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: 811-10371
LORD ABBETT EQUITY TRUST
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)
90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Brooke A. Fapohunda, 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: (800) 201-6984
Date of fiscal year end: 7/31
Date of reporting period: 1/31/2016
Item 1: Report(s) to Shareholders.
2016 LORD ABBETT
SEMIANNUAL REPORT
Lord Abbett
Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund
Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund
For the six-month period ended January 31, 2016
Table of Contents
Lord Abbett Equity Trust
Lord Abbett Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund
Lord Abbett Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund
Semiannual Report
For the six-month period ended January 31, 2016
Daria L. Foster, Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lord Abbett Funds, and E. Thayer Bigelow, Independent Chairman of the Lord Abbett Funds.
Dear Shareholders: We are pleased to provide you with this semiannual report for the Funds for the six-month period ended January 31, 2016. For additional information about the Funds, please visit our website at www.lordabbett.com, where you can access the quarterly commentaries by the Funds’ portfolio managers. General information about Lord Abbett mutual funds, as well as in-depth discussions of market trends and investment strategies, is also provided in Lord Abbett Insights, a quarterly newsletter available on our website.
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,
Daria L. Foster
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
1
Expense Example
As a shareholder of each 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 each 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 (August 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016).
Actual Expenses
For each class of each Fund, the first line of the applicable table on the following pages 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 8/1/15 – 1/31/16” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
For each class of each Fund, the second line of the applicable table on the following pages 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 each 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.
2
Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund
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 | | Ending | | Expenses |
| | Account | | Account | | Paid During |
| | Value | | Value | | Period† |
| | | | | | | | 8/1/15 – |
| | 8/1/15 | | 1/31/16 | | 1/31/16 |
Class A | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 887.00 | | | | $3.56 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.37 | | | | $3.81 | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 883.60 | | | | $7.10 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,017.60 | | | | $7.61 | |
Class F | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 887.60 | | | | $2.85 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,022.12 | | | | $3.05 | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 887.70 | | | | $2.37 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,022.62 | | | | $2.54 | |
Class R2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 885.20 | | | | $5.21 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,019.61 | | | | $5.58 | |
Class R3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 885.70 | | | | $4.74 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,020.11 | | | | $5.08 | |
Class R4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 886.70 | | | | $3.56 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.37 | | | | $3.81 | |
Class R5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 888.20 | | | | $2.37 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,022.62 | | | | $2.54 | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 888.20 | | | | $2.23 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,022.77 | | | | $2.39 | |
† | For each class of the Fund, net expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for such class (0.75% for Class A, 1.50% for Class C, 0.60% for Class F, 0.50% for Class I, 1.10% for Class R2, 1.00% for Class R3, 0.75% for Class R4, 0.50% for Class R5 and 0.47% for Class R6) multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect one-half year period). |
Portfolio Holdings Presented by Sector
January 31, 2016
Sector* | | %** |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 5.13 | % |
Consumer Staples | | | 6.95 | % |
Energy | | | 12.07 | % |
Financials | | | 29.56 | % |
Health Care | | | 11.55 | % |
Industrials | | | 10.38 | % |
Sector* | | %** |
Information Technology | | | 11.96 | % |
Materials | | | 2.33 | % |
Telecommunication Services | | | 3.26 | % |
Utilities | | | 6.37 | % |
Repurchase Agreement | | | 0.44 | % |
Total | | | 100.00 | % |
* | | A sector may comprise several industries. |
** | | Represents percent of total investments. |
3
Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund
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 | | Ending | | Expenses |
| | Account | | Account | | Paid During |
| | Value | | Value | | Period† |
| | | | | | | | 8/1/15 – |
| | 8/1/15 | | 1/31/16 | | 1/31/16 |
Class A | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 850.30 | | | | $3.95 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,020.86 | | | | $4.32 | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 847.10 | | | | $7.43 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,017.09 | | | | $8.11 | |
Class F | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 850.70 | | | | $3.26 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.62 | | | | $3.56 | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 851.30 | | | | $2.79 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,022.12 | | | | $3.05 | |
Class R2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 849.10 | | | | $5.58 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,019.10 | | | | $6.09 | |
Class R3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 849.70 | | | | $5.11 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,019.61 | | | | $5.58 | |
Class R4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 850.30 | | | | $3.67 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.17 | | | | $4.01 | |
Class R5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 851.40 | | | | $2.79 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,022.12 | | | | $3.05 | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 851.40 | | | | $2.75 | |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,022.17 | | | | $3.00 | |
† | For each class of the Fund, net expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for such class (0.85% for Class A, 1.60% for Class C, 0.70% for Class F, 0.60% for Class I, 1.20% for Class R2,1.10% for Class R3, 0.79% for Class R4, 0.60% for Class R5 and 0.59% for R6) multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect one-half year period). |
Portfolio Holdings Presented by Sector
January 31, 2016
Sector* | | %** |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 8.67 | % |
Consumer Staples | | | 4.15 | % |
Energy | | | 7.68 | % |
Financial | | | 34.59 | % |
Health Care | | | 6.16 | % |
Industrials | | | 9.28 | % |
Sector* | | %** |
Information Technology | | | 10.07 | % |
Materials | | | 4.69 | % |
Telecommunication Services | | | 1.07 | % |
Utilities | | | 13.42 | % |
Repurchase Agreement | | | 0.22 | % |
Total | | | 100.00 | % |
* | | A sector may comprise several industries. |
** | | Represents percent of total investments. |
4
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)
CALIBRATED LARGE CAP VALUE FUND January 31, 2016
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
COMMON STOCKS 99.42% | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Aerospace & Defense 2.11% | | | | | | | | |
General Dynamics Corp. | | | 22,900 | | | $ | 3,063 | |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | | | 10,900 | | | | 2,017 | |
Orbital ATK, Inc. | | | 37,700 | | | | 3,402 | |
Total | | | | | | | 8,482 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Air Freight & Logistics 0.58% | | | | | | | | |
FedEx Corp. | | | 17,700 | | | | 2,352 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Airlines 1.30% | | | | | | | | |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. | | | 70,000 | | | | 3,100 | |
JetBlue Airways Corp.* | | | 99,900 | | | | 2,129 | |
Total | | | | | | | 5,229 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Automobiles 1.63% | | | | | | | | |
Ford Motor Co. | | | 291,900 | | | | 3,485 | |
General Motors Co. | | | 103,600 | | | | 3,071 | |
Total | | | | | | | 6,556 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Banks 10.61% | | | | | | | | |
BB&T Corp. | | | 131,400 | | | | 4,292 | |
Citigroup, Inc. | | | 275,600 | | | | 11,735 | |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | | | 219,700 | | | | 4,669 | |
Fifth Third Bancorp | | | 249,200 | | | | 3,937 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | | | 259,000 | | | | 15,410 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | | | 53,100 | | | | 2,667 | |
Total | | | | | | | 42,710 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Capital Markets 2.89% | | | | | | | | |
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | | | 42,200 | | | | 3,825 | |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | | | 81,600 | | | | 2,083 | |
Invesco Ltd. | | | 191,600 | | | | 5,735 | |
Total | | | | | | | 11,643 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Chemicals 1.23% | | | | | | | | |
Celanese Corp. Series A | | | 42,600 | | | | 2,712 | |
Huntsman Corp. | | | 260,100 | | | | 2,245 | |
Total | | | | | | | 4,957 | |
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.92% | | | | |
KAR Auction Services, Inc. | | | 54,400 | | | $ | 1,818 | |
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. | | | 136,000 | | | | 1,900 | |
Total | | | | | | | 3,718 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Communications Equipment 3.66% | | | | | | | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | | | 260,900 | | | | 6,207 | |
CommScope Holding Co., Inc.* | | | 86,200 | | | | 1,932 | |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | | | 145,100 | | | | 6,579 | |
Total | | | | | | | 14,718 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Consumer Finance 2.30% | | | | | | | | |
Capital One Financial Corp. | | | 114,600 | | | | 7,520 | |
Santander Consumer USA Holdings, Inc.* | | | 167,200 | | | | 1,747 | |
Total | | | | | | | 9,267 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Containers & Packaging 1.10% | | | | | | | | |
International Paper Co. | | | 129,100 | | | | 4,417 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Diversified Financial Services 2.25% | | | | | | | | |
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | | | 20,400 | | | | 5,381 | |
Voya Financial, Inc. | | | 120,400 | | | | 3,682 | |
Total | | | | | | | 9,063 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Diversified Telecommunication Services 2.52% |
AT&T, Inc. | | | 280,800 | | | | 10,126 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Electric: Utilities 3.37% | | | | | | | | |
Duke Energy Corp. | | | 51,700 | | | | 3,893 | |
Edison International | | | 25,800 | | | | 1,594 | |
PPL Corp. | | | 230,600 | | | | 8,085 | |
Total | | | | | | | 13,572 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.93% | | | |
Avnet, Inc. | | | 33,900 | | | | 1,353 | |
Ingram Micro, Inc. Class A | | | 84,800 | | | | 2,392 | |
Total | | | | | | | 3,745 | |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 5 |
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)(continued)
CALIBRATED LARGE CAP VALUE FUND January 31, 2016
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Energy Equipment & Services 2.03% | | | | | | |
National Oilwell Varco, Inc. | | | 19,100 | | | $ | 621 | |
Rowan Cos., plc Class A | | | 183,600 | | | | 2,323 | |
Schlumberger Ltd. | | | 72,600 | | | | 5,247 | |
Total | | | | | | | 8,191 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Food & Staples Retailing 3.02% | | | | | | | | |
CVS Health Corp. | | | 20,200 | | | | 1,951 | |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | | | 36,800 | | | | 2,442 | |
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. | | | 97,200 | | | | 7,749 | |
Total | | | | | | | 12,142 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Food Products 2.06% | | | | | | | | |
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. | | | 26,100 | | | | 923 | |
Bunge Ltd. | | | 13,000 | | | | 806 | |
ConAgra Foods, Inc. | | | 125,700 | | | | 5,234 | |
Pinnacle Foods, Inc. | | | 30,600 | | | | 1,312 | |
Total | | | | | | | 8,275 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 1.39% | | | | |
Alere, Inc.* | | | 22,100 | | | | 822 | |
Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | | | 43,700 | | | | 2,136 | |
Medtronic plc (Ireland)(a) | | | 34,900 | | | | 2,650 | |
Total | | | | | | | 5,608 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care Providers & Services 3.02% | | | | |
Anthem, Inc. | | | 35,200 | | | | 4,593 | |
Cardinal Health, Inc. | | | 67,400 | | | | 5,484 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | | 17,900 | | | | 2,062 | |
Total | | | | | | | 12,139 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.22% | | | | |
Darden Restaurants, Inc. | | | 14,100 | | | | 889 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Household Durables 1.23% | | | | | | | | |
Whirlpool Corp. | | | 36,900 | | | | 4,959 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Household Products 1.87% | | | | | | | | |
Procter & Gamble Co. (The) | | | 92,000 | | | | 7,515 | |
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producer 0.39% | | | | | | | | |
AES Corp. | | | 163,600 | | | $ | 1,554 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrial Conglomerates 3.66% | | | | | | | | |
General Electric Co. | | | 505,998 | | | | 14,725 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Information Technology Services 2.83% | | | | |
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | | | 138,100 | | | | 8,249 | |
International Business Machines Corp. | | | 25,250 | | | | 3,151 | |
Total | | | | | | | 11,400 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Insurance 6.69% | | | | | | | | |
Allstate Corp. (The) | | | 131,900 | | | | 7,993 | |
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | | | 17,800 | | | | 1,018 | |
Chubb Ltd. (Switzerland)(a) | | | 67,000 | | | | 7,576 | |
Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. | | | 13,100 | | | | 811 | |
Everest Re Group Ltd. | | | 25,500 | | | | 4,563 | |
Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The) | | | 12,700 | | | | 1,035 | |
Prudential Financial, Inc. | | | 56,200 | | | | 3,939 | |
Total | | | | | | | 26,935 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Machinery 1.15% | | | | | | | | |
Cummins, Inc. | | | 51,500 | | | | 4,629 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Media 0.24% | | | | | | | | |
Time Warner, Inc. | | | 13,600 | | | | 958 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Multi-Line Retail 1.80% | | | | | | | | |
Target Corp. | | | 100,200 | | | | 7,257 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Multi-Utilities 2.61% | | | | | | | | |
PG&E Corp. | | | 139,400 | | | | 7,654 | |
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. | | | 22,600 | | | | 933 | |
Sempra Energy | | | 20,100 | | | | 1,905 | |
Total | | | | | | | 10,492 | |
6 | See Notes to Financial Statements. | |
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)(continued)
CALIBRATED LARGE CAP VALUE FUND January 31, 2016
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 10.02% | | | | |
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. | | | 44,300 | | | $ | 1,732 | |
Chevron Corp. | | | 170,800 | | | | 14,769 | |
ConocoPhillips | | | 141,600 | | | | 5,534 | |
Devon Energy Corp. | | | 68,900 | | | | 1,922 | |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | | | 111,600 | | | | 8,688 | |
Kinder Morgan, Inc. | | | 130,300 | | | | 2,144 | |
Valero Energy Corp. | | | 81,500 | | | | 5,531 | |
Total | | | | | | | 40,320 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Pharmaceuticals 7.12% | | | | | | | | |
Eli Lilly & Co. | | | 27,500 | | | | 2,175 | |
Johnson & Johnson | | | 84,700 | | | | 8,846 | |
Mallinckrodt plc* | | | 12,500 | | | | 726 | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | | 56,000 | | | | 2,838 | |
Pfizer, Inc. | | | 461,800 | | | | 14,080 | |
Total | | | | | | | 28,665 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 4.77% | | | | |
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. | | | 26,800 | | | | 2,122 | |
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. | | | 27,900 | | | | 4,785 | |
General Growth Properties, Inc. | | | 169,000 | | | | 4,739 | |
Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. Class A | | | 62,800 | | | | 1,761 | |
Liberty Property Trust | | | 27,500 | | | | 806 | |
Prologis, Inc. | | | 31,900 | | | | 1,259 | |
SL Green Realty Corp. | | | 23,000 | | | | 2,222 | |
Starwood Property Trust, Inc. | | | 40,900 | | | | 779 | |
Weyerhaeuser Co. | | | 29,100 | | | | 745 | |
Total | | | | | | | 19,218 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 3.22% | | |
Intel Corp. | | | 316,500 | | | | 9,818 | |
NVIDIA Corp. | | | 69,100 | | | | 2,024 | |
ON Semiconductor Corp.* | | | 132,300 | | | | 1,132 | |
Total | | | | | | | 12,974 | |
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Software 1.30% | | | | | | | | |
Activision Blizzard, Inc. | | | 104,300 | | | $ | 3,632 | |
Microsoft Corp. | | | 28,900 | | | | 1,592 | |
Total | | | | | | | 5,224 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.64% | | | | |
Air Lease Corp. | | | 100,300 | | | | 2,584 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.74% | | | | |
T-Mobile US, Inc.* | | | 74,600 | | | | 2,995 | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $441,804,003) | | | | | | | 400,203 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | Principal | | | | | |
| | | Amount | | | | | |
| | | (000) | | | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT 0.44% | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Repurchase Agreement | | | | | | | | |
Repurchase Agreement dated 1/29/2016, 0.03% due 2/1/2016 with Fixed Income Clearing Corp. collateralized by $1,670,,000 of U.S. Treasury Note at 2.75% due 2/15/2024; value: $1,809,863; proceeds: $1,769,922 (cost $1,769,917) | | $ | 1,770 | | | | 1,770 | |
Total Investments in Securities 99.86% (cost $443,573,920) | | | | | | | 401,973 | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities(b) 0.14% | | | 572 | |
Net Assets 100.00% | | | | | | $ | 402,545 | |
* | | Non-income producing security. |
(a) | | Foreign security traded in U.S. dollars. |
(b) | | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities include net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts as follows: |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 7 |
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)(concluded)
CALIBRATED LARGE CAP VALUE FUND January 31, 2016
Open Futures Contracts at January 31, 2016:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fair | | | | Unrealized | |
Type | | | Expiration | | | | Contracts | | | | Position | | | | Value | | | | Appreciation | |
E-Mini S&P 500 Index | | | March 2016 | | | | 18 | | | | Long | | | | $1,737,090 | | | | $53,903 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of January 31, 2016 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value(1):
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Investment Type(2)(3) | | (000) | | | (000) | | | (000) | | | (000) | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 400,203 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 400,203 | |
Repurchase Agreement | | | – | | | | 1,770 | | | | – | | | | 1,770 | |
Total | | $ | 400,203 | | | $ | 1,770 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 401,973 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | $ | 54 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 54 | |
Liabilities | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | |
Total | | $ | 54 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 54 | |
(1) | | Refer to Note 2(h) 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. |
(3) | | There were no Level 1/Level 2 transfers during the period ended January 31, 2016. |
8 | See Notes to Financial Statements. | |
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)
CALIBRATED MID CAP VALUE FUND January 31, 2016
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
COMMON STOCKS 99.49% | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Aerospace & Defense 1.62% | | | | | | | | |
BWX Technologies, Inc. | | | 133,300 | | | $ | 3,991 | |
Orbital ATK, Inc. | | | 106,100 | | | | 9,573 | |
Total | | | | | | | 13,564 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Airlines 0.92% | | | | | | | | |
JetBlue Airways Corp.* | | | 364,100 | | | | 7,759 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Auto Components 0.96% | | | | | | | | |
Lear Corp. | | | 77,900 | | | | 8,088 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Banks 6.23% | | | | | | | | |
CIT Group, Inc. | | | 109,100 | | | | 3,202 | |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | | | 480,300 | | | | 10,206 | |
Comerica, Inc. | | | 87,500 | | | | 3,001 | |
Fifth Third Bancorp | | | 1,024,600 | | | | 16,189 | |
M&T Bank Corp. | | | 163,800 | | | | 18,048 | |
People’s United Financial, Inc. | | | 112,600 | | | | 1,618 | |
Total | | | | | | | 52,264 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Capital Markets 3.02% | | | | | | | | |
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | | | 71,600 | | | | 6,491 | |
Invesco Ltd. | | | 628,700 | | | | 18,817 | |
Total | | | | | | | 25,308 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Chemicals 3.07% | | | | | | | | |
Celanese Corp. Series A | | | 181,300 | | | | 11,543 | |
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. | | | 141,650 | | | | 4,250 | |
Eastman Chemical Co. | | | 40,700 | | | | 2,491 | |
Huntsman Corp. | | | 866,388 | | | | 7,477 | |
Total | | | | | | | 25,761 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Commercial Services & Supplies 2.66% | | | | |
KAR Auction Services, Inc. | | | 322,400 | | | | 10,775 | |
Pitney Bowes, Inc. | | | 209,900 | | | | 4,110 | |
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. | | | 533,300 | | | | 7,450 | |
Total | | | | | | | 22,335 | |
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Communications Equipment 1.24% | | | | |
CommScope Holding Co., Inc.* | | | 146,500 | | | $ | 3,284 | |
Juniper Networks, Inc. | | | 303,000 | | | | 7,151 | |
Total | | | | | | | 10,435 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Consumer Finance 0.74% | | | | | | | | |
Santander Consumer USA Holdings, Inc.* | | | 593,900 | | | | 6,206 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Containers & Packaging 1.31% | | | | | | | | |
International Paper Co. | | | 261,400 | | | | 8,943 | |
WestRock Co. | | | 58,600 | | | | 2,067 | |
Total | | | | | | | 11,010 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.07% | | | | |
Frontier Communications Corp. | | | 461,900 | | | | 2,102 | |
Level 3 Communications, Inc.* | | | 141,000 | | | | 6,882 | |
Total | | | | | | | 8,984 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Electric: Utilities 6.40% | | | | | | | | |
Edison International | | | 176,500 | | | | 10,908 | |
Entergy Corp. | | | 45,300 | | | | 3,197 | |
FirstEnergy Corp. | | | 88,400 | | | | 2,923 | |
Great Plains Energy, Inc. | | | 239,300 | | | | 6,672 | |
ITC Holdings Corp. | | | 108,700 | | | | 4,337 | |
PPL Corp. | | | 369,750 | | | | 12,963 | |
Westar Energy, Inc. | | | 291,700 | | | | 12,706 | |
Total | | | | | | | 53,706 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Electrical Equipment 0.22% | | | | | | | | |
Eaton Corp. plc | | | 36,794 | | | | 1,859 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 2.73% | |
Avnet, Inc. | | | 182,500 | | | | 7,285 | |
Ingram Micro, Inc. Class A | | | 376,300 | | | | 10,612 | |
Jabil Circuit, Inc. | | | 251,300 | | | | 5,003 | |
Total | | | | | | | 22,900 | |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 9 |
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)(continued)
CALIBRATED MID CAP VALUE FUND January 31, 2016
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Energy Equipment & Services 1.87% | | | | | |
National Oilwell Varco, Inc. | | | 213,100 | | | $ | 6,934 | |
Rowan Cos., plc Class A | | | 695,300 | | | | 8,796 | |
Total | | | | | | | 15,730 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Food Products 4.13% | | | | | | | | |
Bunge Ltd. | | | 94,600 | | | | 5,866 | |
ConAgra Foods, Inc. | | | 229,300 | | | | 9,548 | |
Ingredion, Inc. | | | 132,300 | | | | 13,325 | |
Pinnacle Foods, Inc. | | | 139,000 | | | | 5,962 | |
Total | | | | | | | 34,701 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 1.58% | | | | | |
Alere, Inc.* | | | 209,600 | | | | 7,797 | |
Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | | | 111,300 | | | | 5,441 | |
Total | | | | | | | 13,238 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care Providers & Services 3.11% | | | | | |
Cardinal Health, Inc. | | | 56,400 | | | | 4,589 | |
Cigna Corp. | | | 44,700 | | | | 5,972 | |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings* | | | 57,300 | | | | 6,438 | |
Patterson Cos., Inc. | | | 40,600 | | | | 1,724 | |
Quest Diagnostics, Inc. | | | 112,400 | | | | 7,381 | |
Total | | | | | | | 26,104 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.13% | | | | | |
Darden Restaurants, Inc. | | | 184,900 | | | | 11,660 | |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | | | 76,300 | | | | 6,253 | |
Total | | | | | | | 17,913 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Household Durables 2.85% | | | | | | | | |
Lennar Corp. Class A | | | 69,600 | | | | 2,934 | |
Toll Brothers, Inc.* | | | 133,600 | | | | 3,690 | |
Whirlpool Corp. | | | 128,900 | | | | 17,323 | |
Total | | | | | | | 23,947 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producer 1.23% | |
AES Corp. | | | 1,090,200 | | | | 10,357 | |
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Information Technology Services 1.78% | | | | | |
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | | | 249,700 | | | $ | 14,915 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Insurance 9.59% | | | | | | | | |
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. | | | 135,100 | | | | 7,726 | |
Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. | | | 77,000 | | | | 3,581 | |
Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. | | | 84,700 | | | | 5,245 | |
Everest Re Group Ltd. | | | 87,200 | | | | 15,604 | |
Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The) | | | 71,000 | | | | 5,786 | |
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | | | 337,108 | | | | 13,545 | |
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. | | | 55,798 | | | | 4,700 | |
Unum Group | | | 71,100 | | | | 2,036 | |
Validus Holdings Ltd. | | | 90,100 | | | | 3,986 | |
XL Group plc (Ireland)(a) | | | 504,600 | | | | 18,297 | |
Total | | | | | | | 80,506 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Machinery 3.01% | | | | | | | | |
Ingersoll-Rand plc (Ireland)(a) | | | 33,800 | | | | 1,740 | |
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. | | | 145,200 | | | | 13,698 | |
Timken Co. (The) | | | 66,400 | | | | 1,763 | |
Trinity Industries, Inc. | | | 378,100 | | | | 8,099 | |
Total | | | | | | | 25,300 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Media 0.51% | | | | | | | | |
TEGNA, Inc. | | | 178,800 | | | | 4,293 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Metals & Mining 0.30% | | | | | | | | |
Steel Dynamics, Inc. | | | 135,900 | | | | 2,494 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Multi-Line Retail 1.28% | | | | | | | | |
J.C. Penney Co., Inc.* | | | 454,800 | | | | 3,302 | |
Kohl’s Corp. | | | 149,800 | | | | 7,452 | |
Total | | | | | | | 10,754 | |
10 | See Notes to Financial Statements. | |
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)(continued)
CALIBRATED MID CAP VALUE FUND January 31, 2016
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Multi-Utilities 5.50% | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated Edison, Inc. | | | 134,600 | | | $ | 9,340 | |
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. | | | 373,700 | | | | 15,434 | |
SCANA Corp. | | | 263,946 | | | | 16,615 | |
Sempra Energy | | | 50,600 | | | | 4,794 | |
Total | | | | | | | 46,183 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 5.78% | | | | | |
Cheniere Energy, Inc.* | | | 95,700 | | | | 2,876 | |
Cimarex Energy Co. | | | 73,300 | | | | 6,817 | |
Continental Resources, Inc.* | | | 162,100 | | | | 3,422 | |
EQT Corp. | | | 97,900 | | | | 6,044 | |
Hess Corp. | | | 163,700 | | | | 6,957 | |
Marathon Oil Corp. | | | 397,100 | | | | 3,864 | |
Murphy Oil Corp. | | | 126,700 | | | | 2,485 | |
PBF Energy, Inc. Class A | | | 95,100 | | | | 3,327 | |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. | | | 58,400 | | | | 7,239 | |
Tesoro Corp. | | | 47,500 | | | | 4,144 | |
Whiting Petroleum Corp.* | | | 188,700 | | | | 1,387 | |
Total | | | | | | | 48,562 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Pharmaceuticals 1.46% | | | | | | | | |
Mallinckrodt plc* | | | 211,200 | | | | 12,269 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 14.60% | | | | | |
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. | | | 123,200 | | | | 9,755 | |
Annaly Capital Management, Inc. | | | 554,700 | | | | 5,270 | |
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. | | | 42,400 | | | | 7,271 | |
Boston Properties, Inc. | | | 14,000 | | | | 1,627 | |
Camden Property Trust | | | 122,900 | | | | 9,377 | |
DDR Corp. | | | 156,400 | | | | 2,676 | |
Duke Realty Corp. | | | 414,100 | | | | 8,336 | |
Essex Property Trust, Inc. | | | 27,400 | | | | 5,839 | |
General Growth Properties, Inc. | | | 504,700 | | | | 14,152 | |
HCP, Inc. | | | 157,400 | | | | 5,657 | |
Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. Class A | | | 289,900 | | | | 8,129 | |
Investments | | Shares | | | Fair Value (000) | |
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | | | 234,400 | | | $ | 3,246 | |
Kimco Realty Corp. | | | 337,800 | | | | 9,185 | |
Liberty Property Trust | | | 115,700 | | | | 3,392 | |
Prologis, Inc. | | | 162,000 | | | | 6,394 | |
SL Green Realty Corp. | | | 26,300 | | | | 2,541 | |
Starwood Property Trust, Inc. | | | 239,600 | | | | 4,562 | |
UDR, Inc. | | | 65,400 | | | | 2,328 | |
Vornado Realty Trust | | | 75,300 | | | | 6,661 | |
Welltower, Inc. | | | 47,400 | | | | 2,949 | |
Weyerhaeuser Co. | | | 125,800 | | | | 3,222 | |
Total | | | | | | | 122,569 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Real Estate Management & Development 0.32% | | |
Realogy Holdings Corp.* | | | 81,400 | | | | 2,670 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 2.93% | | |
Cypress Semiconductor Corp.* | | | 507,700 | | | | 3,991 | |
NVIDIA Corp. | | | 262,900 | | | | 7,700 | |
ON Semiconductor Corp.* | | | 1,508,000 | | | | 12,908 | |
Total | | | | | | | 24,599 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Software 1.36% | | | | | | | | |
Activision Blizzard, Inc. | | | 327,900 | | | | 11,418 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Specialty Retail 0.91% | | | | | | | | |
Foot Locker, Inc. | | | 46,000 | | | | 3,108 | |
GameStop Corp. Class A | | | 84,100 | | | | 2,204 | |
Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | | | 73,300 | | | | 2,299 | |
Total | | | | | | | 7,611 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.82% | | | | | |
Air Lease Corp. | | | 265,700 | | | | 6,844 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Water Utilities 0.25% | | | | | | | | |
American Water Works Co., Inc. | | | 32,300 | | | | 2,097 | |
Total Common Stocks (cost $964,627,606) | | | | | | | 835,253 | |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 11 |
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)(continued)
CALIBRATED MID CAP VALUE FUND January 31, 2016
| | Principal | | | Fair | |
| | Amount | | | Value | |
Investments | | (000) | | | (000) | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT 0.22% | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Repurchase Agreement | | | | | | | | |
Repurchase Agreement dated 1/29/2016, 0.03% due 2/1/2016 with Fixed Income Clearing Corp. collateralized by $1,745,000 of U.S. Treasury Note at 2.75% due 2/15/2024; value: $1,891,144; proceeds: $1,852,140 (cost $1,852,135) | | $ | 1,852 | | | $ | 1,852 | |
Total Investments in Securities 99.71% (cost $966,479,741) | | | | | | | 837,105 | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities(b) 0.29% | | | | 2,426 | |
Net Assets 100.00% | | | | | | $ | 839,531 | |
* | | Non-income producing security. |
(a) | | Foreign security traded in U.S. dollars. |
(b) | | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities include net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts as follows: |
12 | See Notes to Financial Statements. | |
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)(concluded)
CALIBRATED MID CAP VALUE FUND January 31, 2016
Open Futures Contracts at January 31, 2016:
| | | | | Unrealized |
Type | Expiration | Contracts | Position | Fair Value | Appreciation |
E-Mini S&P 500 Index | March 2016 | 40 | Long | $3,860,200 | $116,892 |
| | | | | |
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of January 31, 2016 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value(1):
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Investment Type(2)(3) | | (000) | | | (000) | | | (000) | | | (000) | |
Common Stocks | | $ | 835,253 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 835,253 | |
Repurchase Agreement | | | – | | | | 1,852 | | | | – | | | | 1,852 | |
Total | | $ | 835,253 | | | $ | 1,852 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 837,105 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | $ | 117 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 117 | |
Liabilities | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | |
Total | | $ | 117 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 117 | |
(1) | | Refer to Note 2(h) 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. |
(3) | | There were no Level 1/Level 2 transfers during the period ended January 31, 2016. |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 13 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)
January 31, 2016
| Calibrated Large | | | Calibrated Mid | |
| Cap Value Fund | | | Cap Value Fund | |
ASSETS: | | | | | | | | |
Investments in securities, at cost | | $ | 443,573,920 | | | $ | 966,479,741 | |
Investments in securities, at fair value | | $ | 401,972,832 | | | $ | 837,104,693 | |
Deposits with brokers for futures collateral | | | 73,600 | | | | 179,400 | |
Receivables: | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities sold | | | 12,527,126 | | | | 2,563,207 | |
Capital shares sold | | | 235,021 | | | | 1,217,943 | |
Interest and dividends | | | 558,089 | | | | 478,288 | |
Variation margin | | | 41,238 | | | | 98,058 | |
From advisor (See Note 3) | | | 127,506 | | | | 192,333 | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | | 70,478 | | | | 98,979 | |
Total assets | | | 415,605,890 | | | | 841,932,901 | |
LIABILITIES: | | | | | | | | |
Payables: | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities purchased | | | 12,451,771 | | | | – | |
Capital shares reacquired | | | 126,821 | | | | 1,490,802 | |
12b-1 distribution plan | | | 34,112 | | | | 90,612 | |
Management fee | | | 208,583 | | | | 436,142 | |
Trustees’ fees | | | 35,097 | | | | 49,700 | |
Fund administration | | | 13,905 | | | | 29,076 | |
To affiliate (See Note 3) | | | 73,055 | | | | 130,088 | |
Variation margin | | | 23 | | | | 17 | |
Distributions payable | | | 184 | | | | – | |
Accrued expenses | | | 117,427 | | | | 175,708 | |
Total liabilities | | | 13,060,978 | | | | 2,402,145 | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 402,544,912 | | | $ | 839,530,756 | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS: | | | | | | | | |
Paid-in capital | | $ | 454,752,193 | | | $ | 1,006,908,190 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | | 435,973 | | | | 1,031,445 | |
Accumulated net realized loss on investments and futures contracts | | | (11,096,069 | ) | | | (39,150,723 | ) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments and futures contracts | | | (41,547,185 | ) | | | (129,258,156 | ) |
Net Assets | | $ | 402,544,912 | | | $ | 839,530,756 | |
14 | See Notes to Financial Statements. | |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)(concluded)
January 31, 2016
| Calibrated Large | | Calibrated Mid | |
| Cap Value Fund | | Cap Value Fund | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net assets by class: | | | | | | | | |
Class A Shares | | $ | 63,979,085 | | | $ | 108,957,677 | |
Class C Shares | | $ | 17,834,022 | | | $ | 44,045,244 | |
Class F Shares | | $ | 10,964,334 | | | $ | 130,630,593 | |
Class I Shares | | $ | 309,213,611 | | | $ | 552,327,790 | |
Class R2 Shares | | $ | 335,359 | | | $ | 1,091,916 | |
Class R3 Shares | | $ | 191,770 | | | $ | 2,089,576 | |
Class R4 Shares | | $ | 8,901 | | | $ | 305,428 | |
Class R5 Shares | | $ | 8,914 | | | $ | 8,554 | |
Class R6 Shares | | $ | 8,916 | | | $ | 73,978 | |
Outstanding shares by class (unlimited number of authorized shares of beneficial interest): | | | | | | | | |
Class A Shares | | | 3,761,638 | | | | 6,432,227 | |
Class C Shares | | | 1,064,887 | | | | 2,645,407 | |
Class F Shares | | | 644,283 | | | | 7,709,654 | |
Class I Shares | | | 18,154,682 | | | | 32,519,998 | |
Class R2 Shares | | | 19,595 | | | | 64,272 | |
Class R3 Shares | | | 11,328 | | | | 123,020 | |
Class R4 Shares | | | 524.22 | | | | 18,052 | |
Class R5 Shares | | | 523.54 | | | | 503.70 | |
Class R6 Shares | | | 523.53 | | | | 4,357 | |
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share (Net assets divided by outstanding shares): | | | | | | | | |
Class A Shares-Net asset value | | | $17.01 | | | | $16.94 | |
Class A Shares-Maximum offering price (Net asset value plus sales charge of 5.75%) | | | $18.05 | | | | $17.97 | |
Class C Shares-Net asset value | | | $16.75 | | | | $16.65 | |
Class F Shares-Net asset value | | | $17.02 | | | | $16.94 | |
Class I Shares-Net asset value | | | $17.03 | | | | $16.98 | |
Class R2 Shares-Net asset value | | | $17.11 | | | | $16.99 | |
Class R3 Shares-Net asset value | | | $16.93 | | | | $16.99 | |
Class R4 Shares-Net asset value | | | $16.98 | | | | $16.92 | |
Class R5 Shares-Net asset value | | | $17.03 | | | | $16.98 | |
Class R6 Shares-Net asset value | | | $17.03 | | | | $16.98 | |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 15 |
Statements of Operations (unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended January 31, 2016
| Calibrated Large | | Calibrated Mid | |
| Cap Value Fund | | Cap Value Fund | |
Investment income: | | | | | | | | |
Dividends | | $ | 6,195,771 | | | $ | 12,689,075 | |
Interest | | | – | | | | 92 | |
Total investment income | | | 6,195,771 | | | | 12,689,167 | |
Expenses: | | | | | | | | |
Management fee | | | 1,388,213 | | | | 2,967,715 | |
12b-1 distribution plan-Class A | | | 86,353 | | | | 155,081 | |
12b-1 distribution plan-Class C | | | 91,168 | | | | 244,062 | |
12b-1 distribution plan-Class F | | | 10,134 | | | | 83,986 | |
12b-1 distribution plan-Class R2 | | | 1,064 | | | | 2,125 | |
12b-1 distribution plan-Class R3 | | | 726 | | | | 3,725 | |
12b-1 distribution plan-Class R4 | | | 12 | | | | 17 | |
Shareholder servicing | | | 76,807 | | | | 271,278 | |
Fund administration | | | 92,548 | | | | 197,848 | |
Subsidy (See Note 3) | | | 292,544 | | | | 534,434 | |
Reports to shareholders | | | 9,439 | | | | 22,692 | |
Registration | | | 61,627 | | | | 84,558 | |
Trustees’ fees | | | 7,478 | | | | 15,811 | |
Custody | | | 22,624 | | | | 54,363 | |
Professional | | | 27,091 | | | | 27,700 | |
Other | | | 55,167 | | | | 107,214 | |
Gross expenses | | | 2,222,995 | | | | 4,772,609 | |
Expense reductions (See Note 9) | | | (85 | ) | | | (251 | ) |
Fees waived and expenses reimbursed (See Note 3) | | | (876,610 | ) | | | (1,315,649 | ) |
Net expenses | | | 1,346,300 | | | | 3,456,709 | |
Net investment income | | | 4,849,471 | | | | 9,232,458 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss): | | | | | | | | |
Net realized loss on investments | | | (8,706,115 | ) | | | (33,087,011 | ) |
Net realized loss on futures contracts | | | (140,327 | ) | | | (521,659 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments | | | (50,348,686 | ) | | | (131,614,481 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts | | | 53,062 | | | | 99,976 | |
Net realized and unrealized loss | | | (59,142,066 | ) | | | (165,123,175 | ) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting From Operations | | $ | (54,292,595 | ) | | $ | (155,890,717 | ) |
16 | See Notes to Financial Statements. | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | |
| For the Six Months | | | | |
| Ended January 31, 2016 | | For the Year Ended | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS | | (unaudited) | | | July 31, 2015 | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 4,849,471 | | | $ | 8,215,022 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and futures contracts | | | (8,846,442 | ) | | | 36,253,548 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and futures contracts | | | (50,295,624 | ) | | | (14,259,284 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | (54,292,595 | ) | | | 30,209,286 | |
Distributions to shareholders from: | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (1,241,526 | ) | | | (1,204,218 | ) |
Class C | | | (221,706 | ) | | | (102,230 | ) |
Class F | | | (322,350 | ) | | | (304,560 | ) |
Class I | | | (7,295,037 | ) | | | (6,351,681 | ) |
Class R2 | | | (5,297 | ) | | | (2,399 | ) |
Class R3 | | | (4,983 | ) | | | (2,316 | ) |
Class R4 | | | (185 | ) | | | — | |
Class R5 | | | (197 | ) | | | — | |
Class R6 | | | (197 | ) | | | — | |
Net realized gain | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (4,475,381 | ) | | | (8,726,127 | ) |
Class C | | | (1,246,781 | ) | | | (1,271,990 | ) |
Class F | | | (1,092,791 | ) | | | (1,982,750 | ) |
Class I | | | (22,993,602 | ) | | | (39,332,925 | ) |
Class R2 | | | (23,134 | ) | | | (22,392 | ) |
Class R3 | | | (20,799 | ) | | | (18,667 | ) |
Class R4 | | | (621 | ) | | | — | |
Class R5 | | | (620 | ) | | | — | |
Class R6 | | | (620 | ) | | | — | |
Total distributions to shareholders | | | (38,945,827 | ) | | | (59,322,255 | ) |
Capital share transactions (See Note 13): | | | | | | | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | | | 24,336,354 | | | | 102,023,014 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 35,715,678 | | | | 54,453,620 | |
Cost of shares reacquired | | | (67,952,648 | ) | | | (76,282,834 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital share transactions | | | (7,900,616 | ) | | | 80,193,800 | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | | | (101,139,038 | ) | | | 51,080,831 | |
NET ASSETS: | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | $ | 503,683,950 | | | $ | 452,603,119 | |
End of period | | $ | 402,544,912 | | | $ | 503,683,950 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | $ | 435,973 | | | $ | 4,677,980 | |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 17 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (concluded)
| Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | |
| For the Six Months | | | | |
| Ended January 31, 2016 | | For the Year Ended | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS | | (unaudited) | | July 31, 2015 | |
Operations: | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 9,232,458 | | | $ | 11,222,305 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and futures contracts | | | (33,608,670 | ) | | | 77,513,023 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and futures contracts | | | (131,514,505 | ) | | | (25,842,724 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | (155,890,717 | ) | | | 62,892,604 | |
Distributions to shareholders from: | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (1,662,276 | ) | | | (343,526 | ) |
Class C | | | (437,177 | ) | | | (22,152 | ) |
Class F | | | (2,387,759 | ) | | | (85,392 | ) |
Class I | | | (9,962,239 | ) | | | (8,637,527 | ) |
Class R2 | | | (11,452 | ) | | | (375 | ) |
Class R3 | | | (24,126 | ) | | | (841 | ) |
Class R4 | | | (137 | ) | | | — | |
Class R5 | | | (148 | ) | | | — | |
Class R6 | | | (530 | ) | | | — | |
Net realized gain | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | (8,543,326 | ) | | | (2,934,370 | ) |
Class C | | | (3,576,302 | ) | | | (457,201 | ) |
Class F | | | (11,171,838 | ) | | | (645,519 | ) |
Class I | | | (44,046,859 | ) | | | (60,424,949 | ) |
Class R2 | | | (58,728 | ) | | | (3,861 | ) |
Class R3 | | | (121,699 | ) | | | (7,872 | ) |
Class R4 | | | (655 | ) | | | — | |
Class R5 | | | (653 | ) | | | — | |
Class R6 | | | (2,331 | ) | | | — | |
Total distributions to shareholders | | | (82,008,235 | ) | | | (73,563,585 | ) |
Capital share transactions (See Note 13): | | | | | | | | |
Net proceeds from sales of shares | | | 121,770,233 | | | | 476,119,680 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 76,862,711 | | | | 72,567,576 | |
Cost of shares reacquired | | | (197,494,149 | ) | | | (80,310,064 | ) |
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions | | | 1,138,795 | | | | 468,377,192 | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | | | (236,760,157 | ) | | | 457,706,211 | |
NET ASSETS: | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | $ | 1,076,290,913 | | | $ | 618,584,702 | |
End of period | | $ | 839,530,756 | | | $ | 1,076,290,913 | |
Undistributed net investment income | | $ | 1,031,445 | | | $ | 6,284,831 | |
18 | See Notes to Financial Statements. | |
This page is intentionally left blank.
Financial Highlights
CALIBRATED LARGE CAP VALUE FUND
| | | | 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 opera- tions | | Net investment income | | Net realized gain | | Total distri- butions |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | $20.88 | | | $0.18 | | | $(2.40 | ) | | $(2.22 | ) | | $(0.36 | ) | | $(1.29 | ) | | $(1.65 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 22.30 | | | 0.33 | | | 1.15 | | | 1.48 | | | (0.35 | ) | | (2.55 | ) | | (2.90 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.52 | | | 0.36 | | | 2.19 | | | 2.55 | | | (0.29 | ) | | (1.48 | ) | | (1.77 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 17.18 | | | 0.35 | | | 4.59 | | | 4.94 | | | (0.20 | ) | | (0.40 | ) | | (0.60 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.19 | | | 1.99 | | | 2.18 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 20.53 | | | 0.11 | | | (2.37 | ) | | (2.26 | ) | | (0.23 | ) | | (1.29 | ) | | (1.52 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 21.98 | | | 0.17 | | | 1.14 | | | 1.31 | | | (0.21 | ) | | (2.55 | ) | | (2.76 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.30 | | | 0.19 | | | 2.17 | | | 2.36 | | | (0.20 | ) | | (1.48 | ) | | (1.68 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 17.10 | | | 0.18 | | | 4.59 | | | 4.77 | | | (0.17 | ) | | (0.40 | ) | | (0.57 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.15 | | | 1.95 | | | 2.10 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 20.90 | | | 0.21 | | | (2.42 | ) | | (2.21 | ) | | (0.38 | ) | | (1.29 | ) | | (1.67 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 22.32 | | | 0.36 | | | 1.16 | | | 1.52 | | | (0.39 | ) | | (2.55 | ) | | (2.94 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.54 | | | 0.39 | | | 2.19 | | | 2.58 | | | (0.32 | ) | | (1.48 | ) | | (1.80 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 17.19 | | | 0.38 | | | 4.59 | | | 4.97 | | | (0.22 | ) | | (0.40 | ) | | (0.62 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.20 | | | 1.99 | | | 2.19 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 20.94 | | | 0.21 | | | (2.42 | ) | | (2.21 | ) | | (0.41 | ) | | (1.29 | ) | | (1.70 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 22.36 | | | 0.39 | | | 1.15 | | | 1.54 | | | (0.41 | ) | | (2.55 | ) | | (2.96 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.56 | | | 0.41 | | | 2.21 | | | 2.62 | | | (0.34 | ) | | (1.48 | ) | | (1.82 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 17.20 | | | 0.39 | | | 4.60 | | | 4.99 | | | (0.23 | ) | | (0.40 | ) | | (0.63 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.19 | | | 2.01 | | | 2.20 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class R2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 20.97 | | | 0.15 | | | (2.42 | ) | | (2.27 | ) | | (0.30 | ) | | (1.29 | ) | | (1.59 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 22.38 | | | 0.26 | | | 1.15 | | | 1.41 | | | (0.27 | ) | | (2.55 | ) | | (2.82 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.61 | | | 0.31 | | | 2.19 | | | 2.50 | | | (0.25 | ) | | (1.48 | ) | | (1.73 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 17.14 | | | 0.41 | | | 4.59 | | | 5.00 | | | (0.13 | ) | | (0.40 | ) | | (0.53 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.16 | | | 1.98 | | | 2.14 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class R3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 20.77 | | | 0.17 | | | (2.41 | ) | | (2.24 | ) | | (0.31 | ) | | (1.29 | ) | | (1.60 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 22.21 | | | 0.28 | | | 1.15 | | | 1.43 | | | (0.32 | ) | | (2.55 | ) | | (2.87 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.46 | | | 0.30 | | | 2.19 | | | 2.49 | | | (0.26 | ) | | (1.48 | ) | | (1.74 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 17.15 | | | 0.33 | | | 4.58 | | | 4.91 | | | (0.20 | ) | | (0.40 | ) | | (0.60 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.17 | | | 1.98 | | | 2.15 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
| |
20 | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
| | | | | Ratios to Average Net Assets: | | Supplemental Data: |
| | | | | | | |
Net Asset value, end of period | | Total return (%)(b) | | Total expenses after waivers and/or reim- bursements (%) | | Total expenses (%) | | Net invest- ment income (%) | | Net assets, end of period (000) | | Portfolio turnover rate (%) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
$17.01 | | | (11.30 | )(d) | | 0.38 | (d) | | 0.57 | (d) | | 0.97 | (d) | | $ | 63,979 | | | 33.79 | (d) |
20.88 | | | 6.71 | | | 0.75 | | | 1.08 | | | 1.54 | | | | 75,083 | | | 80.48 | |
22.30 | | | 12.38 | | | 0.75 | | | 1.08 | | | 1.66 | | | | 81,218 | | | 103.92 | |
21.52 | | | 29.60 | | | 0.75 | | | 1.12 | | | 1.83 | | | | 74,466 | | | 90.00 | |
17.18 | | | 14.53 | (d) | | 0.73 | (f) | | 1.41 | (f) | | 1.89 | (f) | | | 35,932 | | | 62.31 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
16.75 | | | (11.64 | )(d) | | 0.75 | (d) | | 0.94 | (d) | | 0.58 | (d) | | | 17,834 | | | 33.79 | (d) |
20.53 | | | 5.93 | | | 1.49 | | | 1.82 | | | 0.82 | | | | 18,361 | | | 80.48 | |
21.98 | | | 11.54 | | | 1.49 | | | 1.82 | | | 0.91 | | | | 10,456 | | | 103.92 | |
21.30 | | | 28.71 | | | 1.48 | | | 1.85 | | | 0.91 | | | | 7,057 | | | 90.00 | |
17.10 | | | 14.00 | (d) | | 1.47 | (f) | | 2.15 | (f) | | 1.44 | (f) | | | 61 | | | 62.31 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
17.02 | | | (11.24 | )(d) | | 0.30 | (d) | | 0.49 | (d) | | 1.09 | (d) | | | 10,964 | | | 33.79 | (d) |
20.90 | | | 6.90 | | | 0.60 | | | 0.93 | | | 1.70 | | | | 26,401 | | | 80.48 | |
22.32 | | | 12.53 | | | 0.60 | | | 0.93 | | | 1.81 | | | | 17,316 | | | 103.92 | |
21.54 | | | 29.82 | | | 0.60 | | | 0.97 | | | 1.94 | | | | 13,153 | | | 90.00 | |
17.19 | | | 14.60 | (d) | | 0.58 | (f) | | 1.33 | (f) | | 2.03 | (f) | | | 35 | | | 62.31 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
17.03 | | | (11.23 | )(d) | | 0.25 | (d) | | 0.44 | (d) | | 1.10 | (d) | | | 309,214 | | | 33.79 | (d) |
20.94 | | | 6.99 | | | 0.50 | | | 0.83 | | | 1.80 | | | | 383,101 | | | 80.48 | |
22.36 | | | 12.70 | | | 0.50 | | | 0.83 | | | 1.91 | | | | 343,275 | | | 103.92 | |
21.56 | | | 29.91 | | | 0.50 | | | 0.87 | | | 2.02 | | | | 299,673 | | | 90.00 | |
17.20 | | | 14.67 | (d) | | 0.49 | (f) | | 0.94 | (f) | | 1.89 | (f) | | | 34,155 | | | 62.31 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
17.11 | | | (11.48 | )(d) | | 0.55 | (d) | | 0.74 | (d) | | 0.79 | (d) | | | 335 | | | 33.79 | (d) |
20.97 | | | 6.35 | | | 1.10 | | | 1.43 | | | 1.21 | | | | 371 | | | 80.48 | |
22.38 | | | 12.04 | | | 1.01 | | | 1.44 | | | 1.43 | | | | 198 | | | 103.92 | |
21.61 | | | 29.97 | | | 0.49 | | | 1.37 | | | 2.01 | | | | 303 | | | 90.00 | |
17.14 | | | 14.27 | (d) | | 1.06 | (f) | | 1.81 | (f) | | 1.55 | (f) | | | 11 | | | 62.31 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
16.93 | | | (11.43 | )(d) | | 0.50 | (d) | | 0.70 | (d) | | 0.87 | (d) | | | 192 | | | 33.79 | (d) |
20.77 | | | 6.47 | | | 1.00 | | | 1.33 | | | 1.31 | | | | 336 | | | 80.48 | |
22.21 | | | 12.11 | | | 1.00 | | | 1.33 | | | 1.38 | | | | 141 | | | 103.92 | |
21.46 | | | 29.51 | | | 0.95 | | | 1.35 | | | 1.70 | | | | 79 | | | 90.00 | |
17.15 | | | 14.33 | (d) | | 0.96 | (f) | | 1.71 | (f) | | 1.65 | (f) | | | 11 | | | 62.31 | |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 21 |
Financial Highlights (concluded)
CALIBRATED LARGE CAP VALUE FUND
| | | | 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 opera- tions | | Net investment income | | Net realized gain | | Total distri- butions |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | $20.88 | | | $0.18 | | | $(2.40 | ) | | $(2.22 | ) | | $(0.39 | ) | | $(1.29 | ) | | $(1.68 | ) |
6/30/2015 to 7/31/2015(g) | | 20.80 | | | 0.02 | | | 0.06 | | | 0.08 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class R5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 20.93 | | | 0.21 | | | (2.41 | ) | | (2.20 | ) | | (0.41 | ) | | (1.29 | ) | | (1.70 | ) |
6/30/2015 to 7/31/2015(g) | | 20.85 | | | 0.03 | | | 0.05 | | | 0.08 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 20.93 | | | 0.21 | | | (2.41 | ) | | (2.20 | ) | | (0.41 | ) | | (1.29 | ) | | (1.70 | ) |
6/30/2015 to 7/31/2015(g) | | 20.85 | | | 0.03 | | | 0.05 | | | 0.08 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
(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) | Unaudited. |
(d) | Not annualized. |
(e) | Commencement on December 21, 2011. |
(f) | Annualized. |
(g) | Commenced on June 30, 2015. |
22 | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
| | | | Ratios to Average Net Assets: | | Supplemental Data: |
| | | | | | |
Net Asset value, end of period | | Total return (%)(b) | | Total expenses after waivers and/or reim- bursements (%) | | Total expenses (%) | | Net invest- ment income (%) | | Net assets, end of period (000) | | Portfolio turnover rate (%) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
$16.98 | | | (11.33 | )(d) | | 0.38 | (d) | | 0.55 | (d) | | 0.96 | (d) | | | $ 9 | | | 33.79 | (d) |
20.88 | | | 0.38 | (d) | | 0.75 | (f) | | 1.06 | (f) | | 1.41 | (f) | | | 10 | | | 80.48 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
17.03 | | | (11.18 | )(d) | | 0.25 | (d) | | 0.42 | (d) | | 1.09 | (d) | | | 9 | | | 33.79 | (d) |
20.93 | | | 0.38 | (d) | | 0.50 | (f) | | 0.82 | (f) | | 1.64 | (f) | | | 10 | | | 80.48 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
17.03 | | | (11.18 | )(d) | | 0.24 | (d) | | 0.38 | (d) | | 1.10 | (d) | | | 9 | | | 33.79 | (d) |
20.93 | | | 0.38 | (d) | | 0.47 | (f) | | 0.70 | (f) | | 1.64 | (f) | | | 10 | | | 80.48 | |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 23 |
Financial Highlights
CALIBRATED MID CAP VALUE FUND
| | | | Per Share Operating Performance: |
| | | | Investment Operations: | | Distributions to shareholders from: |
| | Net asset value, beginning of period | | Net invest- ment income (loss)(a) | | Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | | Total from invest- ment opera- tions | | Net investment income | | Net realized gain | | Total distri- butions |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | $21.70 | | | $0.17 | | | $(3.24 | ) | | $(3.07 | ) | | $(0.28 | ) | | $(1.41 | ) | | $(1.69 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 22.04 | | | 0.24 | | | 1.92 | | | 2.16 | | | (0.26 | ) | | (2.24 | ) | | (2.50 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.11 | | | 0.29 | | | 2.78 | | | 3.07 | | | (0.23 | ) | | (1.91 | ) | | (2.14 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 16.47 | | | 0.31 | | | 4.93 | | | 5.24 | | | (0.22 | ) | | (0.38 | ) | | (0.60 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.15 | | | 1.32 | | | 1.47 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 21.33 | | | 0.09 | | | (3.19 | ) | | (3.10 | ) | | (0.17 | ) | | (1.41 | ) | | (1.58 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 21.71 | | | 0.07 | | | 1.90 | | | 1.97 | | | (0.11 | ) | | (2.24 | ) | | (2.35 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 20.89 | | | 0.13 | | | 2.75 | | | 2.88 | | | (0.15 | ) | | (1.91 | ) | | (2.06 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 16.39 | | | 0.08 | | | 4.99 | | | 5.07 | | | (0.19 | ) | | (0.38 | ) | | (0.57 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.08 | | | 1.31 | | | 1.39 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class F | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 21.72 | | | 0.19 | | | (3.26 | ) | | (3.07 | ) | | (0.30 | ) | | (1.41 | ) | | (1.71 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 22.06 | | | 0.27 | | | 1.93 | | | 2.20 | | | (0.30 | ) | | (2.24 | ) | | (2.54 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.11 | | | 0.32 | | | 2.79 | | | 3.11 | | | (0.25 | ) | | (1.91 | ) | | (2.16 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 16.48 | | | 0.27 | | | 4.99 | | | 5.26 | | | (0.25 | ) | | (0.38 | ) | | (0.63 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.16 | | | 1.32 | | | 1.48 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 21.77 | | | 0.19 | | | (3.25) | | | (3.06) | | | (0.32) | | | (1.41) | | | (1.73) | |
7/31/2015 | | 22.11 | | | 0.33 | | | 1.89 | | | 2.22 | | | (0.32) | | | (2.24) | | | (2.56) | |
7/31/2014 | | 21.16 | | | 0.34 | | | 2.79 | | | 3.13 | | | (0.27) | | | (1.91) | | | (2.18) | |
7/31/2013 | | 16.50 | | | 0.35 | | | 4.95 | | | 5.30 | | | (0.26) | | | (0.38) | | | (0.64) | |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.17 | | | 1.33 | | | 1.50 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class R2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 21.79 | | | 0.12 | | | (3.23 | ) | | (3.11 | ) | | (0.28 | ) | | (1.41 | ) | | (1.69 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 22.16 | | | 0.16 | | | 1.93 | | | 2.09 | | | (0.22 | ) | | (2.24 | ) | | (2.46 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.19 | | | 0.22 | | | 2.81 | | | 3.03 | | | (0.15 | ) | | (1.91 | ) | | (2.06 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 16.43 | | | 0.37 | | | 4.93 | | | 5.30 | | | (0.16 | ) | | (0.38 | ) | | (0.54 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.11 | | | 1.32 | | | 1.43 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class R3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 21.78 | | | 0.14 | | | (3.24 | ) | | (3.10 | ) | | (0.28 | ) | | (1.41 | ) | | (1.69 | ) |
7/31/2015 | | 22.15 | | | 0.20 | | | 1.91 | | | 2.11 | | | (0.24 | ) | | (2.24 | ) | | (2.48 | ) |
7/31/2014 | | 21.18 | | | 0.23 | | | 2.82 | | | 3.05 | | | (0.17 | ) | | (1.91 | ) | | (2.08 | ) |
7/31/2013 | | 16.44 | | | 0.37 | | | 4.93 | | | 5.30 | | | (0.18 | ) | | (0.38 | ) | | (0.56 | ) |
12/21/2011 to 7/31/2012(e) | | 15.00 | | | 0.12 | | | 1.32 | | | 1.44 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
24 | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
| | | | Ratios to Average Net Assets: | | Supplemental Data: |
| | | | | | |
Net Asset value, end of period | | Total return (%)(b) | | Total expenses after waivers and/or reim- bursements (%) | | Total expenses (%) | | Net invest- ment income (loss) (%) | | Net assets, end of period (000) | | Portfolio turnover rate (%) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
$16.94 | | | (14.97 | )(d) | | 0.43 | (d) | | 0.56 | (d) | | 0.86 | (d) | | $ | 108,958 | | | 37.03 | (d) |
21.70 | | | 10.15 | | | 0.85 | | | 1.07 | | | 1.12 | | | | 132,998 | | | 78.28 | |
22.04 | | | 15.42 | | | 0.85 | | | 1.09 | | | 1.38 | | | | 28,422 | | | 97.89 | |
21.11 | | | 32.83 | | | 0.85 | | | 1.13 | | | 1.66 | | | | 27,545 | | | 90.30 | |
16.47 | | | 9.80 | (d) | | 0.83 | (f) | | 1.63 | (f) | | 1.51 | (f) | | | 13,726 | | | 76.72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
16.65 | | | (15.29 | )(d) | | 0.80 | (d) | | 0.94 | (d) | | 0.48 | (d) | | | 44,045 | | | 37.03 | (d) |
21.33 | | | 9.33 | | | 1.60 | | | 1.81 | | | 0.31 | | | | 48,851 | | | 78.28 | |
21.71 | | | 14.60 | | | 1.60 | | | 1.84 | | | 0.60 | | | | 4,354 | | | 97.89 | |
20.89 | | | 31.91 | | | 1.58 | | | 1.86 | | | 0.40 | | | | 2,204 | | | 90.30 | |
16.39 | | | 9.27 | (d) | | 1.54 | (f) | | 2.38 | (f) | | 0.80 | (f) | | | 15 | | | 76.72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
16.94 | | | (14.93 | )(d) | | 0.35 | (d) | | 0.49 | (d) | | 0.95 | (d) | | | 130,631 | | | 37.03 | (d) |
21.72 | | | 10.31 | | | 0.70 | | | 0.92 | | | 1.22 | | | | 194,111 | | | 78.28 | |
22.06 | | | 15.66 | | | 0.70 | | | 0.94 | | | 1.50 | | | | 7,853 | | | 97.89 | |
21.11 | | | 33.01 | | | 0.69 | | | 0.98 | | | 1.35 | | | | 6,062 | | | 90.30 | |
16.48 | | | 9.87 | (d) | | 0.68 | (f) | | 1.51 | (f) | | 1.59 | (f) | | | 56 | | | 76.72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
16.98 | | | (14.87 | )(d) | | 0.30 | (d) | | 0.44 | (d) | | 0.99 | (d) | | | 552,328 | | | 37.03 | (d) |
21.77 | | | 10.41 | | | 0.60 | | | 0.82 | | | 1.49 | | | | 699,681 | | | 78.28 | |
22.11 | | | 15.70 | | | 0.60 | | | 0.84 | | | 1.59 | | | | 577,851 | | | 97.89 | |
21.16 | | | 33.21 | | | 0.60 | | | 0.88 | | | 1.88 | | | | 323,673 | | | 90.30 | |
16.50 | | | 10.00 | (d) | | 0.58 | (f) | | 0.95 | (f) | | 1.73 | (f) | | | 106,844 | | | 76.72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
16.99 | | | (15.09 | )(d) | | 0.59 | (d) | | 0.73 | (d) | | 0.62 | (d) | | | 1,092 | | | 37.03 | (d) |
21.79 | | | 9.72 | | | 1.20 | | | 1.42 | | | 0.72 | | | | 234 | | | 78.28 | |
22.16 | | | 15.14 | | | 1.13 | | | 1.43 | | | 1.03 | | | | 31 | | | 97.89 | |
21.19 | | | 33.23 | | | 0.58 | | | 0.87 | | | 1.98 | | | | 16 | | | 90.30 | |
16.43 | | | 9.53 | (d) | | 1.15 | (f) | | 2.01 | (f) | | 1.15 | (f) | | | 11 | | | 76.72 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
16.99 | | | (15.03 | )(d) | | 0.55 | (d) | | 0.68 | (d) | | 0.74 | (d) | | | 2,090 | | | 37.03 | (d) |
21.78 | | | 9.84 | | | 1.10 | | | 1.32 | | | 0.90 | | | | 385 | | | 78.28 | |
22.15 | | | 15.27 | | | 1.05 | | | 1.32 | | | 1.04 | | | | 72 | | | 97.89 | |
21.18 | | | 33.21 | | | 0.59 | | | 1.05 | | | 1.95 | | | | 18 | | | 90.30 | |
16.44 | | | 9.60 | (d) | | 1.05 | (f) | | 1.91 | (f) | | 1.24 | (f) | | | 11 | | | 76.72 | |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 25 |
Financial Highlights (concluded)
CALIBRATED MID CAP VALUE FUND
| | | | Per Share Operating Performance: |
| | | | Investment Operations: | | Distributions to shareholders from: |
| | Net asset value, beginning of period | | Net invest- ment income (loss)(a) | | Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | | Total from invest- ment opera- tions | | Net investment income | | Net realized gain | | Total distri- butions |
Class R4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | $21.70 | | | $0.15 | | | $(3.22 | ) | | $(3.07 | ) | | $(0.30 | ) | | $(1.41 | ) | | $(1.71 | ) |
6/30/2015 to 7/31/2015(g) | | 21.60 | | | (0.01 | ) | | 0.11 | | | 0.10 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class R5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 21.77 | | | 0.19 | | | (3.25 | ) | | (3.06 | ) | | (0.32 | ) | | (1.41 | ) | | (1.73 | ) |
6/30/2015 to 7/31/2015(g) | | 21.67 | | | – | | | 0.10 | | | 0.10 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
Class R6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1/31/2016(c) | | 21.77 | | | 0.17 | | | (3.23 | ) | | (3.06 | ) | | (0.32 | ) | | (1.41 | ) | | (1.73 | ) |
6/30/2015 to 7/31/2015(g) | | 21.67 | | | – | | | 0.10 | | | 0.10 | | | – | | | – | | | – | |
(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) | Unaudited. |
(d) | Not annualized. |
(e) | Commencement on December 21, 2011. |
(f) | Annualized. |
(g) | Commenced on June 30, 2015. |
26 | See Notes to Financial Statements. |
| | | | Ratios to Average Net Assets: | | Supplemental Data: |
| | | | | | |
Net Asset value, end of period | | Total return (%)(a) | | Total expenses after waivers and/or reim- bursements (%) | | Total expenses (%) | | Net invest- ment income (loss) (%) | | Net assets, end of period (000) | | Portfolio turnover rate (%) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
$16.92 | | | (14.97 | )(d) | | 0.38 | (d) | | 0.53 | (d) | | 0.80 | (d) | | $ | 305 | | | 37.03 | (d) |
21.70 | | | 0.46 | (d) | | 0.85 | (f) | | 1.06 | (f) | | (0.35 | )(f) | | | 10 | | | 78.28 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
16.98 | | | (14.86 | )(d) | | 0.30 | (d) | | 0.42 | (d) | | 0.98 | (d) | | | 9 | | | 37.03 | (d) |
21.77 | | | 0.46 | (d) | | 0.60 | (f) | | 0.82 | (f) | | – | | | | 10 | | | 78.28 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
16.98 | | | (14.86 | )(d) | | 0.29 | (d) | | 0.36 | (d) | | 0.94 | (d) | | | 74 | | | 37.03 | (d) |
21.77 | | | 0.46 | (d) | | 0.59 | (f) | | 0.70 | (f) | | – | | | | 10 | | | 78.28 | |
| See Notes to Financial Statements. | 27 |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)
Lord Abbett Equity Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Trust was formed on May 1, 2001 and is organized as a Delaware statutory trust. The Trust consists of the following two funds (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) and their respective classes: Lord Abbett Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund (“Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund”) and Lord Abbett Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund (“Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund”).
The investment objective of each Fund is total return. Each Fund has nine classes of shares: Class A, C, F, I, 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, I, 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 each Fund’s prospectus); and Class C shares redeemed before the first anniversary of purchase.
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 Valuation–Under procedures approved by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (the “Board”), Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (“Lord Abbett”), the Funds’ 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 Funds 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. Each 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. Exchange traded options and futures contracts are valued at the last 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. |
| |
| 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 |
28
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(continued)
| use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values 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 employs 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 Transactions–Security 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 Income–Dividend 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 Statements of Operations. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends 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 each 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. |
| |
| Each 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 each Fund’s filed U.S. federal tax returns remains open for the fiscal period ended July 31, 2012 through the fiscal year ended July 31, 2015. The statutes of limitations on the Trust’s state and local tax returns may remain open for an additional year depending upon the jurisdiction. |
| |
(e) | Expenses–Expenses, 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, R2, R3 and R4 shares bear their class-specific share of all expenses and fees relating to the Funds’ 12b-1 Distribution Plan. |
| |
(f) | Futures Contracts–Each Fund may purchase and sell index futures contracts to manage cash 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 a Fund called “variation margin” are made on a daily basis as the market price of the futures contract fluctuates. Each 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. |
| |
(g) | Repurchase Agreements–Each 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. Each Fund requires at all times that the repurchase |
29
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(continued)
| 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, a Fund may incur a loss upon disposition of the securities. |
| |
(h) | Fair Value Measurements–Fair value is defined as the price that each 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 of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below: |
| |
| • | 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 each Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). |
A summary of inputs used in valuing each Fund’s investments and other financial instruments as of January 31, 2016 and, if applicable, Level 1/Level 2 transfers and Level 3 rollforwards for the six months then ended is included in each 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. All transfers between different levels within the three-tier hierarchy are deemed to have occurred as of the beginning of the reporting period. 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 Trust has a management agreement with Lord Abbett, pursuant to which Lord Abbett supplies each 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 each Fund’s investment portfolio.
The management fee is based on each Fund’s average daily net assets at the following annual rate:
First $2 billion | .60% |
Over $2 billion | .55% |
30
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(continued)
For the six months ended January 31, 2016, for Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund and Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund, the effective management fee, net of waivers, was at an annualized rate of .22% and .33%, respectively.
In addition, Lord Abbett provides certain administrative services to each Fund pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement in return for a fee at an annual rate of ..04% of each Fund’s average daily net assets.
For the six months ended January 31, 2016 and continuing through November 30, 2016, Lord Abbett has contractually agreed to waive its fees for Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund and Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund and reimburse each Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to limit total net annual operating expenses, excluding 12b-1 fees, to an annual rate of 0.50% and 0.60%, respectively for each class other than R6. For the same period, Lord Abbett has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to limit total net annual operating expenses to an annual rate of 0.47% and 0.59% for Class R6 for Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund and Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund, respectively. This agreement may be terminated only upon the approval of the Board.
Each Fund, along with certain other funds managed by Lord Abbett (collectively, the “Underlying Funds”), has entered into a Servicing Arrangement with certain “Fund of Funds” managed by Lord Abbett, pursuant to which each Underlying Fund pays a portion of the expenses (excluding management fees and distribution and service fees) of each Fund of Funds in proportion to the average daily value of the Underlying Fund shares owned by each Fund of Funds. Amounts paid pursuant to the Servicing Arrangement, if applicable, are included in Subsidy expense on each Fund’s Statement of Operations and Payable to affiliates on each Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
As of January 31, 2016, the percentages of Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund’s and Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund’s outstanding shares owned by each Fund of Funds were as follows:
| | | Underlying Funds |
| Calibrated Large Cap | | Calibrated Mid Cap |
Fund of Funds | Value Fund | | Value Fund |
Lord Abbett Multi-Asset Balanced Opportunity Fund | 45.88% | | 28.03% |
Lord Abbett Multi-Asset Global Opportunity Fund | – | | 3.49% |
Lord Abbett Multi-Asset Growth Fund | 28.41% | | 21.82% |
Lord Abbett Multi-Asset Income Fund | – | | 9.48% |
12b-1 Distribution Plan
Each Fund has adopted a distribution plan with respect to Class A, C, F, 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 | | Class F | | Class R2 | | Class R3 | | Class R4 |
Service | | .25% | | .25% | | – | | .25% | | .25% | | .25% |
Distribution | | – | | .75% | | .10% | | .35% | | .25% | | – |
* | Each 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. |
Class I, Class R5 and Class R6 shares do not have a distribution plan.
31
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(continued)
Commissions
Distributor received the following commissions on sales of shares of the Funds, after concessions were paid to authorized dealers, for the six months ended January 31, 2016:
| Distributor | | Dealers’ |
| Commissions | | Concessions |
Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | $16,950 | | $ 91,059 |
Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | 48,483 | | 272,362 |
Distributor received the following amount of CDSCs for the six months ended January 31, 2016:
| Class A | | Class C |
Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | $ 131 | | $ 1,289 |
Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | 1,548 | | 16,933 |
A Trustee and certain of the Trust’s officers have an interest in Lord Abbett.
4. | DISTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL LOSS CARRYFORWARDS |
Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid at least annually. 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 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 that exceed earnings and profits for tax purposes are reported as a tax return of capital.
The tax character of distributions paid during the six months ended January 31, 2016 and fiscal year ended July 31, 2015 was as follows:
| | Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | | Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | |
| | Six Months Ended | | | | Six Months Ended | | | |
| | 1/31/2016 | | Year Ended | | 1/31/2016 | | Year Ended | |
| | (unaudited) | | 7/31/2015 | | (unaudited) | | 7/31/2015 | |
Distributions paid from: | | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary income | | $23,158,113 | | $36,031,671 | | $50,209,122 | | $42,724,676 | |
Net long-term capital gains | | 15,787,714 | | 23,290,584 | | 31,799,113 | | 30,838,909 | |
Total distributions paid | | $38,945,827 | | $59,322,255 | | $82,008,235 | | $73,563,585 | |
As of January 31, 2016, the aggregate unrealized security gains and losses based on cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| | Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | | Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | |
Tax cost | | $445,817,959 | | $969,472,532 | |
Gross unrealized gain | | 9,955,843 | | 22,525,715 | |
Gross unrealized loss | | (53,800,970 | ) | (154,893,554 | ) |
Net unrealized security loss | | $(43,845,127 | ) | $(132,367,839 | ) |
The difference between book-basis and tax basis unrealized gains (losses) is attributable to the tax treatment of wash sales.
32
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(continued)
5. | PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS |
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended January 31, 2016 were as follows:
| Purchases | | Sales |
Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | $154,486,788 | | $196,011,570 |
Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | 360,974,721 | | 430,814,670 |
There were no purchases or sales of U.S. Government securities for the six months ended January 31, 2016.
6. | DISCLOSURES ABOUT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES |
Each Fund entered into E-Mini S&P 500 Index futures contracts for the six months ended January 31, 2016 (as described in note 2(f)) to manage cash. The Funds bear the risk that the underlying index will move unexpectedly, in which case each Fund may realize a loss. There is minimal counterparty credit risk to each Fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees futures against default.
As of January 31, 2016, the Funds had the following derivatives at fair value, grouped into appropriate risk categories that illustrate the Funds’ use of derivative instruments:
| | Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | | | Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | |
Asset Derivatives | | Equity Index Contracts | | | Equity Index Contracts | |
Futures Contracts(1) | | | $53,903 | | | | $116,892 | |
(1) | Statements of Assets and Liabilities location: Includes cumulative unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. |
Transactions in derivative instruments for the six months ended January 31, 2016, were as follows:
| | Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | | | Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | |
| | Equity Index Contracts | | | Equity Index Contracts | |
Net Realized Gain (Loss)(1) | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | $ | (140,327 | ) | | $ | (521,659 | ) |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation(2) | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | $ | 53,062 | | | $ | 99,976 | |
Average Number of Contracts* | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts | | | 19 | | | | 47 | |
* | Calculated based on the number of contracts for the six months ended January 31, 2016. |
(1) | Statements of Operations location: Net realized loss on futures contracts. |
(2) | Statements of Operations location: Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures 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 a 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
33
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(continued)
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 financial assets and liabilities in the statement of assets and liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty:
| | Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | |
| | | | | | | | Net Amounts | |
| | | | | | | | of Assets | |
| | | | | Gross Amounts | | | Presented in | |
| | | | | Offset in the | | | the Statement | |
| | Gross Amounts of | | | Statement of Assets | | | of Assets and | |
Description | | Recognized Assets | | | and Liabilities | | | Liabilities | |
Repurchase Agreement | | $ | 1,769,917 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 1,769,917 | |
Total | | $ | 1,769,917 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 1,769,917 | |
| | Net Amounts | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | of Assets | | | Amounts Not Offset in the | | | | |
| | Presented in | | | 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) | |
Fixed Income Clearing Corp. | | $ | 1,769,917 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | (1,769,917 | ) | | $ | – | |
Total | | $ | 1,769,917 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | (1,769,917 | ) | | $ | – | |
| | Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | |
| | | | | | | | Net Amounts | |
| | | | | | | | of Assets | |
| | | | | Gross Amounts | | | Presented in | |
| | | | | Offset in the | | | the Statement | |
| | Gross Amounts of | | | Statement of Assets | | | of Assets and | |
Description | | Recognized Assets | | | and Liabilities | | | Liabilities | |
Repurchase Agreement | | $ | 1,852,135 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 1,852,135 | |
Total | | $ | 1,852,135 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 1,852,135 | |
| | Net Amounts | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | of Assets | | | Amounts Not Offset in the | | | | |
| | Presented in | | | 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) | |
Fixed Income Clearing Corp. | | $ | 1,852,135 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | (1,852,135 | ) | | $ | – | |
Total | | $ | 1,852,135 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | (1,852,135 | ) | | $ | – | |
(a) | Collateral disclosed is limited to an amount not to exceed 100% of the net amount of assets presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, for each respective counterparty. |
(b) | Net amount represents the amount owed to the Fund by the counterparty as of January 31, 2016. |
The Trust’s officers and a Trustee, who are associated with Lord Abbett, do not receive any compensation from the Trust for serving in such capacities. Independent Trustees’ 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 Trustees under which Independent Trustees must defer receipt of a portion of, and may elect to defer receipt of an additional portion of Trustees’
34
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(continued)
fees. The deferred amounts are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in the funds. Such amounts and earnings accrued thereon are included in Trustees’ fees on the Statements of Operations and in Trustees’ fees payable on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes until such amounts are paid.
The Trust 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 each Fund’s expenses.
Effective August 31, 2015, the Funds and certain other funds managed by Lord Abbett (collectively, the “Participating Funds”) entered into a syndicated line of credit facility with various lenders for $550 million (the “Facility”), whereas State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”) participates as a lender and as agent for the lenders. The Facility is to be used for temporary or emergency purposes as an additional source of liquidity to satisfy redemptions. The Participating Funds are subject to graduated borrowing limits of one-third of Fund assets (if Fund assets are less than $750 million), $250 million, $300 million, or $350 million based on past borrowings and likelihood of future borrowings. The Facility will continue through August 29, 2016.
Prior to August 31, 2015, the Funds and certain other funds managed by Lord Abbett participated in a $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility with SSB (the “SSB Facility”).
During the six months ended January 31, 2016, the Funds did not utilize the Facility or the SSB Facility.
11. | CUSTODIAN AND ACCOUNTING AGENT |
SSB is the Trust’s custodian and accounting agent. SSB performs custodial, accounting and recordkeeping functions relating to portfolio transactions and calculating each Fund’s NAV.
Each Fund is subject to the general risks and considerations associated with equity investing. The value of a Fund’s investment in an individual company will fluctuate in response to its changing prospects and movements in the equity securities markets in general. If a Fund’s assessment of a company’s value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations or market conditions is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds, even in a rising market.
The market may fail to recognize for a long time the intrinsic value of particular value stocks each Fund may hold. The large companies in which Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund invests may be less able to respond quickly to certain market developments and may have slower rates of growth than smaller companies. The mid-sized companies in which Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund invests may be less able to weather economic shifts or other adverse developments than larger, more established companies.
Because each Fund invests in real estate investment trusts (“REITS”), they may be subject to the risks that impact the value of the underlying properties or mortgages of the REITs in which they invest. Other factors that may adversely affect REITs include poor performance by management of the REIT, changes to the tax laws, or failure by the REIT to qualify for tax-free distribution of income, and changes in local, regional, or general economic conditions.
35
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(continued)
Due to each Fund’s exposure to foreign companies and American Depository Receipts, each Fund may experience increased market, liquidity, currency, political, information, and other risks.
These factors can affect each Fund’s performance.
13. | SUMMARY OF CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS |
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
| | Six Months Ended | | | | |
| | January 31, 2016 | | | Year Ended | |
Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | | (unaudited) | | | July 31, 2015 | |
Class A Shares | | Shares | | | Amount | | | Shares | | | Amount | |
Shares sold | | | 630,658 | | | $ | 11,641,359 | | | | 1,533,731 | | | $ | 32,646,743 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 213,118 | | | | 3,961,941 | | | | 327,319 | | | | 6,801,697 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (677,698 | ) | | | (12,785,286 | ) | | | (1,907,324 | ) | | | (40,114,312 | ) |
Increase (decrease) | | | 166,078 | | | $ | 2,818,014 | | | | (46,274 | ) | | $ | (665,872 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class C Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 257,713 | | | $ | 4,846,213 | | | | 550,806 | | | $ | 11,464,588 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 54,957 | | | | 1,007,919 | | | | 55,797 | | | | 1,146,068 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (142,039 | ) | | | (2,646,557 | ) | | | (187,938 | ) | | | (3,926,603 | ) |
Increase | | | 170,631 | | | $ | 3,207,575 | | | | 418,665 | | | $ | 8,684,053 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class F Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 346,223 | | | $ | 6,473,621 | | | | 925,144 | | | $ | 19,637,645 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 52,442 | | | | 975,419 | | | | 72,562 | | | | 1,507,834 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (1,017,567 | ) | | | (19,176,324 | ) | | | (510,147 | ) | | | (10,982,400 | ) |
Increase (decrease) | | | (618,902 | ) | | $ | (11,727,284 | ) | | | 487,559 | | | $ | 10,163,079 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 65,010 | | | $ | 1,288,726 | | | | 1,775,488 | | | $ | 37,857,946 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 1,598,110 | | | | 29,740,837 | | | | 2,162,257 | | | | 44,974,938 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (1,806,106 | ) | | | (33,178,018 | ) | | | (993,667 | ) | | | (21,239,532 | ) |
Increase (decrease) | | | (142,986 | ) | | $ | (2,148,455 | ) | | | 2,944,078 | | | $ | 61,593,352 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R2 Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 1,861 | | | $ | 35,036 | | | | 8,795 | | | $ | 184,859 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 71 | | | | 1,340 | | | | 100 | | | | 2,100 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (11 | ) | | | (234 | ) | | | (52 | ) | | | (1,143 | ) |
Increase | | | 1,921 | | | $ | 36,142 | | | | 8,843 | | | $ | 185,816 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R3 Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 2,877 | | | $ | 51,399 | | | | 9,703 | | | $ | 201,233 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 1,393 | | | | 25,782 | | | | 1,014 | | | | 20,983 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (9,136 | ) | | | (166,229 | ) | | | (883 | ) | | | (18,844 | ) |
Increase (decrease) | | | (4,866 | ) | | $ | (89,048 | ) | | | 9,834 | | | $ | 203,372 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R4 Shares(a) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | – | | | $ | – | | | | 480.77 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 43.45 | | | | 806 | | | | – | | | | – | |
Increase | | | 43.45 | | | $ | 806 | | | | 480.77 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
36
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(continued)
| | Six Months Ended | | | | |
| | January 31, 2016 | | | Year Ended | |
Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund | | (unaudited) | | | July 31, 2015 | |
Class R5 Shares(a) | | Shares | | | Amount | | | Shares | | | Amount | |
Shares sold | | | – | | | $ | – | | | | 479.62 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 43.92 | | | | 817 | | | | – | | | | – | |
Increase | | | 43.92 | | | $ | 817 | | | | 479.62 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R6 Shares(a) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | – | | | $ | – | | | | 479.62 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 43.91 | | | | 817 | | | | – | | | | – | |
Increase | | | 43.91 | | | $ | 817 | | | | 479.62 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
(a) Shares commenced on June 30, 2015.
| | Six Months Ended | | | | |
| | January 31, 2016 | | | Year Ended | |
Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | | (unaudited) | | | July 31, 2015 | |
Class A Shares | | Shares | | | Amount | | | Shares | | | Amount | |
Shares sold | | | 1,819,714 | | | $ | 35,395,081 | | | | 5,671,340 | | | $ | 123,910,360 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 481,530 | | | | 9,115,359 | | | | 139,429 | | | | 2,940,570 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (1,997,863 | ) | | | (38,449,141 | ) | | | (971,334 | ) | | | (21,251,722 | ) |
Increase | | | 303,381 | | | $ | 6,061,299 | | | | 4,839,435 | | | $ | 105,599,208 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class C Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 627,770 | | | $ | 12,189,668 | | | | 2,198,094 | | | $ | 47,431,592 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 181,529 | | | | 3,381,885 | | | | 21,689 | | | | 451,774 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (454,157 | ) | | | (8,414,079 | ) | | | (130,031 | ) | | | (2,807,109 | ) |
Increase | | | 355,142 | | | $ | 7,157,474 | | | | 2,089,752 | | | $ | 45,076,257 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class F Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 2,525,378 | | | $ | 49,733,505 | | | | 9,499,636 | | | $ | 207,837,691 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 593,206 | | | | 11,229,394 | | | | 33,948 | | | | 715,617 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (4,346,614 | ) | | | (84,181,423 | ) | | | (951,914 | ) | | | (20,956,313 | ) |
Increase (decrease) | | | (1,228,030 | ) | | $ | (23,218,524 | ) | | | 8,581,670 | | | $ | 187,596,995 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class I Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 992,482 | | | $ | 19,990,121 | | | | 4,388,569 | | | $ | 96,387,078 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 2,792,916 | | | | 52,981,617 | | | | 3,240,878 | | | | 68,447,334 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (3,399,758 | ) | | | (65,386,008 | ) | | | (1,625,100 | ) | | | (35,281,325 | ) |
Increase | | | 385,640 | | | $ | 7,585,730 | | | | 6,004,347 | | | $ | 129,553,087 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R2 Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 62,255 | | | $ | 1,230,195 | | | | 9,205 | | | $ | 203,436 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 220 | | | | 4,177 | | | | 168 | | | | 3,568 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (8,949 | ) | | | (178,117 | ) | | | (28 | ) | | | (630 | ) |
Increase | | | 53,526 | | | $ | 1,056,255 | | | | 9,345 | | | $ | 206,374 | |
37
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)(concluded)
| | Six Months Ended | | | | | | | |
| | January 31, 2016 | | | Year Ended | |
Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | | (unaudited) | | | July 31, 2015 | |
Class R3 Shares | | Shares | | | Amount | | | Shares | | | Amount | |
Shares sold | | | 141,338 | | | $ | 2,869,426 | | | | 14,582 | | | $ | 319,523 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 7,679 | | | | 145,825 | | | | 411 | | | | 8,713 | |
Shares reacquired | | | (43,670 | ) | | | (885,370 | ) | | | (591 | ) | | | (12,965 | ) |
Increase | | | 105,347 | | | $ | 2,129,881 | | | | 14,402 | | | $ | 315,271 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R4 Shares(a) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 17,547 | | | $ | 289,700 | | | | 463 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 42 | | | | 792 | | | | – | | | | – | |
Increase | | | 17,589 | | | $ | 290,492 | | | | 463 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R5 Shares(a) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | – | | | $ | – | | | | 461.47 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 42.23 | | | | 801 | | | | – | | | | – | |
Increase | | | 42.23 | | | $ | 801 | | | | 461.47 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class R6 Shares(a) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 3,745.00 | | | $ | 72,537 | | | | 461.47 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 151.53 | | | | 2,861 | | | | – | | | | – | |
Shares reacquired | | | (1.00 | ) | | | (11 | ) | | | – | | | | – | |
Increase | | | 3,895.53 | | | $ | 75,387 | | | | 461.47 | | | $ | 10,000 | |
(a)Shares commenced on June 30, 2015.
38
Approval of Advisory Contract
The Board of Trustees of the Company, including all of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Company or of Lord Abbett (the “Independent Board Members”), annually considers whether to approve the continuation of the existing management agreement between each Fund and Lord Abbett. In connection with its most recent approval, the Board reviewed materials relating specifically to the management agreement, as well as numerous materials received throughout the course of the year, including information about each Fund’s investment performance compared to the performance of its benchmark. Before making its decision as to each Fund, the Board had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information, taking into account its familiarity with Lord Abbett gained through its meetings and discussions. These meetings and discussions included the examination of the portfolio management teams 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 Board Members also discussed the materials described above with their independent legal counsel in a private session at which no representatives of management were present.
The materials received by the Board as to each Fund included, but were not limited to: (1) information provided by Morningstar Associates, LLC (“Morningstar”) regarding the investment performance of the Fund compared to the investment performance of a group of funds in the same Morningstar investment category (the “performance peer group”) and the investment performance of one or more appropriate benchmarks; (2) information provided by Morningstar regarding the expense ratios, contractual and effective management fee rates, and other expense components for the Fund and one or more groups of funds in the same Morningstar category, with the same 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 projected 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 management agreement to Lord Abbett; (8) information provided by Lord Abbett regarding the investment management fees Lord Abbett receives from its 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 Services Generally. The Board considered the investment management services provided by Lord Abbett to each 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.
Investment Performance. The Board reviewed each Fund’s investment performance in relation to that of the performance peer group, in each case as of various periods ended August 31, 2015. As to Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund, the Board observed that the Fund’s investment performance was below the median of the performance peer group for the one-year and three-year periods. As to Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund, the Board observed that the Fund’s investment performance was above the median of the performance peer group for the one-year and three-year periods.
39
Approval of Advisory Contract (continued)
Lord Abbett’s Personnel and Methods. The Board considered the qualifications of the personnel providing investment management services to each Fund, in light of its investment objective and discipline. Among other things, the Board considered the size, experience, and turnover of Lord Abbett’s investment management staff, Lord Abbett’s investment methodology and philosophy, and Lord Abbett’s approach to recruiting, training, and retaining investment management personnel.
Nature and Quality of Other Services. The Board considered the nature, quality, costs, 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 each Fund’s transfer agent and custodian.
Expenses. The Board considered the expense levels of each Fund and the expense levels of one or more corresponding expense peer groups. It also considered the projected expense levels of each Fund and how those levels would relate to those of the expense peer group and the amount and nature of the fees paid by shareholders. As to each of Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund and Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund, the Board observed that the overall expense level was well below the median of the expense peer group.
Profitability. As to each Fund, the Board considered the level of Lord Abbett’s profits in managing the Fund, including a review of Lord Abbett’s methodology for allocating its costs to its management of the Fund. The Board concluded that the allocation methodology had a reasonable basis and was appropriate. It considered any profits realized by Lord Abbett in connection with the operation of each Fund, including the fee that Lord Abbett receives from the Fund for providing administrative services to the Fund, and whether the amount of profit was fair for the management of 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 in comparison with available industry data, both accounting for and ignoring marketing and distribution expenses, and how those profit margins could affect Lord Abbett’s ability to recruit and retain investment personnel. The Board recognized that Lord Abbett’s profitability was a factor in enabling it to attract and retain qualified investment management personnel to provide services to the Fund. The Board concluded that Lord Abbett’s profitability as to each Fund was not excessive.
Economies of Scale. As to each Fund, the Board considered the extent to which there had been economies of scale in managing the Fund, whether the Fund 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 each existing management fee schedule, with its breakpoint or breakpoints in the level of the management fee, adequately addressed any economies of scale in managing the applicable Fund.
Other Benefits to Lord Abbett. As to each Fund, the Board considered the character and amount of fees paid by the Fund and the Fund’s shareholders to Lord Abbett and Lord Abbett Distributor LLC (the “Distributor”) for services other than investment advisory services. The Board also considered the revenues and profitability of Lord Abbett’s investment advisory business apart from its mutual fund business, and the intangible 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. 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
40
Approval of Advisory Contract (concluded)
business also benefits the Funds. The Board also noted that Lord Abbett, as disclosed in the prospectuses of the Funds, has entered into revenue sharing arrangements with certain entities that distribute shares of the Funds. The Board also took into consideration the investment research that Lord Abbett receives as a result of Fund brokerage transactions.
Alternative Arrangements. As to each Fund, the Board considered whether, instead of approving continuation of the management 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 existing management agreements was in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders and voted unanimously to approve the continuation of the management agreements. In considering whether to approve the continuation of the management agreement, the Board did not identify any single factor as paramount or controlling. This summary does not discuss in detail all matters considered.
41
Householding
The Trust has adopted a policy that allows it to send only one copy of each 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 each Fund’s portfolio securities, and information on how Lord Abbett voted each Fund’s proxies during the 12-month period ended June 30 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 Funds are required to file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for their first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q. 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. You can also obtain copies of Form N-Q by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330).
42
| | We Recycle | | |
| | This document is printed on recycled paper. | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Go Paperless! | | |
| | Visit www.lordabbett.com to learn how to receive all your shareholder communications online. | |
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 Equity Trust | |
| | |
Lord Abbett mutual fund shares are distributed by LORD ABBETT DISTRIBUTOR LLC. | Lord Abbett Calibrated Large Cap Value Fund Lord Abbett Calibrated Mid Cap Value Fund | CALIBRATED-3 (03/16) |
Item 2: | Code of Ethics. |
| Not applicable. |
| |
Item 3: | Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
| Not applicable. |
| |
Item 4: | Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
| Not applicable. |
| |
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 second fiscal quarter of 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. |
| (a)(1) | Code of Ethics. Not applicable. |
| (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 EQUITY TRUST |
| | | |
| By: | /s/ Daria L. Foster | |
| | Daria L. Foster |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | |
Date: March 28, 2016 | | | |
| | | |
| By: | /s/ Joan A. Binstock | |
| | Joan A. Binstock |
| | Chief Financial Officer and Vice President |
| | | |
Date: March 28, 2016 | | | |
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/ Daria L. Foster | |
| | Daria L. Foster |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | |
Date: March 28, 2016 | | | |
| | | |
| By: | /s/ Joan A. Binstock | |
| | Joan A. Binstock |
| | Chief Financial Officer and Vice President |
| | | |
Date: March 28, 2016 | | | |