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Lazard Funds Summary Prospectus  May 29, 2015

Before you invest, you may want to review the Portfolio’s Prospectus, which contains more information about the Portfolio and its risks. The Portfolio’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), both dated May 29, 2015 (as revised or supplemented), are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. You can find the Portfolio’s 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institutional
Shares

 

Open
Shares

 

R6
Shares

Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Blend Portfolio

 

EMBIX

 

EMBOX

 

RLEBX

Investment Objective

The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of The Lazard Funds, Inc. (the “Fund”).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institutional
Shares

 

Open
Shares

 

R6
Shares

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Redemption Fee (as a % of amount redeemed,
on shares owned for 30 days or less)

 

1.00%

 

1.00%

 

 

 

1.00%

 

 

Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management Fees

 

1.00%

 

1.00%

 

 

 

1.00%

 

 

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

 

None

 

.25%

 

 

 

None

 

 

Other Expenses

 

.28%

 

.38%

 

 

 

.28%

*

 

 

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses

 

1.28%

 

1.63%

 

 

 

1.28%

 

 

Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement**

 

 

.03%

 

 

 

.03%

 

 

Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement**

 

1.28%

 

1.60%

 

 

 

1.25%

 

 

 

*

 

“Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, using “Other Expenses” for Institutional Shares from the last fiscal year.

 

**

 

Reflects a contractual agreement by Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio through May 29, 2016, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.30%, 1.60% and 1.25% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio’s Institutional Shares, Open Shares and R6 Shares, respectively, 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 Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), 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 hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. 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

 

 

$

 

130

 

 

 

$

 

406

 

 

 

$

 

702

 

 

 

$

 

1,545

 

 

Open Shares

 

 

$

 

163

 

 

 

$

 

511

 

 

 

$

 

884

 

 

 

$

 

1,930

 

 

R6 Shares

 

 

$

 

127

 

 

 

$

 

403

 

 

 

$

 

699

 

 

 

$

 

1,543

 

 

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 Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 44% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various emerging markets equity strategies managed by the Investment Manager (and other emerging markets equity securities held in other strategies managed by the Investment Manager) in proportions consistent with the Investment Manager’s evaluation of various economic and other factors through quantitative and qualitative analysis. These proportions are changed from time to time without notice to shareholders, and at any given time the allocation to one strategy, region or country may comprise a substantial percentage of the Portfolio’s assets, or conversely, there may be no allocation to any such strategy, region or country. The Investment Manager will make allocation and securities selection decisions based on quantitative and qualitative analysis using a number of different tools, including proprietary software models. Quantitative analysis includes statistical analysis of portfolio risks, factor dependencies and trading tendencies. Qualitative analysis includes analysis of the global economic environment as well as internal and external research on individual securities, portfolio holdings, attribution factors, behavioral patterns and overall market views and scenarios. The Investment Manager may consider a security’s value or growth characteristics in selecting investments for the Portfolio and may invest in securities of any size or market capitalization.

The equity 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 equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries include all countries not represented by the MSCI® World Index. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions may vary from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.

Principal Investment Risks

The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money.

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 Portfolio’s 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 issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.

Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.

2Summary Prospectus


 

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 economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. 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. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.

Value Investing and Growth Investing Risks. The Portfolio invests a portion of its assets in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The Portfolio also invests a portion of its assets in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to have the potential for growth, but that may not realize such perceived potential for extended periods of time or may never realize such perceived growth potential. Such stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they can be more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks.

Quantitative Model Risk. The success of the Portfolio’s investment strategy depends upon effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s quantitative model. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors, including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, the factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value.

Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.

Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.

Allocation Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends in part on the Investment Manager’s skill in determining the Portfolio’s allocation between the investment strategies. The Investment Manager’s evaluations and assumptions underlying its allocation decisions may differ from actual market conditions.

Performance Bar Chart and Table
Year-by-Year Total Returns for Institutional Shares

As of 12/31

The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Blend Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Portfolio’s Institutional Shares has varied from year to year.

Summary Prospectus3


 

Updated performance information is available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future.

 

 

 

 

Best Quarter:
3/31/12  17.59%
 
Worst Quarter:
9/30/11  –24.35%

Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended December 31, 2014)

After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Shares. After-tax returns of the Portfolio’s 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 investor’s 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 Portfolio’s R6 Shares (which were not operational as of December 31, 2014) reflect the performance of the Portfolio’s 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inception
Date

 

1 Year

 

Life of
Portfolio

 

Institutional Shares:

 

5/28/10

 

 

 

 

 

Returns Before Taxes

 

 

 

–8.66%

 

1.25%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions

 

 

 

–8.94%

 

1.08%

 

Returns After Taxes on Distributions and
Sale of Portfolio Shares

 

 

 

–4.36%

 

1.09%

 

Open Shares (Returns Before Taxes)

 

5/28/10

 

–8.95%

 

0.94%

 

R6 Shares (Returns Before Taxes)

 

 

 

–8.66%

 

1.25%

 

MSCI Emerging Markets Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     

–2.19%

 

3.20%

 

4Summary Prospectus


 

Management

Investment Manager

Lazard Asset Management LLC

Portfolio Managers/Analysts

Jai Jacob, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi Asset team, has been with the Portfolio since May 2010.

Stephen Marra, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi Asset team, has been with the Portfolio since May 2013.

James M. Donald, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team, has been with the Portfolio since May 2010.

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 $100,000 for Institutional Shares or $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 Fund’s 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 (Open and Institutional Shares only)
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase shares of the 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. 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 intermediary’s website for more information.

Lazard Asset Management LLC 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 www.lazardnet.com