UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-02145

 

LORD ABBETT BOND-DEBENTURE FUND, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

 

90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

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

90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

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

 

Date of fiscal year end: 12/31

 

Date of reporting period: 12/31/2019

 
Item 1: Report(s) to Shareholders.
 

 

LORD ABBETT
ANNUAL REPORT

 

Lord Abbett

Bond Debenture Fund

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

 

Important Information on Paperless Delivery

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

 

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

 

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

 

Table of Contents

 

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

 

 

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Fund

Annual Report

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

 

 

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

 

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

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

 

Best regards,

 

 

Douglas B. Sieg

Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer

 

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

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

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


 

1

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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


 

2

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

Important Performance and Other Information

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

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

 

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

 

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


 

3

 

 

 

Investment Comparison

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

5   Performance is at net asset value.

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

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


 

4

 

 

 

Expense Example

 

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

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

 

Actual Expenses

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

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

 

5

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

6

 

 

 

Portfolio Holdings Presented by Sector

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

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

 

7

 

Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

8 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 9
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

10 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments   Shares
 (000)
    Fair
Value
 
Electric: Integrated 0.00%                
Eneva SA*(d)   BRL 33     $ 363,683  
                 
Electronics 0.10%                
Universal Display Corp.     77       15,764,355  
                 
Energy: Exploration & Production 0.22%                
Chaparral Energy, Inc. Class A*     541       952,385  
MEG Energy Corp.*(d)   CAD 6,241       35,519,275  
Templar Energy LLC Class A Units     417       33,346 (a) 
Total             36,505,006  
                 
Food & Drug Retailers 0.11%                
Casey’s General Stores, Inc.     113       17,928,825  
                 
Food: Wholesale 0.23%                
Beyond Meat, Inc.*     223       16,878,380  
Sanderson Farms, Inc.     115       20,331,735  
Total             37,210,115  
                 
Forestry/Paper 0.10%                
Westrock Co.     404       17,335,640  
                 
Gas Distribution 0.00%                
Dommo Energia SA*(d)   BRL 353       258,194  
                 
Media: Content 0.01%                
ION Media Networks, Inc.     4       1,931,885 (f) 
                 
Medical Products 0.41%                
DexCom, Inc.*     80       17,407,985  
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*     70       16,266,845  
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*     28       16,543,333  
Teleflex, Inc.     45       17,071,554  
Total             67,289,717  
                 
Metals/Mining (Excluding Steel) 0.10%                
Arconic, Inc.     525       16,142,896  
                 
Oil Field Equipment & Services 0.05%                
Halliburton Co.     336       8,209,685  
                 
Personal & Household Products 0.18%                
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The) Class A     80       16,487,056  
Gibson Brands, Inc.     107       12,560,985 (a) 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 11
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

12 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 13
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

14 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 15
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

16 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 17
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

18 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 19
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

20 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 21
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

22 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 23
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

24 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 25
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

26 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 27
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

28 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 29
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

30 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 31
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

32 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 33
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

34 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 35
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

36 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 37
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

38 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 39
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

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

 

40 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 41
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

42 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Open Futures Contracts at December 31, 2019:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 43
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

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

 

44 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (concluded)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 45
 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

46 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (concluded)

December 31, 2019

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 47
 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

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

 

48 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 49
 

Financial Highlights

 

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

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 51
 

Financial Highlights (concluded)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 53
 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

1. ORGANIZATION  

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  

 

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

 

54

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

55

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

56

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

57

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

58

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

59

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

Management Fee

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

12b-1 Distribution Plan

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

60

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Commissions

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

4. DISTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL LOSS CARRYFORWARDS  

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

61

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

5. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS  

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

6. DISCLOSURES ABOUT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES  

 

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

 

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

 

62

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

63

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

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

 

7. DISCLOSURES ABOUT OFFSETTING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES  

 

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

 

64

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

65

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

8. DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION  

 

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

 

9. EXPENSE REDUCTIONS  

 

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

 

10. LINE OF CREDIT  

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

11. INTERFUND LENDING PROGRAM  

 

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

 

66

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

12. CUSTODIAN AND ACCOUNTING AGENT  

 

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

 

13. SECURITIES LENDING AGREEMENT  

 

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

 

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

 

14. INVESTMENT RISKS  

 

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

 

67

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

68

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

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

 

These factors can affect the Fund’s performance.

 

15. SUMMARY OF CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS  

 

Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:

 

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

 

69

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

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

 

70

 

Notes to Financial Statements (concluded)

 

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

 

71

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

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

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

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

 

Basis for Opinion

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

72

 

Supplemental Proxy Information (unaudited)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Fund, Inc.

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

 

73

 

Basic Information About Management

 

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

 

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

 

Interested Director

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

 

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

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

 

Other Directorships: None.

 

 

 

Independent Directors

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

 

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

Principal Occupation: None.

 

Other Directorships: None.

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

Other Directorships: None.

 

74

 

Basic Information About Management (continued)

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

Other Directorships: None

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

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

 

Other Directorships: None.

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

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

 

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

 

 

 

Officers

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

 

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

 

75

 

Basic Information About Management (concluded)

 

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

 

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

 

76

 

Approval of Advisory Contract

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

77

 

Approval of Advisory Contract (continued)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

78

 

Approval of Advisory Contract (concluded)

 

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

 

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

 

79

 

Householding

 

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

 

Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures and Records

 

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

 

Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure

 

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

 

Tax Information

 

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

 

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

 

80

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f) Not applicable.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

Item 12: Exhibits.

 

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

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

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

Douglas B. Sieg

President and Chief Executive Officer

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

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

 

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

EXHIBIT 99.CODE OF ETHICS

 

THE LORD ABBETT FAMILY OF FUNDS

SARBANES-OXLEY CODE OF ETHICS

FOR THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS

 

I. Covered Officers/Purpose of the Code

 

The Lord Abbett Family of Funds’ code of ethics (the “Code”) for the investment companies within the complex (collectively, “Funds” and each individually a “Fund”), applies to each Fund’s Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers (the “Covered Officers”, each of whom is set forth in Exhibit A) for the purpose of promoting:

 

· honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

· full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Funds;

 

· compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;

 

· the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and

 

· accountability for adherence to the Code.

 

Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.

 

II. Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Any Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest

 

Overview. A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Officer’s private interest interferes with the interests of, or his/her service to, a Fund. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his/her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his/her position with a Fund.

 

Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and a Fund and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Fund because of their status as “affiliated persons” of the investment adviser to each of the Funds. The compliance programs and procedures of Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (“Lord Abbett”) are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of such requirements. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this Code.

 

Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between each of the Funds

 

June 2003

 

and Lord Abbett of which the Covered Officers are also members. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for a Fund or for Lord Abbett, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions which will have different effects on Lord Abbett and each of the Funds. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between each of the Funds and Lord Abbett and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of one or more Funds and, if addressed in conformity with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Funds that the Covered Officers are also officers of the other Lord Abbett investment companies covered by this and by a separate code of ethics.

 

Other conflicts of interest are covered by this Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. In reading the following examples of conflicts of interest under this Code, Covered Officers should keep in mind that such a list cannot ever be exhaustive by covering every possible scenario. It follows that the overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of a Fund.

 

*                    *                    *                    *

 

Each Covered Officer must:

 

· not use his/her personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by a Fund whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Fund; and

 

· not cause a Fund to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit the Fund.

 

There are some potential conflict of interest situations that should be discussed with Lord Abbett’s General Counsel if material. Examples of these include:

 

· service as a director on the board of any public company;

 

· any direct ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with, any of the Funds’ service providers, other than Lord Abbett or any affiliated person of Lord Abbett;

 

· a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by a Fund for effecting portfolio transactions or for selling or redeeming shares, other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer’s employment, such as compensation or as a member of Lord Abbett.

 

III. Disclosure & Compliance

 

· Each Covered Officer should familiarize him/herself with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Funds;

 

June 2003

 
· each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about a Fund to others, whether within or outside Lord Abbett or a Fund, including to a Fund’s independent directors/trustees and auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations;

 

· each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his/her area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Funds and Lord Abbett with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Funds file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Funds; and

 

· it is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

IV. Reporting and Accountability

 

Each Covered Officer must:

 

· upon adoption of the Code, affirm in writing to the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of a Fund that he/she has received, read, and understands the Code;

 

· annually thereafter affirm to the Committee that he/she has complied with the requirements of the Code;

 

· report at least annually such affiliations or other relationships related to conflicts of interest as covered by the Funds’ Annual Directors & Officers Questionnaire;

 

· not retaliate against any employee or member of Lord Abbett for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith; and

 

· notify Lord Abbett’s General Counsel promptly if he/she alleges any violation of this Code. Failure to do so is itself a violation of this Code.

 

Lord Abbett’s General Counsel is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. The General Counsel may consult, as appropriate, with the Committee, and/or counsel to the Independent Directors, and is encouraged to do so. However, any approvals or waivers sought by the Covered Persons will be considered by the Committee.

 

June 2003

 

Each of the Funds will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:

 

· Lord Abbett’s General Counsel will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him;

 

· if, after such investigation, the General Counsel believes that no violation has occurred, the General Counsel is not required to take any further action, but he shall discuss with the Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting his investigation and conclusion;

 

· any matter that the General Counsel believes is a violation will be reported to the Committee;

 

· if the Committee concurs that a violation has occurred, it will consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of Lord Abbett; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer;

 

· the Committee will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate; and

 

· any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by SEC rules.

 

V. Other Policies and Procedures

 

This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Funds, the Funds’ adviser, principal underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superceded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. The Funds’ and Lord Abbett’s codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of this Code.

 

VI. Amendments

 

Except as to the individuals listed in Exhibit A, this Code may not be amended except in written form, which is specifically approved or ratified by a majority vote of a Fund’s independent directors/trustees.

 

VII. Confidentiality

 

All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the Committee and its counsel.

 

VIII. Internal Use

 

June 2003

 

The Code is intended solely for the internal use by each of the Funds and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of any Fund, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion.

 

Date:   June 19, 2003

 

June 2003

 

Exhibit A

 

Persons Covered by this Code of Ethics   Position With Funds
     
Douglas B. Sieg   Principal Executive Officer   President and Chief Executive Officer
         
Bernard J. Grzelak   Principal Financial Officer   Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
         
Vito A. Fronda   Principal Accounting Officer   Treasurer

 

November 2018

 

EX-99.CERT

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

Pursuant to Section 302 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

I, Douglas B. Sieg, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the Registrant and have:

 

(a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d) disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

(b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: February 26, 2020

 

  /s/ Douglas B. Sieg
  Douglas B. Sieg
  President and Chief Executive Officer
 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

Pursuant to Section 302 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

I, Bernard J. Grzelak, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the Registrant and have:

 

(a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d) disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

(b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: February 26, 2020

 

  /s/ Bernard J. Grzelak
  Bernard J. Grzelak
  Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
 

EX-99.906CERT

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

Pursuant to Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Each of the undersigned below certifies that:

 

1. This report on Form N-CSR of Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc. (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the issuer.

 

Date: February 26, 2020

 

  By:  /s/ Douglas B. Sieg
    Douglas B. Sieg
    President and Chief Executive Officer

 

  By:  /s/ Bernard J. Grzelak
.   Bernard J. Grzelak
    Chief Financial Officer and Vice President

 

A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, OR OTHER DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATING, ACKNOWLEDGING, OR OTHERWISE ADOPTING THE SIGNATURE THAT APPEARS IN TYPED FORM WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE REGISTRANT AND WILL BE RETAINED BY THE REGISTRANT AND FURNISHED TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF UPON REQUEST.