Lazard Funds Summary Prospectus November 29, 2013
Before you invest, you may want to review the Portfolios Prospectus, which contains more information about the Portfolio and its risks. The Portfolios Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (SAI), both dated November 29, 2013 (as revised or supplemented), are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. You can find the Portfolios Prospectus, SAI and other information about the Portfolio online at www.LazardNet.com/lam/us/lazardfunds.shtml. You can also get this information at no cost by calling (800) 823-6300 or by sending an e-mail request to ContactUs@LazardNet.com.
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Institutional |
Open |
R6 |
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Lazard Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio |
LEDIX |
LEDOX |
RLEDX |
Investment Objective
The Portfolio seeks total return from current income and capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of The Lazard Funds, Inc. (the Fund).
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Institutional |
Open |
R6 |
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Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
1.00% |
1.00% |
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1.00% |
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Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a |
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Management Fees |
.80% |
.80% |
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.80% |
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
None |
.25% |
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None |
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Other Expenses |
.23% |
1.92% |
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.23% |
* |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
1.03% |
2.97% |
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1.03% |
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Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement** |
.03% |
1.67% |
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.08% |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement** |
1.00% |
1.30% |
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.95% |
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Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
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** |
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Reflects a contractual agreement by Lazard Asset Management LLC (the Investment Manager) to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio through November 29, 2014, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.00%, 1.30% and .95% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolios Institutional Shares, Open Shares and R6 Shares, respectively, and from November 30, 2014 through April 30, 2023, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.10%, 1.40% and 1.05% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolios Institutional Shares, Open Shares and R6 Shares, respectively. All limitations on Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses are exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of Acquired Funds and extraordinary expenses, and excluding shareholder redemption fees or other transaction fees. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Funds Board of Directors, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. |
Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolios operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to
the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement described above. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years Institutional Shares
$102
$325
$566
$1,257 Open Shares
$132
$433
$756
$1,798 R6 Shares
$97
$320
$561
$1,252 Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected
in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolios performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolios portfolio turnover rate was 220% of the average value of its portfolio. Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in debt securities issued or guaranteed by governments, government agencies or supranational bodies or companies or other private-sector entities, including fixed and/or floating rate investment grade and non-investment grade bonds, convertible securities, commercial paper,
collateralized debt obligations, short- and medium-term obligations and other fixed-income obligations, and may invest in money market instruments such as certificates of deposit. The securities in which the Portfolio invests may be denominated in the US dollar, the Canadian dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen,
the Pound Sterling, or the local currency of the issuer. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in debt securities that are economically tied to emerging market countries. Emerging market countries include all countries not represented by the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI®) World Index. The Portfolio currently
intends to focus its investments in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the developing countries of Europe, although the allocation of the Portfolios assets among countries and regions may vary from time to time based on the Investment Managers judgment and its analysis of market conditions. The Portfolio is not limited to securities of any particular quality or investment grade and, as a result, the Portfolio may invest significantly in securities rated below investment grade (e.g., lower than Baa by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. or lower than BBB by Standard & Poors Ratings Group) (junk bonds) or
securities that are unrated. Additionally, the Portfolio is not restricted to investments in securities of any particular maturity or duration. Duration is an estimate of the sensitivity of the price (the value of principal) of a fixed-income security to a change in interest rates. Generally, the longer the duration, the
higher the expected volatility. For example, the market price of a fixed-income security with a duration of three years would be expected to decline 3% if interest rates rose 1%. Conversely, the market price of the same security would be expected to increase 3% if interest rates fell 1%. The Portfolio is classified as non-diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund. The Portfolio generally will not purchase equity securities; however, the Portfolio may from time to time acquire and hold equity securities as a result of exercising a convertible debt security or holding a convertible debt security to maturity or in connection with the reorganization or bankruptcy of an issuer of
a debt security held by the Portfolio. The Portfolio may, but is not required to, purchase options on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and currencies and enter into forward currency contracts and 2Summary Prospectus
credit default swaps, for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. While fixed-income securities are designed to produce a stable stream of income, their prices move inversely with changes in interest rates (i.e., as interest rates go up, prices go down). Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or
durations. The Portfolios investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend
to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the securitys value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolios share price. Some debt securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity. If securities held by the Portfolio are called during a time of declining interest rates (which is typically the case when issuers exercise options to call outstanding securities), the Portfolio may have to
reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates). Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolios investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in
equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuers goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolios performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets, political
instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. However, capital
markets worldwide have experienced unprecedented volatility in recent years, causing significant declines in valuation and liquidity in certain emerging markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent
to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Currency investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or
conversion of emerging market currencies. Liquidity Risk. The lack of a readily available market may limit the ability of the Portfolio to sell certain securities at the time and price it would like. The size of certain debt securities offerings of emerging markets issuers may be relatively smaller in size than debt offerings in more developed markets and, in
some cases, the Portfolio, by itself or together with other Portfolios or other accounts managed by the Investment Manager, may hold a position in a security that is large relative to the typical trading volume for that security; these factors can make it difficult for the Portfolio to dispose of the position at the
desired time or price. Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Portfolio may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more Summary Prospectus3
diversified investment portfolios, the Portfolios net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if
the Portfolios investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Forward Currency Contract and Other Derivatives Risk. Forward currency contracts and other derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes, may reduce returns or increase volatility, perhaps substantially. Forward currency contracts, over-the-counter options on securities (including
options on ETFs) and currencies, and swap agreements are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty and can be illiquid. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in
the value of, the related currency, security or other reference asset. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolios performance. Use of derivatives transactions, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio
had not engaged in such transactions. High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolios investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate
could result in high brokerage costs and an increase in taxable capital gains distributions to the Portfolios shareholders, which will reduce returns to shareholders. Performance Bar Chart and Table The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio by showing the Portfolios performance for the first complete calendar year of operation compared to that of broad measures of market performance. The bar chart shows the
performance of the Portfolios Institutional Shares. Updated performance information is available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolios past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.
Best Quarter: 4Summary Prospectus
Total Returns for Institutional Shares
As of 12/31
3/31/12 7.52%
Worst Quarter:
6/30/12 -0.01%
Average Annual Total Returns After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Shares. After-tax returns of the Portfolios other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the
investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Returns shown below for the Portfolios R6 Shares (which were not offered prior to
November 29, 2013) reflect the performance of the Portfolios Institutional Shares. R6 Shares would have had substantially similar returns as Institutional Shares because the share classes are invested in the same portfolio of securities, and the returns would differ only to the extent that the classes do not have
the same expenses. The 50% JPMorgan Emerging Market Bond Index Global Diversified Index/50% JPMorgan Government Bond IndexEmerging Markets Global Diversified Index shown in the table is an unmanaged index created by the Investment Manager, and is a 50/50 blend of the JPMorgan Emerging Market Bond Index
Global Diversified Index and the JPMorgan Government Bond IndexEmerging Markets Global Diversified Index.
Inception
1 Year
Life of Institutional Shares:
2/28/11 Returns Before Taxes
18.95%
10.86% Returns After Taxes on Distributions
16.18%
8.61% Returns After Taxes on Distributions and
12.23%
7.92% Open Shares (Returns Before Taxes)
2/28/11
18.68%
10.54% R6 Shares (Returns Before Taxes)
11/29/13
18.95%
10.86%
JPMorgan Emerging Market Bond Index Global Diversified® Index
17.44%
13.66%
JPMorgan Government Bond Index Emerging Markets Global Diversified® Index
16.76%
7.82%
50% JPMorgan Emerging Market Bond Index Global Diversified Index/
17.21%
10.81% Summary Prospectus5
(for the periods ended December 31, 2012)
Date
Portfolio
Sale of Portfolio Shares
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
50% JPMorgan Government Bond Index Emerging Markets Global Diversified Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Management Investment Manager Lazard Asset Management LLC Portfolio Manager/Analysts Denise S. Simon, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Managers Emerging Markets Debt team, has been with the Portfolio since February 2011. Arif T. Joshi, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Managers Emerging Markets Debt team, has been with the Portfolio since February 2011. Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares The initial investment minimums are: Institutional Shares
$
100,000 Open Shares*
$
2,500 R6 Shares**
$
1,000,000
*
Unless the investor is a client of a securities dealer or other institution which has made an aggregate minimum initial purchase for its clients of at least $2,500 for Open Shares. ** There is no minimum investment amount for R6 Shares purchased by certain types of employee benefit plans and individuals considered to be affiliates of the Fund or the Investment Manager, discretionary accounts with the Investment Manager and affiliated and non-affiliated registered investment companies. The subsequent investment minimum for Institutional Shares and Open Shares is $50. Portfolio shares are redeemable through the Funds transfer agent, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., on any business day by telephone, mail or overnight delivery. Clients of financial intermediaries may be subject to the intermediaries procedures. Tax Information All dividends and short-term capital gains distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, and long-term capital gains are generally taxable as such, whether you receive the distribution in cash or reinvest it in additional shares. Financial Intermediary Compensation Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries If you purchase shares of a Portfolio through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Portfolio and/or the Investment Manager and its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Portfolio shares and related services (except for R6 Shares, for which neither the Fund nor the
Investment Manager or its affiliates provide any distribution, shareholder or participant servicing, account maintenance, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, administrative, recordkeeping or reporting, transaction processing, support or similar payments, or revenue sharing payments, in connection with
investments in, or conversions into, R6 Shares). These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediarys website for more
information. 00078674 Lazard Asset Management LLC 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 www.lazardnet.com