a “distressed exchange”. See the Default Definition document on dbrs.morningstar.com under Understanding Ratings
for more information.
Appendix B

Proxy Voting
Policies and Procedures

March 2024
| I. | Introduction and General Principles |
| A. | Certain investment adviser subsidiaries of Neuberger Berman Group
LLC ("NB") have been delegated the authority and responsibility to vote the proxies
of their respective investment advisory clients and exercise such responsibility according
to these policies and procedures. |
| B. | NB understands that proxy voting is an integral aspect of investment management. Accordingly, proxy voting must be conducted with
the same degree of prudence and loyalty accorded any fiduciary or other obligation of an investment manager. |
| C. | NB believes that the following policies and procedures are reasonably expected to ensure that proxy matters are conducted in the best
interest of clients, in accordance with NB's fiduciary duties, applicable rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, fiduciary standards
and responsibilities for ERISA clients set out in Department of Labor interpretations, the UK Stewardship Code, the Japan Stewardship
Code and other applicable laws and regulations. |
| D. | In instances where NB does not have authority to vote client proxies, it is the responsibility of the client to instruct the relevant
custody bank or banks to mail proxy material directly to such client. |
| E. | In all circumstances, NB will comply with specific client directions
to vote proxies, whether or not such client directions specify voting proxies in a manner
that is different from NB's proxy votes for other client accounts. |
| F. | NB will seek to vote all shares under its authority so long as that action is not in conflict with client instructions. There may
be circumstances under which NB may abstain from voting a client proxy, such as when NB believes voting would not be in clients' best
interests (e.g., not voting in countries with share blocking or meetings in which voting would entail additional costs). NB understands
that it must weigh the costs and benefits of voting proxy proposals relating to foreign securities and make an informed decision with
respect to whether voting a given proxy proposal is prudent and solely in the interests of the clients and, in the case of an ERISA client
and other accounts and clients subject to similar local laws, a plan's participants and beneficiaries. NB's decision in such circumstances
will take into account the effect that the proxy vote, either by itself or together with other votes, is expected to have on the value
of the client's investment and whether this expected effect would outweigh the cost of voting. |
| II. | Responsibility and Oversight |
| A. | NB has designated a Governance & Proxy Committee (“Proxy
Committee”) with the responsibility for: |
| (i) | developing, authorizing, implementing and updating NB’s policies
and procedures; |
| (ii) | administering and overseeing the governance and proxy voting processes;
and |
| (iii) | engaging and overseeing any third-party vendors as voting delegates
to review, monitor and/or vote proxies. |
NB, at the recommendation of the Proxy Committee, has
retained Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”) as its proxy voting service provider.
| B. | The Proxy Committee will meet as frequently and in such manner as necessary or appropriate to fulfill its responsibilities. |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
| C. | The members of the Proxy Committee will be appointed from time
to time and will include the Chief Investment Officer (Equities), the Director of Global
Equity Research, the Head of ESG & Impact Investing, and certain portfolio managers.
A senior member of the Legal and Compliance Department will advise the Proxy Committee and
may vote as a full member of the Committee if a vote is needed to establish a quorum or in
the event that a vote is needed to break a tie. The Director of Investment Stewardship serves
in an advisory role to the Proxy Committee but may also vote as a full member of the Committee
if a vote is needed to establish a quorum or in the event that a vote is needed to break
a tie. The Proxy Committee may also appoint substitute or additional members if needed to
establish quorum in the absence of one or more members. |
| D. | In the event that one or more members of the Proxy Committee are not independent with respect to a particular matter, the remaining
members of the Proxy Committee shall constitute an ad hoc independent subcommittee of the Proxy Committee, which will have full authority
to act upon such matter. |
| III. | Proxy Voting Guidelines |
| A. | The Proxy Committee developed the Governance and Proxy Voting Guidelines
(“Voting Guidelines”) based on our Governance and Engagement Principles. These
Guidelines are updated as appropriate and generally at least on an annual basis. With input
from certain of our investment professionals, the modifications are intended to reflect emerging
corporate governance issues and themes. The Proxy Committee recognizes that in certain circumstances
it may be in the interests of our clients to deviate from our Voting Guidelines. |
| B. | Our views regarding corporate governance and engagement, and the
related stewardship actions, are informed by our ESG Investing group, in consultation with
professionals in the Legal & Compliance and Global Equity Research groups, among others.
These insightful, experienced and dedicated groups enable us to think strategically about
engagement and stewardship priorities. |
| C. | We believe NB’s Voting Guidelines generally represent the voting positions most likely to support our clients’ best economic
interests across a range of sectors and contexts. These guidelines are not intended to constrain our consideration of the specific issues
facing a particular company on a particular vote, and so there will be times when we deviate from the Voting Guidelines. |
| D. | In the event that a portfolio manager or other investment professional
at Neuberger Berman believes that it is in the best interest of a client or clients to vote
proxies other than as provided in NB’s Voting Guidelines, the portfolio manager or
other investment professional will submit in writing to the Proxy Committee the basis for
his or her recommendation. The Proxy Committee will review this recommendation in the context
of the specific circumstances of the proxy vote being considered and with the intention of
voting in the best interest of our clients. |
| IV. | Proxy Voting Procedures |
| A. | NB will vote client proxies in accordance with a client’s
specific request even if it is in a manner inconsistent with NB’s proxy votes for other
client accounts. Such specific requests should be made in writing by the individual client
or by an authorized officer, representative or named fiduciary of a client. |
| B. | NB has engaged Glass Lewis as its proxy voting service provider
to: |
| (i) | provide research on proxy matters; |
| (ii) | in a timely manner, notify NB of and provide additional solicitation
materials made available reasonably in advance of a vote deadline; |
| (iii) | vote proxies in accordance with NB’s Voting Guidelines or
as otherwise instructed and submit such proxies in a timely manner; |
| (iv) | handle other administrative functions of proxy voting; |
| (v) | maintain records of proxy statements and additional solicitation
materials received in connection with proxy votes and provide copies of such proxy statements
promptly upon request; and |
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
| (vi) | maintain records of votes cast. |
| C. | Except in instances where clients have retained voting authority,
NB will instruct custodians of client accounts to forward all proxy statements and materials
received in respect of client accounts to Glass Lewis. |
| D. | NB retains final authority and fiduciary responsibility, consistent
with applicable law, for proxy voting for clients that have delegated it authority and discretion
to vote proxies. |
| A. | NB shall direct Glass Lewis to vote proxies in accordance with
the Voting Guidelines described in Section III or, in instances where a material conflict
has been determined to exist, NB will generally instruct that such shares be voted in the
same proportion as other shares are voted with respect to a proposal, subject to applicable
legal, regulatory and operational requirements. NB believes that this process is reasonably
designed to address material conflicts of interest that may arise in conjunction with proxy
voting decisions. Potential conflicts considered by the Proxy Committee when it is determining
whether to deviate from NB’s Voting Guidelines include, among others: a material client
relationship with the corporate issuer being considered; personal or business relationships
between the portfolio managers and an executive officer; director, or director nominee of
the issuer; joint business ventures; or a direct transactional relationship between the issuer
and senior executives of NB. |
| B. | In the event that an NB Investment Professional believes that it
is in the best interest of a client or clients to vote proxies in a manner inconsistent with
the Voting Guidelines described in Section III, such NB Investment Professional will contact
a member of the Legal & Compliance Department advising the Proxy Committee and complete
and sign a questionnaire in the form adopted from time to time. Such questionnaires will
require specific information, including the reasons the NB Investment Professional believes
a proxy vote in this manner is in the best interest of a client or clients and disclosure
of specific ownership, business or personal relationship, or other matters that may raise
a potential material conflict of interest with respect to the voting of the proxy. The Proxy
Committee will meet with the NB Investment Professional to review the completed questionnaire
and consider such other matters as it deems appropriate to determine that there is no material
conflict of interest with respect to the voting of the proxy in the requested manner. The
Proxy Committee shall document its consideration of such other matters. In the event that
the Proxy Committee determines that such vote will not present a material conflict, the Proxy
Committee will make a determination whether to vote such proxy as recommended by the NB Investment
Professional. In the event of a determination to vote the proxy as recommended by the NB
Investment Professional, an authorized member of the Proxy Committee will instruct Glass
Lewis to vote in such manner with respect to the client or clients. In the event that the
Proxy Committee determines that the voting of a proxy as recommended by the NB Investment
Professional would not be appropriate, the Proxy Committee will: |
| (i) | take no further action, in which case the Committee shall vote such
proxy in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; |
| (ii) | disclose such conflict to the client or clients and obtain written direction from the client with respect to voting the proxy; |
| (iii) | suggest that the client or clients engage another party to determine how to vote the proxy; |
| (iv) | instruct that such shares be voted in the same proportion as other
shares are voted with respect to a proposal, subject to applicable legal, regulatory and
operational requirements; or |
| (v) | engage another independent third party to determine how to vote
the proxy if voting in the manner described in (iv) is not feasible. |
A record of the Proxy Committee’s determinations shall
be prepared and maintained in accordance with applicable policies.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
| C. | In the event that the Voting Guidelines described in Section III
do not address how a proxy should be voted the Proxy Committee will make a determination
as to how the proxy should be voted. The Proxy Committee will consider such matters as it
deems appropriate to determine how such proxy should be voted, including whether there is
a material conflict of interest with respect to the voting of the proxy in accordance with
its decision. The Proxy Committee shall document its consideration of such matters, and an
authorized member of the Proxy Committee will instruct Glass Lewis to vote in such manner
with respect to such client or clients. |
| D. | Material conflicts cannot be resolved by simply abstaining from
voting. |
NB will maintain records relating to the implementation
of the Voting Guidelines and these procedures, including:
| (i) | a copy of the Voting Guidelines and these procedures, which shall
be made available to clients upon request; |
| (ii) | proxy statements received regarding client securities (which
will be satisfied by relying on EDGAR or Glass Lewis); |
| (iii) | a record of each vote cast (which Glass Lewis maintains on NB’s
behalf); |
| (iv) | a copy of each questionnaire completed by any NB Investment Professional
under Section V above; and |
| (v) | any other document created by NB that was material to a determination
regarding the voting of proxies on behalf of clients or that memorializes the basis for that
decision. |
Such proxy voting books and records shall be maintained
in an easily accessible place, which may include electronic means, for a period of five years, the first two by the Legal & Compliance
Department. Material conflicts cannot be resolved by simply abstaining from voting.
| VII. | Engagement and Monitoring |
Consistent with the firm’s active management strategies,
NB portfolio managers and members of the Global Equity Research team continuously monitor material investment factors at portfolio companies.
NB professionals remain informed of trends and best practices related to the effective fiduciary administration of proxy voting. NB will
make revisions to its Voting Guidelines and related procedures document when it determines it is appropriate or when we observe the opportunity
to materially improve outcomes for our clients. Additionally, we will regularly undertake a review of selected voting and engagement cases
to better learn how to improve the monitoring of our portfolio companies and the effectiveness of our stewardship activities.
Some NB products or client accounts where NB has authority
and responsibility to vote the proxies may participate in a securities lending program administered by NB. Where a security is currently
on loan ahead of a shareholder meeting, NB will generally attempt to terminate the loan in time to vote those shares. Where a security
that is potentially subject to being loaned is eligible to be voted in a stockholder meeting a portfolio manager may restrict the security
from lending. NB maintains the list of securities restricted from lending and receives daily updates on upcoming proxy events from the
custodian.
Neuberger Berman will publicly disclose all voting records
of its co-mingled funds (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities [UCITS] and mutual funds), which can be found
at https://www.nb.com/en/us/esg/nb-votes -- Neuberger Berman cannot publicly disclose vote level records for separate accounts without
express permission of the client. Neuberger Berman will publicly disclose aggregate reporting on at least an annual basis for all votes
cast across co-mingled and separate accounts. Neuberger Berman welcomes the opportunity to discuss the rationale for a given vote with
investee companies as part of our ongoing engagement activities. Neuberger Berman may also choose to provide broad explanations for certain
voting positions on important or topical issues in advance of the vote. Additionally, our proxy voting guidelines can be found on our
website: https://www.nb.com/en/us/esg/nb-votes.
Proxy Committee Membership as of March 2024:
Joseph Amato, President and Chief Investment Officer (Equities)
Jonathan Bailey, Head of ESG & Impact Investing
Elias Cohen, Portfolio Manager
Timothy Creedon, Director of Global Equity Research
Richard Glasebrook, Portfolio Manager
Brett Reiner, Portfolio Manager
Amit Solomon, Portfolio Manager
Corey Issing*, Legal and Compliance
Caitlin McSherry*, Head of Investment Stewardship
*Corey Issing and Caitlin McSherry serve in advisory roles to the
Committee. They are ex officio members of the Committee. They will only vote as full members of the Committee if their votes are needed
to establish a quorum or in the event that a vote is needed to break a tie vote.
SEC File Number: 811-03802
X0214 02/25 |
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 147 ON FORM N-1A
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
|
|
|
(a) |
|
(1) |
Restated Certificate of Trust. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 to Neuberger Berman Income Funds’ (“Registrant’s”) Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed April 26, 2017). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
Trust Instrument, Amended and Restated. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 116 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed December 30, 2014). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
Amended Trust Instrument Schedule A - Listing the Current Series and Classes of Neuberger Berman Income Funds. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
|
By-Laws, Amended and Restated. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2018). |
|
|
|
(c) |
|
(1) |
Trust Instrument, Amended and Restated, Articles IV, V, and VI. Incorporated by Reference to Item (a)(2) above. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
By-Laws, Amended and Restated, Articles V, VI, and VIII. Incorporated by Reference to Item (b) above. |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
|
(1) |
(i) |
Management Agreement Between Registrant and Neuberger Berman Management LLC (“NB Management”) with Respect to Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Management Agreement Schedules A and B. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
(i) |
Management Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund, Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Management Agreement Schedules A and B. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 25, 2021). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
Novation of Management Agreement entered into as of January 1, 2016, by and among Registrant, NB Management, and Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”) with Respect to all Series whether now existing or hereafter established that are subject to the Management Agreements dated May 4, 2009 by and between Registrant and NB Management. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 122 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 26, 2016). |
Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
(i) |
Sub-Advisory Agreement Between NB Management and Neuberger Berman Europe Limited (“NBEL”) with Respect to Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed January 29, 2014). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Sub-Advisory Agreement Schedules A and B. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 117 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 25, 2015). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5) |
Novation of Sub-Advisory Agreement entered into as of January 1, 2016, by and among NB Management, NBEL, and NBIA with Respect to certain Series now existing or hereafter established as agreed from time to time by the parties pursuant to Sub-Advisory Agreements dated December 1, 2013 and February 13, 2014, respectively, between NB Management and NBEL. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 122 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 26, 2016). |
|
|
|
|
(e) |
|
(1) |
(i) |
Distribution Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Investor Class Shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Distribution Agreement Schedule with Respect to Investor Class Shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
(i) |
Distribution Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Institutional Class Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Distribution Agreement Schedule with Respect to Institutional Class Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
(i) |
Distribution and Services Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Investor Class Shares of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Distribution and Services Agreement Schedule with Respect to Investor Class Shares of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2012). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
(i) |
Distribution and Services Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Trust Class Shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Distribution and Services Agreement Schedule with Respect to Trust Class Shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2012). |
Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
|
|
|
|
|
(5) |
(i) |
Distribution and Services Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Class A Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Distribution and Services Agreement Schedule with Respect to Class A Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6) |
(i) |
Distribution and Services Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Class C Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Distribution and Services Agreement Schedule with Respect to Class C Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7) |
(i) |
Distribution and Services Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Class R3 Shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 29, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Distribution and Services Agreement Schedule with Respect to Class R3 Shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2012). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8) |
(i) |
Distribution Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Class R6 Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed March 14, 2013). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Distribution Agreement Schedule with Respect to Class R6 Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9) |
(i) |
Novation of Distribution Agreement entered into as of July 1, 2016, by and among Registrant, NB Management, and Neuberger Berman LLC (“NB LLC”) with Respect to all Series whether now existing or hereafter established that are subject to the Distribution Agreements dated May 4, 2009 for Institutional Class, and Investor Class Shares and March 14, 2013 for Class R6 Shares by and between Registrant and NB Management. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed December 22, 2016). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Novation of Distribution and Services Agreement entered into as of July 1, 2016, by and among Registrant, NB Management, and NB LLC with Respect to all Series whether now existing or hereafter established that are subject to the Distribution and Services Agreements dated May 4, 2009 for Investor Class, Class A, Class C, and Trust Class Shares and May 15, 2009 for Class R3 Shares by and between Registrant and NB Management. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed December 22, 2016). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10) |
Distribution Agreement Between Registrant and Neuberger Berman BD LLC with Respect to Class E Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed July 2, 2021). |
|
|
|
|
(f) |
|
Bonus, Profit Sharing Contracts. None. |
Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
|
|
|
(g) |
|
(1) |
(i) |
Custodian Contract Between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 23, 1996). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Schedule of Compensation under the Custodian Contract. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed January 31, 1997). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(iii) |
Amendment to Custodian Contract Between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2012). |
|
|
|
|
|
(h) |
|
(1) |
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement Between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 28, 2007). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
(i) |
Administration Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Investor Class Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Administration Agreement Schedules A and B with Respect to Investor Class Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
(i) |
Administration Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Trust Class Shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Administration Agreement Schedules A and B with Respect to Trust Class Shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2018). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
(i) |
Administration Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Institutional Class Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Administration Agreement Schedules A and B with Respect to Institutional Class Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5) |
(i) |
Administration Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Class A Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Administration Agreement Schedules A and B with Respect to Class A Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6) |
(i) |
Administration Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Class C Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 15, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Administration Agreement Schedules A and B with Respect to Class C Shares. (Filed herewith). |
Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
|
|
|
|
|
(7) |
(i) |
Administration Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Class R3 Shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 29, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Administration Agreement Schedules A and B with Respect to Class R3 Shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 130 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2018). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8) |
(i) |
Administration Agreement Between Registrant and NB Management with Respect to Class R6 Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed March 14, 2013). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Administration Agreement Schedules A and B with Respect to Class R6 Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9) |
Novation of Administration Agreement entered into as of January 1, 2016, by and among Registrant, NB Management, and NBIA with Respect to all Series whether now existing or hereafter established that are subject to the Administration Agreements dated May 4, 2009 for Investor Class, Advisor Class, Trust Class, Institutional Class, Class A and Class C Shares, May 15, 2009 for Class R3 Shares, and March 14, 2013 for Class R6 Shares by and between Registrant and NB Management. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 122 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 26, 2016). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10) |
Administration Agreement Between Registrant and NBIA with Respect to Class E Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed July 2, 2021). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11) |
Expense Limitation Agreement Between Registrant and NBIA with Respect to the Funds and Classes listed on the attached Schedule A. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12) |
Fee Waiver Agreement with respect to Class E shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(13) |
BlackRock ETF Trust, BlackRock ETF Trust II, iShares Trust, iShares, Inc., and iShares U.S. ETF Trust Fund of Funds Investment Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds, File Nos. 333-122847 and 811-21715 (Filed February 25, 2022). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(14) |
BNY Mellon Investment Funds II, Inc. and BNY Mellon Alternative Diversifier Strategies Fund Fund of Funds Investment Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds, File Nos. 333-122847 and 811-21715 (Filed February 25, 2022). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15) |
JP Morgan Fund of Funds Investment Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 228 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Equity Funds, File Nos. 002-11357 and 811-582 (Filed December 15, 2022). |
Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
|
|
|
|
|
(16) |
Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust, Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II, Invesco India Exchange-Traded Fund Trust, Invesco Actively Managed Exchange-Traded Trust, Invesco Actively Managed Exchange-Traded Commodity Fund Trust, and Invesco Exchange-Traded Self-Indexed Fund Trust Fund of Funds Investment Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds, File Nos. 333-122847 and 811-21715 (Filed February 25, 2022). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(17) |
The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II Fund of Funds Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman ETF Trust, Nos. 333-261613 and 811-23761 (Filed February 14, 2025). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(18) |
The Select Sector SPDR Trust Fund of Funds Investment Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds, File Nos. 333-122847 and 811-21715 (Filed February 25, 2022). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(19) |
SPDR Series Trust, SPDR Index Shares Funds, and SSGA Active Trust Fund of Funds Investment Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds, File Nos. 333-122847 and 811-21715 (Filed February 25, 2022). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20) |
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust Fund of Funds Investment Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds, File Nos. 333-122847 and 811-21715 (Filed February 25, 2022). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(21) |
VanEck ETF Trust Fund of Funds Investment Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds, File Nos. 333-122847 and 811-21715 (Filed February 25, 2022). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(22) |
Vanguard Funds Fund of Funds Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds, File Nos. 333-122847 and 811-21715 (Filed February 25, 2022). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(23) |
WisdomTree Trust Fund of Funds Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds, File Nos. 333-122847 and 811-21715 (Filed February 25, 2022). |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
|
Opinion and Consent of K&L Gates LLP with Respect to Securities Matters of Registrant. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
(j) |
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
(k) |
|
Financial Statements Omitted from Prospectuses. None. |
|
|
|
(l) |
|
Letter of Investment Intent. None. |
|
|
|
(m) |
|
(1) |
(i) |
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Neuberger Berman Investor Class (now, Investor Class) Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed June 1, 2005). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Schedule A to the Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Investor Class Shares of Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2012). |
Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
(i) |
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Trust Class Shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 28, 2007). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Schedule A to the Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Trust Class Shares of Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2012). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
(i) |
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Class A Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed December 17, 2007). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Schedule A to the Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Class A Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
(i) |
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Class C Shares. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed December 17, 2007). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Schedule A to the Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Class C Shares. (Filed herewith). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5) |
(i) |
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Class R3 Shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 29, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Amended Schedule A to the Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with Respect to Class R3 Shares of Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed February 27, 2012). |
|
|
|
|
|
(n) |
|
Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed May 6, 2021). |
|
|
|
(o) |
|
(1) |
Power of Attorney for Registrant. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 210 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman Equity Funds, File Nos. 2-11357 and 811-582 (Filed October 5, 2018). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
Power of Attorney for Registrant. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman ETF Trust, File Nos. 333-261613 and 811-23761 (Filed August 2, 2023). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
Power of Attorney for Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman ETF Trust, File Nos. 333-261613 and 811-23761 (Filed September 27, 2024). |
|
|
|
|
(p) |
|
(1) |
Code of Ethics for Registrant, NBIA, and NB BD LLC. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman ETF Trust, File Nos. 333-261613 and 811-23761 (Filed February 26, 2025). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
Code of Ethics for NBEL. Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File Nos. 2-85229 and 811-3802 (Filed January 29, 2014). |
| Item 29. | Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control with Registrant. |
No person is controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.
A Delaware statutory trust may provide in its
governing instrument for indemnification of its officers and trustees from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. Article IX,
Section 2 of the Trust Instrument provides that the Registrant shall indemnify any present or former trustee, officer, employee or
agent of the Registrant (“Covered Person”) to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and all expenses reasonably
incurred or paid by him or her in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding (“Action”) in which he or she becomes
involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his or her being or having been a Covered Person and against amounts paid or incurred by
him or her in settlement thereof. Indemnification will not be provided to a person adjudged by a court or other body to be liable to the
Registrant or its shareholders by reason of “willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office” (“Disabling Conduct”), or not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
that his or her action was in the best interest of the Registrant. In the event of a settlement, no indemnification may be provided unless
there has been a determination that the officer or trustee did not engage in Disabling Conduct (i) by the court or other body approving
the settlement; (ii) by at least a majority of those trustees who are neither interested persons, as that term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), of the Registrant (“Independent Trustees”), nor parties
to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts; or (iii) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon
a review of readily available facts.
Pursuant to Article IX, Section 3 of the Trust
Instrument, if any present or former shareholder of any series (“Series”) of the Registrant shall be held personally liable
solely by reason of his or her being or having been a shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reason,
the present or former shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or in the case of any
entity, its general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the applicable Series to be held harmless from and indemnified
against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Registrant, on behalf of the affected Series, shall, upon request by such
shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against such shareholder for any act or obligation of the Series and satisfy any judgment
thereon from the assets of the Series.
Section 9 of the Management Agreements between
NBIA and the Registrant provides that neither NBIA nor any director, officer or employee of NBIA performing services for any series of
the Registrant at the direction or request of NBIA in connection with NBIA’s discharge of its obligations under the Agreements shall
be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a series in connection with any matter to which the
Agreements relate; provided, that nothing in the Agreements shall be construed (i) to protect NBIA against any liability to the Registrant
or any series thereof or its interest holders to which NBIA would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of NBIA’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under
the Agreements, or (ii) to protect any director, officer or employee of NBIA who is or was a trustee or officer of the Registrant
against any liability to the Registrant or any series thereof or its interest holders to which such person would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s
office with the Registrant.
Section 6 of the Sub-Advisory Agreement between
NBIA and NBEL and the Registrant provides that neither NBEL nor any director, officer or employee of NBEL performing services for any
series of the Registrant at the direction or request of NBEL in connection with NBEL’s discharge of its obligations under the Agreement
shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a series in connection with any matter to which
the Agreement relates; provided, that nothing in the Agreement shall be construed (i) to protect NBEL against any liability to the
Registrant or any series thereof or its interest holders to which NBEL would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of NBEL’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
under the Agreement, or (ii) to protect any director, officer or employee of NBEL who is or was a trustee or officer of the Registrant
against any liability to the Registrant or any series thereof or its interest holders to which such person would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s
office with the Registrant.
Section 9.1 of the Administration Agreements between
NBIA and the Registrant on behalf of each of the classes of shares of each of the Registrant’s series provides that NBIA will not
be liable to the Registrant for any action taken or omitted to be taken by NBIA or its employees, agents or contractors in carrying out
the provisions of the Agreement if such action was taken or omitted in good faith and without negligence or misconduct on the part of
NBIA, or its employees, agents or contractors. Section 12 of each Administration Agreement provides that the Registrant shall indemnify
NBIA and hold it harmless from and against any and all losses, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses,
incurred by NBIA that result from: (i) any claim, action, suit or proceeding in connection with NBIA’s entry into or performance
of the Agreement; or (ii) any action taken or omission to act committed by NBIA in the performance of its obligations under the Agreement;
or (iii) any action of NBIA upon instructions believed in good faith by it to have been executed by a duly authorized officer or
representative of a Series; provided, that NBIA will not be entitled to such indemnification in respect of actions or omissions constituting
negligence or misconduct on the part of NBIA, or its employees, agents or contractors. Amounts payable by the Registrant under this provision
shall be payable solely out of assets belonging to that Series, and not from assets belonging to any other Series of the Registrant. Section
13 of each Administration Agreement provides that NBIA will indemnify the Registrant and hold it harmless from and against any and all
losses, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred by the Registrant that result from: (i) NBIA’s
failure to comply with the terms of the Agreement; or (ii) NBIA’s lack of good faith in performing its obligations under the
Agreement; or (iii) the negligence or misconduct of NBIA, or its employees, agents or contractors in connection with the Agreement.
The Registrant shall not be entitled to such indemnification in respect of actions or omissions constituting negligence or misconduct
on the part of the Registrant or its employees, agents or contractors other than NBIA, unless such negligence or misconduct results from
or is accompanied by negligence or misconduct on the part of NBIA, any affiliated person of NBIA, or any affiliated person of an affiliated
person of NBIA.
Section 11 of the Distribution Agreements with
respect to Investor Class, Trust Class, Institutional Class and Class R6 Shares and Section 14 of the Distribution and Services Agreements
with respect to Investor Class, Trust Class, Class A, Class C and Class R3 Shares, between the Registrant and Neuberger Berman BD LLC
(“NB BD LLC”) (on behalf of the respective class of the Registrant) provides that NB BD LLC shall look only to the assets
of a Series for the Registrant’s performance of the Agreement by the Registrant on behalf of such Series, and neither the Trustees
nor any of the Registrant’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act of 1933 (“1933 Act”) may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
trustee, officer or controlling person, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed
in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The Registrant also maintains Directors and Officers Insurance.
| Item 31. | Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser. |
There is set forth below information as to any
other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each director or officer of NBIA is, or at any time
during the past two years has been, engaged for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
NAME |
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS |
|
|
|
Dennis Ainger
Assistant Secretary, NBIA |
|
None. |
|
|
|
Archena Alagappan
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Joseph V. Amato
President – Equities and Chief Investment Officer – Equities, NBIA |
|
Chief Executive Officer and President, Neuberger
Berman Holdings LLC (including its predecessor, Neuberger Berman Inc.); President and Director of Neuberger Berman Group LLC; Chief
Executive Officer and President, NB BD LLC; Director/Trustee, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment
manager and/or administrator; Chief Executive Officer and President, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment
manager and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
Irina Babushkina
Chief Administrative Officer - Global Research, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC |
|
|
|
Thanos Bardas
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Joseph Bertini
Chief Compliance Officer – Alternatives and Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC |
|
|
|
Ashok Bhatia
President – Fixed Income, Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income and Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Jennifer Blachford
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
NAME |
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS |
|
|
|
Claudia A. Brandon
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Executive Vice
President and Secretary, twenty-eight registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
Richard N. Bradt
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
David M. Brown
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Chad Bruso
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
David Bunan
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Stephen J. Casey
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Brad E. Cetron
Chief Compliance Officer, Head of Compliance and Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Chief Compliance Officer and Managing Director,
NB BD LLC. |
|
|
|
Michael Chinni
Treasurer, NBIA |
|
Chief Financial Officer, NB BD LLC |
|
|
|
Elias Cohen
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Timothy Creedon
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Kai Cui
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Robert W. D’Alelio
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Elvira DeCaro
Assistant Secretary, NBIA |
|
Assistant Secretary, NB BD LLC |
|
|
|
Kenneth deRegt
Chief Operating Officer – Fixed Income, NBIA |
|
None. |
|
|
|
Derek Devens
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
NAME |
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS |
|
|
|
Anthony DiBernardo
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Assistant Treasurer,
ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
Rory Ewing
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
|
|
|
Michael Foster
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Paolo R. Frattaroli
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Raman Gambhir
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Jacob Gamerman
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Rand W. Gesing
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Jennifer Gorgoll
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Michael C. Greene
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Daniel P. Hanson
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Thomas Hogan
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Scott A. Hoina
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Jeffrey Hunn
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
William Hunter
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
James L. Iselin
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Corey A. Issing
General Counsel and Head of Compliance – Mutual Funds and Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Chief Legal Officer (only for purposes of sections
307 and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), twenty-eight registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager
and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
Sheila James
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Assistant Secretary,
twenty-eight registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
Brian C. Jones
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Charles Kantor
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Brian Kerrane
Head of Mutual Fund Administration and Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Chief Operating Officer,
and Vice President, twenty-eight registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
Christopher Kocinski
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Douglas Kramer
Head of Institutional Equity and Multi-Asset and Managing Director, NBIA |
|
None. |
|
|
|
Nathan Kush
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
NAME |
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS |
|
|
|
Paul Lanks
Chief Operating Officer – Private Wealth, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC |
|
|
|
Ephraim Lemberger
Assistant Secretary, NBIA |
|
None. |
|
|
|
David Levine
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Richard S. Levine
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Joseph Lind
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Brian Lord
Assistant Secretary, Chief Compliance Officer – Fixed Income and Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC. |
|
|
|
Beryl Lou
Head of Investment Engineering and Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC |
|
|
|
Joseph P. Lynch
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Jared Mann
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
James F. McAree
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Kevin McCarthy
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Owen F. McEntee, Jr.
Vice President, NBIA |
|
Vice President, NB BD LLC; Vice President, ten registered
investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator |
|
|
|
Matthew McGinnis
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
|
|
|
John McGovern
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Treasurer and Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
Josephine Marone |
|
Assistant Secretary, twenty-eight registered investment
companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
S. Blake Miller
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC;
Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Trevor Moreno
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Richard S. Nackenson
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Benjamin H. Nahum
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Olumide Owolabi
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Eric J. Pelio
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Alexandra Pomeroy
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Douglas A. Rachlin
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Hari Ramanan
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB
BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
NAME |
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER
CONNECTIONS |
|
|
|
Marc Regenbaum
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
|
|
|
Brett S. Reiner
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Associate Portfolio
Manager. |
|
|
|
Frank Rosato
Vice President, NBIA |
|
Vice President, NB BD LLC; Assistant Treasurer,
ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
Henry Rosenberg
Chief Compliance Officer – Central Compliance and Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC |
|
|
|
Robert J. Russo
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Conrad A. Saldanha
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Eli M. Salzmann
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
John San Marco
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Linda Sharaby
Secretary and Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director and Secretary, NB BD LLC; Managing
Director and Secretary, Neuberger Berman Holdings LLC. |
|
|
|
Monica Sherer
Assistant Secretary, NBIA |
|
None. |
|
|
|
Steve Shigekawa
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Ronald B. Silvestri
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Amit Solomon
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Gregory G. Spiegel
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Associate Portfolio
Manager. |
|
|
|
Jason Tauber
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Daniel Tracer
Head of Financial Regulation and Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President and Head of Financial Regulation,
NB BD LLC; Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, five registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager
and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
John Triolo
Vice President, NBIA |
|
Vice President, ten registered investment companies
for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator. |
|
|
|
Shawn Trudeau
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
James Tyre
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Gorky Urquieta
Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Leo Anthony Viola
Controller and Managing Director, NBIA |
|
Treasurer, NBAA. |
|
|
|
David Yi Wan
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
|
|
|
Eric Zhou
Senior Vice President, NBIA |
|
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager. |
The principal address of NBIA
and each of the investment companies named above is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104-0002.
Information as to the directors
and officers of NBEL, together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged
in by the directors and officers of NBEL in the last two years, is included in its application for registration as an investment adviser
on Form ADV (File No. 801-78140) filed under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and is incorporated by reference thereto.
The principal address of NBEL is Lansdowne House, 57 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6ER.
| Item 32. | Principal Underwriters. |
| (a) | Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the principal underwriter distributing securities of the Registrant, is also the principal underwriter and
distributor for each of the following investment companies: |
Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust
Neuberger Berman Alternative Funds
Neuberger Berman Equity Funds
Neuberger Berman ETF Trust
| (b) | Set forth below is information concerning the directors and officers of the Registrant’s principal underwriter. The principal
business address of each of the persons listed is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104-0002, which is also the address
of the Registrant’s principal underwriter. |
Name |
|
Positions
and Offices with Underwriter |
|
Positions
and Offices with Fund |
Joseph V. Amato |
|
Chief Executive Officer
and President |
|
President, Chief Executive
Officer and Trustee. |
Michael Chinni |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
None. |
Brad Cetron |
|
Chief Compliance Officer |
|
Chief Compliance Officer,
Head of Compliance. |
Daniel Tracer |
|
Head of Financial Regulation |
|
Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Officer. |
Linda Sharaby |
|
Secretary |
|
None. |
Elvira DeCaro |
|
Assistant Secretary |
|
None. |
(c) No
commissions or other compensation were received directly or indirectly from the Registrant by any principal underwriter who was not an
affiliated person of the Registrant.
| Item 33. | Location of Accounts and Records. |
All accounts, books and other documents required
to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to the Registrant are
maintained at the offices of State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, except for the Registrant’s
Trust Instrument and By-Laws, minutes of meetings of the Registrant’s Trustees and shareholders and the Registrant’s policies
and contracts, which are maintained at the offices of the Registrant, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104-0002.
| Item 34. | Management Services. |
Other than as set forth in Parts A and B of this
Post-Effective Amendment, the Registrant is not a party to any management-related service contract.
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant
certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the 1933 Act
and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 147 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City and State of New York on the 26th day of February, 2025.
|
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Joseph V. Amato |
|
Name: |
Joseph V. Amato |
|
Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, Post-Effective
Amendment No. 147 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
|
|
|
/s/ Joseph V. Amato |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Joseph V. Amato |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ John M. McGovern |
Treasurer and Principal Financial and |
February 26, 2025 |
John M. McGovern |
Accounting Officer |
|
|
|
|
/s/ Michael J. Cosgrove |
Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Michael J. Cosgrove* |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Marc Gary |
Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Marc Gary* |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Martha C. Goss |
Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Martha C. Goss* |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Ami Kaplan |
Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Ami Kaplan* |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Michael M. Knetter |
Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Michael M. Knetter* |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Deborah C. McLean |
Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Deborah C. McLean* |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Paul M. Nakasone |
Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Paul M. Nakasone* |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Tom D. Seip |
Chairman of the Board and Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Tom D. Seip* |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Franklyn E. Smith |
Trustee |
February 26, 2025 |
Franklyn E. Smith* |
|
|
*Signatures affixed by Franklin H. Na on February
26, 2025, pursuant to powers of attorney filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 210 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger
Berman Equity Funds on October 5, 2018 (File Nos. 002-11357 and 811-582), Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registration Statement
on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman ETF Trust on August 2, 2023 (File Nos. 333-261613 and 811-23761), and Post-Effective Amendment No. 22
to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Neuberger Berman ETF Trust on September 27, 2024 (File Nos. 333-261613 and 811-23761).
NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS
EXHIBIT INDEX
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20001 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20002 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20003 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposed20004 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
0.0026
0.0295
0.0372
0.0107
0.0942
0.0947
0.0108
0.1361
0.0609
0.0188
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20005 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20006 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20009 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000041689Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20010 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000041689Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20011 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000041689Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposed20012 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000041689Member row primary compact * ~
0.0833
0.1003
0.1467
0.0645
0.1422
0.0468
0.0575
0.1342
0.1202
0.0289
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20013 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000041689Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20014 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000041689Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20017 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000027216Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20018 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000027216Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20019 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000027216Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposed20020 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000027216Member row primary compact * ~
0.0001
0.0776
0.0352
0.0078
0.0870
0.0399
0.0463
0.0156
0.1282
0.0911
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20021 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000027216Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20022 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000027216Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20025 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20026 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20027 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposed20028 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
0.0477
0.1417
0.0546
0.0235
0.1390
0.0641
0.0456
0.1172
0.1149
0.0792
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20029 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20030 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20033 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000049669Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20034 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000049669Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20035 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000049669Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposed20036 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000049669Member row primary compact * ~
0.0021
0.0875
0.0218
0.0827
0.0402
0.0488
0.1359
0.0501
0.0626
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20037 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000049669Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20038 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000049669Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20041 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000039521Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20042 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000039521Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20043 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000039521Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposed20044 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000039521Member row primary compact * ~
0.0244
0.0009
0.0336
0.0096
0.0651
0.0430
0.0087
0.0799
0.0436
0.0121
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20045 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000039521Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20046 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000039521Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20049 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20050 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20051 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposed20052 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member row primary compact * ~
0.0237
0.0017
0.0409
0.0110
0.0668
0.0397
0.0161
0.0927
0.0577
0.0187
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20053 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20054 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20057 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20058 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20059 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleNoRedemptionTransposed20060 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
0.0189
0.0646
0.0690
0.0235
0.1052
0.0776
0.0292
0.1058
0.1002
0.0600
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20061 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20062 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20065 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20066 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20067 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
0.0015
0.0254
0.0331
0.0147
0.0889
0.0915
0.0148
0.1399
0.0567
0.0146
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20068 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20069 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20072 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20073 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20074 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
0.0493
0.1403
0.0548
0.0264
0.1387
0.0624
0.0439
0.1177
0.1116
0.0788
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20075 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20076 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20079 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20080 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20081 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member row primary compact * ~
0.0222
0.0002
0.0394
0.0095
0.0652
0.0382
0.0146
0.0940
0.0561
0.0172
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20082 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20083 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007833Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20086 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20087 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20088 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
0.0026
0.0295
0.0372
0.0107
0.0952
0.0957
0.0098
0.1353
0.0620
0.0209
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20089 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20090 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007835Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20093 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20094 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20095 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
0.0470
0.1426
0.0568
0.0241
0.1414
0.0640
0.0478
0.1161
0.1159
0.0803
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20096 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20097 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20100 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20101 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20102 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
0.0183
0.0653
0.0697
0.0228
0.1064
0.0787
0.0303
0.1051
0.1014
0.0610
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20103 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20104 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20107 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20108 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20109 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
0.0224
0.0599
0.0662
0.0269
0.1014
0.0729
0.0256
0.1082
0.0953
0.0563
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20110 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20111 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007834Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20114 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20115 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20116 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
0.0528
0.1340
0.0489
0.0314
0.1335
0.0560
0.0401
0.1230
0.1063
0.0737
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20117 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20118 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleShareholderFees20121 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20122 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20123 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
0.0493
0.1403
0.0548
0.0264
0.1387
0.0624
0.0439
0.1118
0.1203
0.0875
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20124 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member row primary compact * ~
~ http://www.nb.com/20250226/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20125 column dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact ck0000723620_doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ck0000723620_S000007832Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~
J.P. Morgan Emerging Market Blend Hard Currency / Local Currency 50-50 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
485BPOS
0000723620
false
2024-10-31
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR
0000723620
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
ck0000723620:C000057304Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
ck0000723620:C000057305Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
ck0000723620:C000021326Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CollateralizedDebtObligationsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CommercialPaperRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InflationLinkedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LeverageRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MortgageAndAssetBackedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PreferredSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SovereignAndSupranationalEntitiesDebtRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:USGovernmentSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:WhenIssuedAndForwardSettlingSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000021326Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000021326Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NCRAX_Class_C_Shares_NCRCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NCRLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
ck0000723620:C000129447Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
ck0000723620:C000129448Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
ck0000723620:C000129449Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RisksOfInvestmentsInThePRCThroughBondConnectProgramsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ConvertibleSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:FrontierMarketsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LeverageRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OtherInvestmentCompanyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SovereignAndSupranationalEntitiesDebtRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:StructuredNoteRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000129449Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000129449Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
ck0000723620:index_JP_Morgan_Emerging_Market_Blend_Hard_Currency_Local_Currency_5050_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NERAX_Class_C_Shares_NERCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NERIXMember
ck0000723620:S000041689Member
ck0000723620:index_50_JP_Morgan_Government_Bond_Index_GBIEmerging_Markets_Global_Diversified_25_JP_Morgan_Emerging_Markets_Bond_Index_EMBIGlobal_Diversified_and_25_JP_Morgan_Corporate_Emerging_Markets_Bond_IMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
ck0000723620:C000082158Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
ck0000723620:C000082159Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
ck0000723620:C000082160Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ConvertibleSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DistressedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RepurchaseAgreementRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000082160Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000082160Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NFIAX_Class_C_Shares_NFICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NFIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000027216Member
ck0000723620:index_Morningstar_LSTA_US_Leveraged_Loan_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:C000077167Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:C000077168Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:C000064460Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DistressedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OtherInvestmentCompanyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000064460Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000064460Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NHIAX_Class_C_Shares_NHICX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NHILXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_ICE_BofA_US_High_Yield_Constrained_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
ck0000723620:C000157071Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
ck0000723620:C000157072Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
ck0000723620:C000157073Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DistressedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InflationLinkedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InverseFloaterRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LeverageRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MortgageAndAssetBackedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OtherInvestmentCompanyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:TenderOptionBondsAndRelatedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:TobaccoRelatedBondsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:USGovernmentSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:WhenIssuedAndForwardSettlingSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ZeroCouponBondRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000157073Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000157073Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_Municipal_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMHAX_Class_C_Shares_NMHCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000049669Member
ck0000723620:index_65_Bloomberg_Municipal_Bond_Index_and_35_Bloomberg_Municipal_High_Yield_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
ck0000723620:C000201844Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
ck0000723620:C000201845Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
ck0000723620:C000121799Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ImpactAndESGCriteriaRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InflationLinkedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InverseFloaterRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LeverageRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MortgageAndAssetBackedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OtherInvestmentCompanyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:TenderOptionBondsAndRelatedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:USGovernmentSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:WhenIssuedAndForwardSettlingSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ZeroCouponBondRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000121799Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000121799Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NIMAX_Class_C_Shares_NIMCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMIIXMember
ck0000723620:S000039521Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_Municipal_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
ck0000723620:C000089977Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
ck0000723620:C000089978Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
ck0000723620:C000089979Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DistressedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InverseFloaterRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:TenderOptionBondsAndRelatedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000089979Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000089979Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_Municipal_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NMNAX_Class_C_Shares_NMNCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NMNLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_7Year_GO_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
ck0000723620:C000057302Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
ck0000723620:C000057303Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
ck0000723620:C000021324Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CommercialPaperRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ConvertibleSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InflationLinkedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InverseFloaterRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LeverageRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MortgageAndAssetBackedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PreferredSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SovereignAndSupranationalEntitiesDebtRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:TenderOptionBondsAndRelatedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:USGovernmentSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:WhenIssuedAndForwardSettlingSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000021324Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000021324Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_A_Shares_NSTAX_Class_C_Shares_NSTCX_Institutional_Class_Shares_NSTLXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
ck0000723620:C000021325Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CollateralizedDebtObligationsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CommercialPaperRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InflationLinkedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LeverageRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MortgageAndAssetBackedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PreferredSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SovereignAndSupranationalEntitiesDebtRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:USGovernmentSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:WhenIssuedAndForwardSettlingSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000021325Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000021325Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NCRIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:C000021322Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DistressedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OtherInvestmentCompanyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000021322Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000021322Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NHINXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_ICE_BofA_US_High_Yield_Constrained_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
ck0000723620:C000021323Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DistressedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InverseFloaterRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:TenderOptionBondsAndRelatedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000021323Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000021323Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_Municipal_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Investor_Class_Shares_NMUIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007833Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_7Year_GO_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
ck0000723620:C000153036Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CommercialPaperRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InflationLinkedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LeverageRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MortgageAndAssetBackedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PreferredSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SovereignAndSupranationalEntitiesDebtRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:USGovernmentSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:WhenIssuedAndForwardSettlingSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CollateralizedDebtObligationsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000153036Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000153036Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRCRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007835Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:C000125075Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DistressedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OtherInvestmentCompanyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000125075Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000125075Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_Shares_NRHIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_ICE_BofA_US_High_Yield_Constrained_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
ck0000723620:C000125076Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CommercialPaperRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ConvertibleSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InflationLinkedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InverseFloaterRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LeverageRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MortgageAndAssetBackedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PreferredSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SovereignAndSupranationalEntitiesDebtRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:TenderOptionBondsAndRelatedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:USGovernmentSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:WhenIssuedAndForwardSettlingSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000125076Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000125076Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R6_NRSIXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
ck0000723620:C000044074Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CommercialPaperRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ConvertibleSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InflationLinkedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InverseFloaterRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LeverageRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MortgageAndAssetBackedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MunicipalSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PreferredSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SovereignAndSupranationalEntitiesDebtRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:TenderOptionBondsAndRelatedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:USGovernmentSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:WhenIssuedAndForwardSettlingSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000044074Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000044074Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Trust_Class_Shares_NSTTXMember
ck0000723620:S000007834Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:C000077170Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DistressedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OtherInvestmentCompanyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000077170Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000077170Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_R3_Shares_NHIRXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_ICE_BofA_US_High_Yield_Constrained_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:C000228875Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskLoseMoneyMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
rr:RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitutionMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:AllRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CallRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CreditRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:CurrencyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DerivativesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:DistressedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ForeignAndEmergingMarketRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:HighPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:InterestRateRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:IssuerSpecificRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LiquidityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LoanInterestsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:LowerRatedDebtSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:MarketVolatilityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OtherInvestmentCompanyRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrepaymentAndExtensionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:PrivatePlacementsAndOtherRestrictedSecuritiesRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RecentMarketConditionsMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RedemptionRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:SectorRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:VariableAndFloatingRateInstrumentsRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskOfIncreaseInExpensesMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:OperationalAndCybersecurityRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:RiskManagementMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:ValuationRiskMember
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember
ck0000723620:C000228875Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
rr:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember
ck0000723620:C000228875Member
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_Bloomberg_US_Aggregate_Bond_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
0000723620
ck0000723620:doc_Class_E_Shares_NHIEXMember
ck0000723620:S000007832Member
ck0000723620:index_ICE_BofA_US_High_Yield_Constrained_Index_reflects_no_deduction_for_fees_expenses_or_taxesMember
2025-02-28
2025-02-28
xbrli:pure
iso4217:USD