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 811-08071
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Mark R. Anderson, Esq.
Lazard Asset Management LLC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 632-6000
Date of fiscal year end: 12/31
Date of reporting period: 6/30/21
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
Lazard Retirement Series
Semi-Annual Report
June 30, 2021
Equity
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio
Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio
Multi-Asset
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Table of Contents
Shares of the Portfolios are currently offered only to separate accounts established by insurance companies to fund variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Portfolio shares may also be offered to certain qualified pension and retirement plans and accounts permitting accumulation of assets on a tax-deferred basis.
Please consider a Portfolio’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For more complete information about Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), you may obtain a prospectus or a Portfolio’s summary prospectus by calling 800-823-6300, or online, at www.lazardassetmanagement.com. Read the prospectus or the Portfolio’s summary prospectus carefully before you invest. The prospectus and a Portfolio’s summary prospectus contain the investment objective, risks, charges, expenses and other information about the Portfolio, which are not detailed in this report.
Distributed by Lazard Asset Management Securities LLC.
Semi-Annual Report 1
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. A Message from Lazard (unaudited)
Dear Shareholder,
Progress in the long battle against COVID-19 brightened the economic outlook in many parts of the world in the first six months of 2021, and that was reflected in the global equity markets. The MSCI World Index returned a healthy 13% as vaccination rates rose, many economies reopened, and recovery took hold, especially in the United States where vaccination accelerated dramatically.
Yet, this ride up was far from smooth. During the first half of 2021, investor sentiment seemed to alternate, often from day-to-day, between growing optimism over the economic rebound and worry over the downside risks that could derail the recovery, from uneven vaccine distribution to outbreaks of the virus in Europe and Asia and the emergence of more virus strains.
Increasingly, investors also became concerned with an “upside risk” that could result from faster economic growth: inflation. Amid supply-chain bottlenecks, surging commodity prices, and sharp increases in China’s producer prices, inflation moved front and center in the second quarter. The key concern was that the huge fiscal stimulus in the United States, in particular, could drive inflation higher, forcing the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) and other central banks to retreat from their easy monetary policy before economic recovery is fully realized. In fact, the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) to date in 2021 jumped to an annualized 5% in May—the highest rate in more than a decade and well above the Fed’s 2% target for inflation.
However, the Fed has maintained that recent higher inflation is temporary and due to the global economy restarting. At their meeting in June, the Federal Open Market Committee moved up its own median estimate for the timing of their next interest rate increase to 2023 from 2024, a signal that the economy is recovering more quickly than the central bank had expected, but also that it is not currently overheating, which would warrant action sooner. In sum, the Fed seemed to relieve many investors’ concerns over inflation, for now.
2 Semi-Annual Report
In this tug-of-war market environment, the equity bulls won out as many companies reported higher earnings, brighter outlooks, or both. Although stock markets in both developed and emerging markets generally gained, developed markets generally performed better than emerging markets as vaccination rates and economic reopening advanced more quickly in developed markets. In the United States, the S&P 500 Index hit a series of new highs thanks in part to exceptionally strong corporate earnings.
We remain optimistic for the second half of 2021. The Fed expects US real gross domestic product (“GDP”) growth to reach a staggering 7% for the year (after nearly –3.5% in 2020), and vaccination rates should continue to climb, helping to boost growth, particularly in the emerging markets. Still, like the past six months, the journey is likely to be bumpy. Inflation, economic data, and the path of recovery itself may seem volatile at times. As of the end of the semi-annual period, a highly infectious COVID-19 strain has become dominant around the world, a sobering reminder that we are still fighting the pandemic.
In the push-pull of the financial markets, we believe fundamental analysis and stock selection are crucial to staying on track. We value your continued confidence in us, and, as always, we will strive for long-term patterns of performance that are consistent with your expectations.
Sincerely,
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Semi-Annual Report 3
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Performance Overviews (unaudited)
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Comparison of Changes in Value of $10,000 Investment in the Service Shares of Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and the MSCI Emerging Markets® Index*
Average Annual Total Returns*
Periods Ended June 30, 2021
| | One Year | | Five Years | | Ten Years | |
Service Shares** | | 40.52% | | 7.28% | | 2.09% | |
Investor Shares** | | 40.87% | | 7.55% | | 2.34% | |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index | | 40.90% | | 13.03% | | 4.28% | |
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio
Comparison of Changes in Value of $10,000 Investment in the Service Shares of Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio and the MSCI EAFE® Index*
Average Annual Total Returns*
Periods Ended June 30, 2021
| | One Year | | Five Years | | Ten Years | |
Service Shares | | 30.08% | | 7.39% | | 5.63% | |
MSCI EAFE Index | | 32.35% | | 10.28% | | 5.89% | |
4 Semi-Annual Report
Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio
Comparison of Changes in Value of $10,000 Investment in the Service Shares of Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio and the Russell 2500® Index*
Average Annual Total Returns*
Periods Ended June 30, 2021
| | One Year | | Five Years | | Ten Years | |
Service Shares | | 49.81% | | 13.21% | | 9.95% | |
Russell 2500 Index | | 57.79% | | 16.35% | | 12.86% | |
Semi-Annual Report 5
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio
Comparison of Changes in Value of $10,000 Investment in the Service Shares of Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio, the MSCI World® Index and the GDMA Index*
Average Annual Total Returns*
Periods Ended June 30, 2021
| | One Year | | Five Years | | Since Inception | † |
Service Shares** | | 19.15% | | 7.39% | | 7.20% | |
Investor Shares** | | 19.32% | | N/A | | 9.73% | |
MSCI World Index | | 39.04% | | 14.83% | | 11.80% (Service Shares) 22.85% (Investor Shares) | |
GDMA Index | | 19.82% | | 8.68% | | 6.95% (Service Shares) 13.99% (Investor Shares) | |
† | The inception date for the Service Shares was April 30, 2012 and for the Investor Shares was December 31, 2018. |
Notes to Performance Overviews:
* | Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Certain expenses of the Portfolio may have been waived or reimbursed by Lazard Asset Management LLC, the Fund’s investment manager (the “Investment Manager”), State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Fund’s administrator (“State Street”), or DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc., the Fund’s transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent (“DST”); without such waiver/reimbursement of expenses, the Portfolio’s returns would have been lower. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. Returns for a period of less than one year are not annualized. |
| |
| Performance results do not include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), if any, and also exclude one-time adjustments related to reimbursed custodian out-of-pocket expenses (Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements) for Lazard Retirement |
6 Semi-Annual Report
| Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and may differ from amounts reported in the financial highlights. |
| |
| The performance quoted represents past performance. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Past performance is not indicative, or a guarantee, of future results; the investment return and principal value of the Portfolio will fluctuate, so that Portfolio shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Within the longer periods illustrated, there may have been short-term fluctuations, counter to the overall trend of investment results, and no single period of any length may be taken as typical of what may be expected in future periods. |
| |
| The performance data of the indices have been prepared from sources and data that the Investment Manager believes to be reliable, but no representation is made as to their accuracy. The indices are unmanaged, have no fees or costs and are not available for investment. |
| |
| The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free-float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index consists of 27 emerging markets country indices. |
| |
| The MSCI EAFE Index (Europe, Australasia, Far East) is a free-float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed markets equity performance, excluding the United States and Canada. The MSCI EAFE Index consists of 21 developed markets country indices. |
| |
| The Russell 2500 Index measures the performance of the small- to mid-cap segment of the US equity universe, commonly referred to as “smid” cap. The Russell 2500 Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 3000 Index measures the performance of the largest 3000 US companies, representing approximately 98% of the investable US equity market. The Russell 2500 Index includes approximately 2500 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. |
| |
| The MSCI World Index is a free-float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure global developed markets equity performance. The MSCI World Index consists of 23 developed markets country indices. |
| |
| The GDMA Index is a blended index constructed by the Investment Manager that is comprised of 50% MSCI World Index and 50% Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate® Index and is rebalanced monthly. The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index provides a broad-based measure of global investment-grade fixed-income debt markets, including government-related debt, corporate debt, securitized debt and global Treasury. |
| |
** | The performance of Service Shares and Investor Shares may vary, primarily based on the differences in fees borne by shareholders investing in different classes. |
Semi-Annual Report 7
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc.
Information About Your Portfolio’s Expenses (unaudited)
Expense Example
As a shareholder in a Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees (Service Shares only), and other expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a Portfolio 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 six month period from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 and held for the entire period.
Actual Expenses
For each share class of the Portfolios, the first line of the accompanying table 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 entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
For each share class of the Portfolios, the second line of the accompanying table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the class’ actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other mutual funds.
Please note that you also bear fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, which are described in the separate prospectuses issued by the participating insurance companies. Such charges will have the effect of reducing account value.
8 Semi-Annual Report
Portfolio | | Beginning Account Value 1/1/21 | | Ending Account Value 6/30/21 | | Expenses Paid During Period* 1/1/21- 6/30/21 | | Annualized Expense Ratio During Period 1/1/21- 6/30/21 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Emerging Markets Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,108.00 | | | $7.42 | | | 1.42 | % |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,017.75 | | | $7.10 | | | 1.42 | % |
Investor Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,109.00 | | | $6.12 | | | 1.17 | % |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,018.99 | | | $5.86 | | | 1.17 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
International Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,054.60 | | | $5.76 | | | 1.13 | % |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,019.19 | | | $5.66 | | | 1.13 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
US Small-Mid Cap Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,170.30 | | | $6.19 | | | 1.15 | % |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,019.09 | | | $5.76 | | | 1.15 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Global Dynamic Multi-Asset | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,059.90 | | | $5.36 | | | 1.05 | % |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,019.59 | | | $5.26 | | | 1.05 | % |
Investor Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Actual | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,060.60 | | | $4.60 | | | 0.90 | % |
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses) | | $1,000.00 | | | $1,020.33 | | | $4.51 | | | 0.90 | % |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, net of expenses waivers and reimbursements, of each share class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect one-half year period). |
Semi-Annual Report 9
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc.
Portfolio Holdings Presented by Sector June 30, 2021 (unaudited)
Sector* | | Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio | | Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio | | Lazard Retirement US Small- Mid Cap Equity Portfolio | | Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio# |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Communication Services | | | 6.7 | % | | | 6.9 | % | | | 2.1 | % | | | 7.4 | % |
Consumer Discretionary | | | 6.7 | | | | 11.0 | | | | 11.4 | | | | 10.9 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 7.1 | | | | 8.6 | | | | 2.6 | | | | 7.0 | |
Energy | | | 10.0 | | | | 4.5 | | | | 4.1 | | | | 1.8 | |
Financials | | | 27.9 | | | | 14.0 | | | | 14.4 | | | | 11.3 | |
Health Care | | | 2.8 | | | | 8.7 | | | | 13.2 | | | | 10.3 | |
Industrials | | | 4.5 | | | | 19.3 | | | | 16.6 | | | | 10.1 | |
Information Technology | | | 20.1 | | | | 8.8 | | | | 16.2 | | | | 17.3 | |
Materials | | | 9.3 | | | | 6.4 | | | | 7.9 | | | | 2.7 | |
Real Estate | | | 1.0 | | | | 3.4 | | | | 7.6 | | | | 2.1 | |
Utilities | | | 1.4 | | | | 6.1 | | | | 1.5 | | | | 1.5 | |
Municipal | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.9 | |
Sovereign Debt | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 15.2 | |
US Treasury Securities | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.3 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 2.5 | | | | 2.3 | | | | 2.4 | | | | 1.2 | |
Total Investments | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % |
* | Represents percentage of total investments. |
# | Equity sector breakdown is based upon the underlying holdings of exchange-traded funds held by the Portfolio. |
10 Semi-Annual Report
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Portfolios of Investments
June 30, 2021 (unaudited)
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | 98.6% | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Brazil | 8.1% | | | | | | | | |
Banco do Brasil SA | | | 1,644,302 | | | $ | 10,621,944 | |
BB Seguridade Participacoes SA | | | 1,305,300 | | | | 6,062,252 | |
CCR SA | | | 3,033,950 | | | | 8,204,316 | |
Engie Brasil Energia SA | | | 476,898 | | | | 3,753,781 | |
Petrobras Distribuidora SA | | | 1,104,000 | | | | 5,921,975 | |
Petroleo Brasileiro SA Sponsored ADR | | | 440,832 | | | | 5,391,376 | |
| | | | | | | 39,955,644 | |
China | 17.3% | | | | | | | | |
A-Living Smart City Services Co., Ltd. | | | 1,110,500 | | | | 5,528,153 | |
AAC Technologies Holdings, Inc. | | | 558,191 | | | | 4,177,075 | |
Anhui Conch Cement Co., Ltd., Class H | | | 1,218,375 | | | | 6,465,110 | |
China Construction Bank Corp., Class H | | | 18,722,038 | | | | 14,706,244 | |
China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Class H | | | 1,223,737 | | | | 10,442,076 | |
China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd., Class H | | | 3,905,275 | | | | 7,655,568 | |
China Vanke Co., Ltd., Class H | | | 1,599,200 | | | | 5,005,031 | |
Hengan International Group Co., Ltd. | | | 1,173,027 | | | | 7,856,192 | |
Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. of China, Ltd., Class H | | | 719,000 | | | | 7,019,553 | |
Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd., Class H | | | 3,077,197 | | | | 9,155,405 | |
Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp. | | | 1,850,000 | | | | 3,693,185 | |
Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Class H | | | 1,463,958 | | | | 3,254,371 | |
| | | | | | | 84,957,963 | |
Egypt | 1.0% | | | | | | | | |
Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE GDR (*) | | | 1,471,109 | | | | 4,831,766 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Greece | 0.7% | | | | | | | | |
OPAP SA | | | 231,169 | | | | 3,485,346 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Hong Kong | 1.0% | | | | | | | | |
ASM Pacific Technology, Ltd. | | | 345,888 | | | | 4,686,756 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Hungary | 2.5% | | | | | | | | |
OTP Bank Nyrt. (*) | | | 228,799 | | | | 12,320,536 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 11
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
India | 9.7% | | | | | | | | |
Axis Bank, Ltd. (*) | | | 692,023 | | | $ | 6,979,063 | |
Bajaj Auto, Ltd. | | | 60,111 | | | | 3,343,621 | |
Bharat Petroleum Corp., Ltd. | | | 575,805 | | | | 3,628,560 | |
Coal India, Ltd. | | | 1,848,023 | | | | 3,649,711 | |
Hero MotoCorp, Ltd. | | | 72,880 | | | | 2,847,998 | |
Indus Towers, Ltd. | | | 1,320,813 | | | | 4,248,005 | |
Infosys, Ltd. Sponsored ADR | | | 124,354 | | | | 2,635,061 | |
Oil and Natural Gas Corp., Ltd. | | | 2,510,511 | | | | 3,994,467 | |
Power Grid Corp. of India, Ltd. | | | 1,027,874 | | | | 3,214,321 | |
Tata Consultancy Services, Ltd. | | | 81,639 | | | | 3,678,385 | |
UPL, Ltd. | | | 861,394 | | | | 9,197,931 | |
| | | | | | | 47,417,123 | |
Indonesia | 3.7% | | | | | | | | |
PT Astra International Tbk | | | 9,997,204 | | | | 3,405,944 | |
PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk | | | 18,841,530 | | | | 7,651,198 | |
PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Sponsored ADR | | | 324,657 | | | | 7,035,317 | |
| | | | | | | 18,092,459 | |
Mexico | 5.5% | | | | | | | | |
America Movil SAB de CV, Class L Sponsored ADR | | | 691,268 | | | | 10,369,020 | |
Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Class O | | | 1,065,565 | | | | 6,882,821 | |
Grupo Mexico SAB de CV, Series B | | | 1,359,208 | | | | 6,393,064 | |
Kimberly-Clark de Mexico SAB de CV, Series A | | | 1,980,189 | | | | 3,513,559 | |
| | | | | | | 27,158,464 | |
Portugal | 1.0% | | | | | | | | |
Galp Energia SGPS SA | | | 464,144 | | | | 5,050,216 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Russia | 10.8% | | | | | | | | |
ALROSA PAO (*), (‡) | | | 3,514,630 | | | | 6,448,654 | |
Gazprom PJSC Sponsored ADR | | | 820,665 | | | | 6,274,080 | |
LUKOIL PJSC Sponsored ADR | | | 153,430 | | | | 14,249,013 | |
Magnit PJSC Sponsored GDR | | | 64,208 | | | | 931,806 | |
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC Sponsored ADR | | | 900,292 | | | | 8,336,704 | |
Sberbank of Russia PJSC (‡) | | | 3,068,686 | | | | 12,786,297 | |
X5 Retail Group NV GDR (London) | | | 115,031 | | | | 4,035,560 | |
| | | | | | | 53,062,114 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
12 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
South Africa | 6.9% | | | | | | | | |
Life Healthcare Group Holdings, Ltd. (*) | | | 3,056,370 | | | $ | 4,862,524 | |
Mondi PLC | | | 144,283 | | | | 3,801,545 | |
Nedbank Group, Ltd. (*) | | | 683,298 | | | | 8,178,133 | |
Sanlam, Ltd. | | | 895,250 | | | | 3,848,224 | |
Standard Bank Group, Ltd. | | | 457,521 | | | | 4,089,776 | |
The Bidvest Group, Ltd. | | | 418,364 | | | | 5,577,952 | |
Vodacom Group, Ltd. | | | 371,705 | | | | 3,351,363 | |
| | | | | | | 33,709,517 | |
South Korea | 15.8% | | | | | | | | |
Coway Co., Ltd. | | | 100,865 | | | | 7,049,468 | |
Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. | | | 28,456 | | | | 7,380,112 | |
KB Financial Group, Inc. | | | 189,616 | | | | 9,380,542 | |
KT&G Corp. | | | 81,729 | | | | 6,124,617 | |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | | | 282,526 | | | | 20,250,148 | |
Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. | | | 232,812 | | | | 8,385,029 | |
SK Hynix, Inc. | | | 166,753 | | | | 18,887,927 | |
| | | | | | | 77,457,843 | |
Taiwan | 9.2% | | | | | | | | |
ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. | | | 1,969,000 | | | | 7,914,868 | |
Globalwafers Co., Ltd. | | | 187,000 | | | | 6,173,250 | |
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | | | 2,073,320 | | | | 8,334,207 | |
Novatek Microelectronics Corp. | | | 529,000 | | | | 9,474,060 | |
Quanta Computer, Inc. | | | 1,148,000 | | | | 3,605,204 | |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | | | 220,989 | | | | 4,719,191 | |
Wiwynn Corp. | | | 142,000 | | | | 5,081,166 | |
| | | | | | | 45,301,946 | |
Thailand | 2.4% | | | | | | | | |
Kasikornbank Public Co., Ltd. | | | 1,165,269 | | | | 4,314,691 | |
The Siam Cement Public Co., Ltd. | | | 561,308 | | | | 7,635,890 | |
| | | | | | | 11,950,581 | |
United Kingdom | 3.0% | | | | | | | | |
Anglo American PLC | | | 151,545 | | | | 6,038,901 | |
Unilever PLC | | | 151,087 | | | | 8,843,014 | |
| | | | | | | 14,881,915 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 13
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (concluded) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $382,620,447) | | | | | | $ | 484,320,189 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Short-Term Investments | 2.5% | | | | | | | | |
State Street Institutional Treasury Money Market Fund, Premier Class, 0.01% (7 day yield) (Cost $12,505,529) | | | 12,505,529 | | | | 12,505,529 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Investments | 101.1% (Cost $395,125,976) | | | | | | $ | 496,825,718 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities in Excess of Cash and Other Assets | (1.1)% | | | | | | | (5,221,773 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 491,603,945 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
14 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | 95.2% | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Canada | 3.7% | | | | | | | | |
CAE, Inc. (*) | | | 46,784 | | | $ | 1,440,959 | |
Suncor Energy, Inc. | | | 89,370 | | | | 2,140,525 | |
TMX Group, Ltd. | | | 16,910 | | | | 1,786,218 | |
| | | | | | | 5,367,702 | |
China | 3.0% | | | | | | | | |
Autohome, Inc. ADR | | | 26,913 | | | | 1,721,355 | |
China Longyuan Power Group Corp., Ltd., Class H | | | 617,000 | | | | 1,063,331 | |
ENN Energy Holdings, Ltd. | | | 84,500 | | | | 1,608,574 | |
| �� | | | | | | 4,393,260 | |
Denmark | 3.9% | | | | | | | | |
Carlsberg AS, Class B | | | 12,880 | | | | 2,404,535 | |
Vestas Wind Systems AS | | | 83,466 | | | | 3,270,783 | |
| | | | | | | 5,675,318 | |
Finland | 2.1% | | | | | | | | |
Nordea Bank Abp | | | 181,373 | | | | 2,018,096 | |
Sampo Oyj, A Shares | | | 22,560 | | | | 1,037,469 | |
| | | | | | | 3,055,565 | |
France | 13.4% | | | | | | | | |
Air Liquide SA | | | 14,929 | | | | 2,615,920 | |
Alstom SA (*) | | | 42,591 | | | | 2,152,144 | |
Capgemini SE | | | 11,279 | | | | 2,168,849 | |
Engie SA | | | 242,484 | | | | 3,324,268 | |
Pernod Ricard SA | | | 9,454 | | | | 2,098,395 | |
Sanofi | | | 34,549 | | | | 3,620,240 | |
Vivendi SE | | | 99,425 | | | | 3,340,499 | |
| | | | | | | 19,320,315 | |
Germany | 8.9% | | | | | | | | |
Adidas AG | | | 3,787 | | | | 1,410,161 | |
Continental AG (*) | | | 14,114 | | | | 2,075,508 | |
Infineon Technologies AG | | | 42,170 | | | | 1,691,054 | |
Merck KGaA | | | 11,189 | | | | 2,147,951 | |
MTU Aero Engines AG | | | 10,903 | | | | 2,701,437 | |
ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE | | | 73,905 | | | | 1,470,393 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 15
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Vonovia SE | | | 21,735 | | | $ | 1,406,491 | |
| | | | | | | 12,902,995 | |
Hong Kong | 0.9% | | | | | | | | |
ESR Cayman, Ltd. (#), (*) | | | 403,400 | | | | 1,361,292 | |
| | | | | | | | |
India | 0.9% | | | | | | | | |
Reliance Industries, Ltd. | | | 45,750 | | | | 1,301,057 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Ireland | 1.4% | | | | | | | | |
Ryanair Holdings PLC Sponsored ADR (*) | | | 17,976 | | | | 1,945,183 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Israel | 1.2% | | | | | | | | |
Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM (*) | | | 236,999 | | | | 1,800,375 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Italy | 2.0% | | | | | | | | |
Enel SpA | | | 308,719 | | | | 2,868,397 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Japan | 16.5% | | | | | | | | |
Asics Corp. | | | 44,900 | | | | 1,135,776 | |
Daikin Industries, Ltd. | | | 7,500 | | | | 1,396,132 | |
Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. | | | 68,792 | | | | 2,064,362 | |
Fujitsu, Ltd. | | | 11,536 | | | | 2,160,740 | |
Hitachi, Ltd. | | | 81,800 | | | | 4,681,484 | |
Makita Corp. | | | 41,100 | | | | 1,934,275 | |
Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co., Ltd. | | | 33,800 | | | | 1,491,894 | |
Nexon Co., Ltd. | | | 57,167 | | | | 1,274,466 | |
Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd. | | | 69,800 | | | | 1,457,673 | |
Shimano, Inc. | | | 6,400 | | | | 1,517,590 | |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | | | 52,900 | | | | 1,820,540 | |
Suzuki Motor Corp. | | | 39,000 | | | | 1,649,572 | |
Yamaha Corp. | | | 23,300 | | | | 1,264,114 | |
| | | | | | | 23,848,618 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Mexico | 0.8% | | | | | | | | |
Arca Continental SAB de CV | | | 199,100 | | | | 1,154,808 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
16 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Netherlands | 5.1% | | | | | | | | |
Akzo Nobel NV | | | 19,440 | | | $ | 2,402,311 | |
JDE Peet’s NV (*) | | | 22,738 | | | | 825,089 | |
Koninklijke DSM NV | | | 12,164 | | | | 2,270,900 | |
Wolters Kluwer NV | | | 18,978 | | | | 1,907,433 | |
| | | | | | | 7,405,733 | |
Norway | 2.4% | | | | | | | | |
Equinor ASA | | | 81,407 | | | | 1,723,066 | |
Telenor ASA | | | 102,226 | | | | 1,724,927 | |
| | | | | | | 3,447,993 | |
Portugal | 0.9% | | | | | | | | |
Galp Energia SGPS SA | | | 118,034 | | | | 1,284,294 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Singapore | 1.2% | | | | | | | | |
DBS Group Holdings, Ltd. | | | 76,760 | | | | 1,703,379 | |
| | | | | | | | |
South Korea | 1.4% | | | | | | | | |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | | | 28,024 | | | | 2,008,630 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Spain | 3.0% | | | | | | | | |
Banco Santander SA (*) | | | 565,552 | | | | 2,156,268 | |
Industria de Diseno Textil SA | | | 62,017 | | | | 2,185,281 | |
| | | | | | | 4,341,549 | |
Sweden | 1.3% | | | | | | | | |
Sandvik AB | | | 73,595 | | | | 1,880,217 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Switzerland | 3.7% | | | | | | | | |
ABB, Ltd. | | | 82,398 | | | | 2,796,958 | |
Novartis AG | | | 27,118 | | | | 2,471,664 | |
| | | | | | | 5,268,622 | |
United Kingdom | 11.0% | | | | | | | | |
3i Group PLC | | | 83,471 | | | | 1,356,766 | |
Anglo American PLC | | | 49,685 | | | | 1,979,892 | |
Barclays PLC | | | 669,309 | | | | 1,587,419 | |
Informa PLC (*) | | | 64,833 | | | | 450,668 | |
Prudential PLC | | | 109,752 | | | | 2,082,417 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 17
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio (concluded) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
RELX PLC | | | 150,734 | | | $ | 4,004,478 | |
Tesco PLC | | | 656,175 | | | | 2,025,584 | |
Unilever PLC | | | 40,432 | | | | 2,364,826 | |
| | | | | | | 15,852,050 | |
United States | 6.5% | | | | | | | | |
Aon PLC, Class A | | | 11,522 | | | | 2,750,993 | |
Ferguson PLC | | | 17,073 | | | | 2,376,543 | |
Medtronic PLC | | | 34,089 | | | | 4,231,467 | |
| | | | | | | 9,359,003 | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $113,854,079) | | | | | | | 137,546,355 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stocks | 2.2% | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Germany | 2.2% | | | | | | | | |
Volkswagen AG (Cost $2,197,761) | | | 12,541 | | | | 3,144,976 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Short-Term Investments | 2.3% | | | | | | | | |
State Street Institutional Treasury Money Market Fund, Premier Class, 0.01% (7 day yield) (Cost $3,267,914) | | | 3,267,914 | | | | 3,267,914 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Investments | 99.7% (Cost $119,319,754) | | | | | | $ | 143,959,245 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash and Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities | 0.3% | | | | | | | 405,272 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 144,364,517 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
18 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | 97.7% | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Aerospace & Defense | 2.1% | | | | | | | | |
Curtiss-Wright Corp. | | | 6,581 | | | $ | 781,559 | |
HEICO Corp. | | | 2,780 | | | | 387,588 | |
| | | | | | | 1,169,147 | |
Air Freight & Logistics | 0.8% | | | | | | | | |
Echo Global Logistics, Inc. (*) | | | 14,892 | | | | 457,780 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Airlines | 0.8% | | | | | | | | |
Alaska Air Group, Inc. (*) | | | 7,147 | | | | 431,036 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Auto Components | 0.8% | | | | | | | | |
Gentherm, Inc. (*) | | | 6,043 | | | | 429,355 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Banks | 7.8% | | | | | | | | |
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. | | | 9,594 | | | | 715,329 | |
East West Bancorp, Inc. | | | 10,900 | | | | 781,421 | |
Home BancShares, Inc. | | | 41,351 | | | | 1,020,543 | |
Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. | | | 10,331 | | | | 912,124 | |
Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. | | | 11,928 | | | | 856,430 | |
| | | | | | | 4,285,847 | |
Biotechnology | 2.9% | | | | | | | | |
Exelixis, Inc. (*) | | | 35,354 | | | | 644,150 | |
United Therapeutics Corp. (*) | | | 5,121 | | | | 918,759 | |
| | | | | | | 1,562,909 | |
Building Products | 2.9% | | | | | | | | |
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. | | | 7,946 | | | | 852,288 | |
PGT Innovations, Inc. (*) | | | 32,161 | | | | 747,100 | |
| | | | | | | 1,599,388 | |
Capital Markets | 1.1% | | | | | | | | |
Morningstar, Inc. | | | 2,312 | | | | 594,438 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 19
| | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Chemicals | 2.3% | | | | | | | | |
Ashland Global Holdings, Inc. | | | 5,094 | | | $ | 445,725 | |
Ingevity Corp. (*) | | | 10,284 | | | | 836,706 | |
| | | | | | | 1,282,431 | |
Communications Equipment | 2.9% | | | | | | | | |
Ciena Corp. (*) | | | 13,020 | | | | 740,708 | |
F5 Networks, Inc. (*) | | | 4,425 | | | | 825,970 | |
| | | | | | | 1,566,678 | |
Construction & Engineering | 0.8% | | | | | | | | |
Valmont Industries, Inc. | | | 1,847 | | | | 435,984 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Construction Materials | 1.2% | | | | | | | | |
Eagle Materials, Inc. | | | 4,582 | | | | 651,148 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Containers & Packaging | 2.2% | | | | | | | | |
Avery Dennison Corp. | | | 2,635 | | | | 553,982 | |
Graphic Packaging Holding Co. | | | 36,762 | | | | 666,863 | |
| | | | | | | 1,220,845 | |
Diversified Financial Services | 1.2% | | | | | | | | |
Landcadia Holdings III, Inc. Class A (*) | | | 51,420 | | | | 637,608 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Electrical Equipment | 1.9% | | | | | | | | |
Atkore, Inc. (*) | | | 5,916 | | | | 420,036 | |
EnerSys | | | 6,460 | | | | 631,336 | |
| | | | | | | 1,051,372 | |
Energy Equipment & Services | 2.4% | | | | | | | | |
Cactus, Inc., Class A | | | 17,627 | | | | 647,263 | |
Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc., Class A (*) | | | 46,035 | | | | 651,856 | |
| | | | | | | 1,299,119 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | 7.6% | | | | | | | | |
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. | | | 3,493 | | | | 635,517 | |
Brixmor Property Group, Inc. | | | 33,356 | | | | 763,519 | |
Camden Property Trust | | | 3,933 | | | | 521,791 | |
Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. | | | 28,415 | | | | 790,505 | |
PS Business Parks, Inc. | | | 5,774 | | | | 855,014 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
20 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (*) | | | 65,277 | | | $ | 609,034 | |
| | | | | | | 4,175,380 | |
Food & Staples Retailing | 1.6% | | | | | | | | |
US Foods Holding Corp. (*) | | | 22,054 | | | | 845,991 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Food Products | 1.0% | | | | | | | | |
Hostess Brands, Inc. (*) | | | 35,213 | | | | 570,099 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Gas Utilities | 1.5% | | | | | | | | |
New Jersey Resources Corp. | | | 21,042 | | | | 832,632 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 1.3% | | | | | | | | |
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings PLC | | | 32,586 | | | | 697,666 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care Providers & Services | 2.2% | | | | | | | | |
ATI Physical Therapy, Inc. (*) | | | 67,679 | | | | 645,658 | |
Henry Schein, Inc. (*) | | | 7,617 | | | | 565,105 | |
| | | | | | | 1,210,763 | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 3.0% | | | | | | | | |
Brinker International, Inc. (*) | | | 13,373 | | | | 827,120 | |
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | | | 11,199 | | | | 809,576 | |
| | | | | | | 1,636,696 | |
Household Durables | 0.9% | | | | | | | | |
Leggett & Platt, Inc. | | | 9,938 | | | | 514,888 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrial Conglomerates | 1.4% | | | | | | | | |
Carlisle Cos., Inc. | | | 4,073 | | | | 779,491 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Insurance | 4.4% | | | | | | | | |
Arch Capital Group, Ltd. (*) | | | 21,154 | | | | 823,737 | |
Brown & Brown, Inc. | | | 17,823 | | | | 947,114 | |
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. | | | 5,409 | | | | 616,626 | |
| | | | | | | 2,387,477 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 21
| | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Interactive Media & Services | 2.1% | | | | | | | | |
Cars.com, Inc. (*) | | | 53,608 | | | $ | 768,202 | |
MediaAlpha, Inc., Class A | | | 9,218 | | | | 388,078 | |
| | | | | | | 1,156,280 | |
IT Services | 2.3% | | | | | | | | |
Amdocs, Ltd. | | | 6,642 | | | | 513,825 | |
LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (*) | | | 10,788 | | | | 505,418 | |
Squarespace, Inc. Class A (*) | | | 4,362 | | | | 259,146 | |
| | | | | | | 1,278,389 | |
Leisure Products | 2.4% | | | | | | | | |
Brunswick Corp. | | | 4,993 | | | | 497,403 | |
Hasbro, Inc. | | | 8,626 | | | | 815,329 | |
| | | | | | | 1,312,732 | |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 5.6% | | | | | | | | |
Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp. (*) | | | 19,268 | | | | 787,290 | |
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (*) | | | 1,841 | | | | 681,023 | |
ICON PLC (*) | | | 2,859 | | | | 590,984 | |
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., Class A | | | 10,393 | | | | 433,700 | |
Sotera Health Co. | | | 23,465 | | | | 568,557 | |
| | | | | | | 3,061,554 | |
Machinery | 4.1% | | | | | | | | |
Altra Industrial Motion Corp. | | | 8,471 | | | | 550,784 | |
Columbus McKinnon Corp. | | | 10,324 | | | | 498,030 | |
Gates Industrial Corp. PLC (*) | | | 49,693 | | | | 897,953 | |
Kennametal, Inc. | | | 8,508 | | | | 305,607 | |
| | | | | | | 2,252,374 | |
Metals & Mining | 1.0% | | | | | | | | |
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., Class A | | | 10,695 | | | | 524,590 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Multiline Retail | 1.4% | | | | | | | | |
Kohl’s Corp. | | | 13,535 | | | | 745,914 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 1.7% | | | | | | | | |
Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A (*) | | | 60,406 | | | | 944,146 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
22 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Paper & Forest Products | 1.2% | | | | | | | | |
Neenah, Inc. | | | 13,038 | | | $ | 654,116 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Pharmaceuticals | 1.3% | | | | | | | | |
Catalent, Inc. (*) | | | 6,360 | | | | 687,643 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Professional Services | 0.9% | | | | | | | | |
Leidos Holdings, Inc. | | | 4,788 | | | | 484,067 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 2.4% | | | | | | | | |
CMC Materials, Inc. | | | 3,009 | | | | 453,577 | |
MKS Instruments, Inc. | | | 4,799 | | | | 853,982 | |
| | | | | | | 1,307,559 | |
Software | 8.6% | | | | | | | | |
CyberArk Software, Ltd. (*) | | | 4,699 | | | | 612,139 | |
Datto Holding Corp. | | | 22,929 | | | | 638,343 | |
Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Class A | | | 5,878 | | | | 577,749 | |
j2 Global, Inc. (*) | | | 5,028 | | | | 691,602 | |
Pegasystems, Inc. | | | 6,431 | | | | 895,131 | |
PTC, Inc. (*) | | | 3,382 | | | | 477,741 | |
SENTINELONE, Inc. Class A (*) | | | 5,206 | | | | 221,255 | |
SolarWinds Corp. (*) | | | 36,297 | | | | 613,056 | |
| | | | | | | 4,727,016 | |
Specialty Retail | 1.9% | | | | | | | | |
Designer Brands, Inc., Class A (*) | | | 16,303 | | | | 269,814 | |
Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Class A (*) | | | 3,284 | | | | 347,119 | |
Leslie’s, Inc. | | | 16,016 | | | | 440,280 | |
| | | | | | | 1,057,213 | |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | 1.0% | | | | | | | | |
Tapestry, Inc. (*) | | | 12,682 | | | | 551,413 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Trading Companies & Distributors | 0.8% | | | | | | | | |
Air Lease Corp. | | | 10,585 | | | | 441,818 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $41,586,863) | | | | | | | 53,512,992 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 23
| | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio (concluded) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Short-Term Investments | 2.4% | | | | | | | | |
State Street Institutional Treasury Money Market Fund, Premier Class, 0.01% (7 day yield) (Cost $1,287,252) | | | 1,287,252 | | | $ | 1,287,252 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Investments | 100.1% (Cost $42,874,115) | | | | | | $ | 54,800,244 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities in Excess of Cash and Other Assets | (0.1)% | | | | | | | (69,728 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 54,730,516 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
24 Semi-Annual Report
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | 67.6% | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Australia | 1.1% | | | | | | | | |
Ansell, Ltd. | | | 2,186 | | | $ | 71,352 | |
Charter Hall Long Wale REIT | | | 18,758 | | | | 66,585 | |
CSL, Ltd. | | | 571 | | | | 122,153 | |
Dexus REIT | | | 152,589 | | | | 1,216,454 | |
Fortescue Metals Group, Ltd. | | | 76,809 | | | | 1,344,272 | |
Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings, Ltd. | | | 233,406 | | | | 510,818 | |
Santos, Ltd. | | | 57,712 | | | | 307,858 | |
Stockland REIT | | | 96,776 | | | | 339,995 | |
| | | | | | | 3,979,487 | |
Belgium | 0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Ageas SA | | | 15,794 | | | | 875,934 | |
Cofinimmo SA REIT | | | 409 | | | | 62,277 | |
Etablissements Franz Colruyt NV | | | 1,883 | | | | 105,308 | |
Proximus SADP | | | 2,940 | | | | 56,806 | |
| | | | | | | 1,100,325 | |
Canada | 2.3% | | | | | | | | |
ARC Resources, Ltd. | | | 101,240 | | | | 861,634 | |
CAE, Inc. (*) | | | 29,391 | | | | 905,243 | |
Canadian National Railway Co. | | | 10,045 | | | | 1,059,948 | |
Canadian Western Bank | | | 10,412 | | | | 292,302 | |
Centerra Gold, Inc. | | | 21,477 | | | | 163,035 | |
Constellation Software, Inc. | | | 68 | | | | 102,988 | |
Empire Co., Ltd., Class A | | | 7,066 | | | | 222,879 | |
H&R Real Estate Investment Trust | | | 17,076 | | | | 220,406 | |
Hydro One, Ltd. | | | 6,278 | | | | 151,733 | |
Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corp. | | | 9,464 | | | | 358,603 | |
Loblaw Cos., Ltd. | | | 7,196 | | | | 442,871 | |
Magna International, Inc. | | | 5,319 | | | | 492,467 | |
Metro, Inc. | | | 5,467 | | | | 262,104 | |
Quebecor, Inc., Class B | | | 9,204 | | | | 245,470 | |
Rogers Communications, Inc., Class B | | | 1,628 | | | | 86,548 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 25
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Suncor Energy, Inc. | | | 21,592 | | | $ | 517,156 | |
The Toronto-Dominion Bank | | | 17,741 | | | | 1,242,757 | |
Thomson Reuters Corp. | | | 2,435 | | | | 241,870 | |
| | | | | | | 7,870,014 | |
China | 0.1% | | | | | | | | |
SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd. | | | 55,000 | | | | 229,876 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Denmark | 0.9% | | | | | | | | |
Carlsberg A/S, Class B Sponsored ADR | | | 36,169 | | | | 1,354,167 | |
Coloplast A/S, Class B | | | 458 | | | | 75,189 | |
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B | | | 10,171 | | | | 850,927 | |
Vestas Wind Systems AS ADR | | | 58,873 | | | | 767,704 | |
| | | | | | | 3,047,987 | |
Finland | 0.1% | | | | | | | | |
Elisa Oyj | | | 968 | | | | 57,758 | |
Nordea Bank Abp | | | 25,225 | | | | 280,673 | |
| | | | | | | 338,431 | |
France | 1.4% | | | | | | | | |
BNP Paribas SA | | | 7,182 | | | | 449,766 | |
Cie de Saint-Gobain | | | 8,999 | | | | 593,331 | |
Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA | | | 1,176 | | | | 187,693 | |
Credit Agricole SA | | | 14,849 | | | | 207,817 | |
Electricite de France SA | | | 21,600 | | | | 294,919 | |
La Francaise des Jeux SAEM | | | 6,017 | | | | 353,840 | |
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE ADR | | | 6,791 | | | | 1,071,620 | |
Orange SA | | | 15,493 | | | | 176,677 | |
Pernod Ricard SA ADR | | | 20,768 | | | | 924,176 | |
Sartorius Stedim Biotech | | | 165 | | | | 78,056 | |
Societe Generale SA | | | 14,995 | | | | 441,554 | |
| | | | | | | 4,779,449 | |
Germany | 1.7% | | | | | | | | |
Adidas AG Sponsored ADR | | | 4,753 | | | | 887,765 | |
Daimler AG | | | 24,164 | | | | 2,158,577 | |
Deutsche Bank AG (*) | | | 25,010 | | | | 325,791 | |
Deutsche Post AG | | | 25,863 | | | | 1,759,743 | |
Merck KGaA | | | 331 | | | | 63,542 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
26 Semi-Annual Report
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Merck KGaA Sponsored ADR | | | 23,464 | | | $ | 900,783 | |
| | | | | | | 6,096,201 | |
Hong Kong | 0.5% | | | | | | | | |
AIA Group, Ltd. Sponsored ADR | | | 31,011 | | | | 1,542,177 | |
CLP Holdings, Ltd. | | | 10,000 | | | | 98,841 | |
Hysan Development Co., Ltd. | | | 16,000 | | | | 63,779 | |
Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd. | | | 7,000 | | | | 104,311 | |
| | | | | | | 1,809,108 | |
Israel | 0.0% | | | | | | | | |
Bezeq The Israeli Telecommunication Corp., Ltd. (*) | | | 56,841 | | | | 61,921 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Italy | 0.2% | | | | | | | | |
Banco BPM SpA | | | 80,556 | | | | 258,911 | |
Buzzi Unicem SpA | | | 23,253 | | | | 618,509 | |
| | | | | | | 877,420 | |
Japan | 5.0% | | | | | | | | |
Activia Properties, Inc. REIT | | | 49 | | | | 232,036 | |
Advance Residence Investment Corp. REIT | | | 24 | | | | 79,920 | |
AGC, Inc. | | | 5,000 | | | | 209,880 | |
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. | | | 8,300 | | | | 215,425 | |
Benesse Holdings, Inc. | | | 2,700 | | | | 67,132 | |
Credit Saison Co., Ltd. | | | 33,100 | | | | 401,585 | |
Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. | | | 36,900 | | | | 675,335 | |
Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd. | | | 1,300 | | | | 142,124 | |
Daiwa Securities Living Investments Corp. REIT | | | 81 | | | | 88,087 | |
DCM Holdings Co., Ltd. | | | 7,300 | | | | 69,507 | |
Dip Corp. | | | 6,367 | | | | 196,935 | |
Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. | | | 69,200 | | | | 987,492 | |
ENEOS Holdings, Inc. | | | 52,500 | | | | 219,770 | |
FUJIFILM Holdings Corp. | | | 1,000 | | | | 74,130 | |
Hitachi Zosen Corp. | | | 33,500 | | | | 216,773 | |
Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc. | | | 38,900 | | | | 175,420 | |
Inpex Corp. | | | 28,300 | | | | 212,096 | |
ITOCHU Corp. | | | 3,500 | | | | 100,607 | |
Iwatani Corp. | | | 1,000 | | | | 59,928 | |
Japan Logistics Fund, Inc. REIT | | | 138 | | | | 414,945 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 27
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. | | | 10,800 | | | $ | 194,425 | |
Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd. | | | 89,400 | | | | 748,821 | |
Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. | | | 12,000 | | | | 98,713 | |
Japan Real Estate Investment Corp. | | | 20 | | | | 122,938 | |
K’s Holdings Corp. | | | 6,200 | | | | 71,252 | |
KDDI Corp. | | | 7,100 | | | | 221,372 | |
Kyudenko Corp. | | | 2,000 | | | | 64,016 | |
McDonald’s Holdings Co. Japan, Ltd. | | | 4,700 | | | | 207,323 | |
Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. | | | 11,200 | | | | 181,057 | |
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | | | 42,800 | | | | 231,050 | |
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. | | | 103,690 | | | | 1,461,056 | |
Nintendo Co., Ltd. ADR | | | 16,450 | | | | 1,193,118 | |
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. | | | 2,300 | | | | 59,912 | |
Nitto Denko Corp. | | | 9,300 | | | | 693,613 | |
Nomura Holdings, Inc. | | | 67,200 | | | | 341,355 | |
Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc. | | | 28,700 | | | | 727,838 | |
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. | | | 24,600 | | | | 455,801 | |
Rengo Co., Ltd. | | | 6,100 | | | | 50,780 | |
Sankyo Co., Ltd. | | | 2,200 | | | | 56,229 | |
Shimano, Inc. ADR | | | 37,978 | | | | 903,876 | |
Shimizu Corp. | | | 12,100 | | | | 92,655 | |
Softbank Corp. | | | 30,100 | | | | 393,734 | |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | | | 6,100 | | | | 209,930 | |
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc. | | | 8,100 | | | | 256,376 | |
Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd. | | | 7,900 | | | | 214,688 | |
Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd. | | | 7,200 | | | | 257,205 | |
T&D Holdings, Inc. | | | 16,800 | | | | 218,289 | |
Taiheiyo Cement Corp. | | | 14,700 | | | | 322,353 | |
Teijin, Ltd. | | | 4,300 | | | | 65,323 | |
The Hachijuni Bank, Ltd. | | | 19,800 | | | | 63,786 | |
The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. | | | 31,800 | | | | 302,255 | |
Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. | | | 88,300 | | | | 691,394 | |
Tokyo Electron, Ltd. | | | 700 | | | | 301,379 | |
Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. | | | 9,100 | | | | 171,034 | |
Toray Industries, Inc. | | | 42,600 | | | | 282,463 | |
Toyota Motor Corp. | | | 6,000 | | | | 523,786 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
28 Semi-Annual Report
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Unicharm Corp. | | | 1,900 | | | $ | 76,429 | |
| | | | | | | 17,366,751 | |
Macau | 0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Sands China, Ltd. ADR (*) | | | 21,933 | | | | 922,940 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Malta | 0.1% | | | | | | | | |
Kindred Group PLC | | | 13,440 | | | | 210,735 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Netherlands | 1.9% | | | | | | | | |
ASML Holding NV | | | 1,558 | | | | 1,072,685 | |
Eurocommercial Properties NV | | | 11,284 | | | | 280,814 | |
Flow Traders | | | 2,469 | | | | 106,203 | |
Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV | | | 5,830 | | | | 173,338 | |
NXP Semiconductors NV | | | 6,558 | | | | 1,349,112 | |
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, A Shares | | | 43,131 | | | | 866,738 | |
Wolters Kluwer NV | | | 1,841 | | | | 185,035 | |
Wolters Kluwer NV Sponsored ADR | | | 25,290 | | | | 2,553,026 | |
| | | | | | | 6,586,951 | |
New Zealand | 0.0% | | | | | | | | |
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp., Ltd., Class C | | | 2,938 | | | | 63,906 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Norway | 0.1% | | | | | | | | |
Orkla ASA | | | 20,390 | | | | 207,708 | |
Telenor ASA | | | 9,915 | | | | 167,302 | |
Yara International ASA | | | 1,273 | | | | 67,052 | |
| | | | | | | 442,062 | |
Singapore | 0.1% | | | | | | | | |
DBS Group Holdings, Ltd. | | | 15,000 | | | | 332,865 | |
Singapore Exchange, Ltd. | | | 9,300 | | | | 77,419 | |
| | | | | | | 410,284 | |
Spain | 0.3% | | | | | | | | |
Corporacion Financiera Alba SA | | | 395 | | | | 21,540 | |
Iberdrola SA | | | 7,162 | | | | 87,272 | |
Industria de Diseno Textil SA ADR | | | 49,015 | | | | 867,566 | |
| | | | | | | 976,378 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 29
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Sweden | 1.3% | | | | | | | | |
Assa Abloy AB ADR | | | 57,060 | | | $ | 858,182 | |
Axfood AB | | | 7,411 | | | | 204,987 | |
Epiroc AB ADR | | | 80,073 | | | | 1,828,267 | |
Hexagon AB ADR | | | 103,382 | | | | 1,531,915 | |
Swedish Match AB | | | 8,959 | | | | 76,413 | |
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, B Shares | | | 7,060 | | | | 88,780 | |
| | | | | | | 4,588,544 | |
Switzerland | 1.2% | | | | | | | | |
ABB, Ltd. Sponsored ADR | | | 38,630 | | | | 1,313,034 | |
Credit Suisse Group AG | | | 25,627 | | | | 268,218 | |
Roche Holding AG | | | 2,820 | | | | 1,062,775 | |
Swatch Group AG ADR | | | 78,948 | | | | 1,354,748 | |
Swisscom AG | | | 468 | | | | 267,225 | |
Tecan Group AG | | | 121 | | | | 59,983 | |
| | | | | | | 4,325,983 | |
United Kingdom | 3.7% | | | | | | | | |
Barclays PLC | | | 359,947 | | | | 853,696 | |
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC | | | 18,359 | | | | 1,089,056 | |
Diageo PLC Sponsored ADR | | | 12,132 | | | | 2,325,583 | |
Genus PLC | | | 780 | | | | 53,535 | |
GlaxoSmithKline PLC | | | 3,780 | | | | 74,257 | |
HSBC Holdings PLC (*) | | | 27,735 | | | | 160,053 | |
Imperial Brands PLC | | | 3,870 | | | | 83,396 | |
J Sainsbury PLC | | | 45,667 | | | | 171,808 | |
Lloyds Banking Group PLC (*) | | | 325,948 | | | | 210,859 | |
National Grid PLC | | | 8,546 | | | | 108,811 | |
Natwest Group PLC | | | 157,956 | | | | 443,838 | |
Prudential PLC ADR | | | 35,644 | | | | 1,358,036 | |
RELX PLC Sponsored ADR | | | 57,065 | | | | 1,521,924 | |
Rio Tinto PLC | | | 3,439 | | | | 283,122 | |
Rio Tinto PLC Sponsored ADR | | | 10,831 | | | | 908,613 | |
Rio Tinto, Ltd. | | | 516 | | | | 49,011 | |
Standard Chartered PLC | | | 185,805 | | | | 1,183,859 | |
Unilever PLC Sponsored ADR | | | 31,271 | | | | 1,829,353 | |
Vodafone Group PLC | | | 120,710 | | | | 203,026 | |
| | | | | | | 12,911,836 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
30 Semi-Annual Report
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
United States | 45.0% | | | | | | | | |
3M Co. | | | 2,009 | | | $ | 399,048 | |
Accenture PLC, Class A | | | 8,376 | | | | 2,469,161 | |
Activision Blizzard, Inc. | | | 10,349 | | | | 987,709 | |
Adobe, Inc. (*) | | | 3,104 | | | | 1,817,827 | |
Adtalem Global Education, Inc. (*) | | | 5,238 | | | | 186,682 | |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (*) | | | 3,179 | | | | 298,603 | |
Aflac, Inc. | | | 7,039 | | | | 377,713 | |
AGCO Corp. | | | 1,227 | | | | 159,976 | |
Agilent Technologies, Inc. | | | 564 | | | | 83,365 | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (*) | | | 1,951 | | | | 227,487 | |
Alleghany Corp. (*) | | | 115 | | | | 76,713 | |
Allegion PLC | | | 1,637 | | | | 228,034 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class A (*) | | | 1,332 | | | | 3,252,464 | |
Alphabet, Inc., Class C (*) | | | 1,137 | | | | 2,849,686 | |
Altria Group, Inc. | | | 1,741 | | | | 83,011 | |
Amazon.com, Inc. (*) | | | 1,312 | | | | 4,513,490 | |
Amdocs, Ltd. | | | 941 | | | | 72,796 | |
AMERCO | | | 522 | | | | 307,667 | |
Ameren Corp. | | | 644 | | | | 51,546 | |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | | | 1,199 | | | | 101,423 | |
American Tower Corp. REIT | | | 331 | | | | 89,416 | |
American Water Works Co., Inc. | | | 505 | | | | 77,836 | |
Amgen, Inc. | | | 358 | | | | 87,263 | |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (*) | | | 641 | | | | 62,164 | |
Anthem, Inc. | | | 1,391 | | | | 531,084 | |
Aon PLC, Class A | | | 9,881 | | | | 2,359,188 | |
Apple, Inc. | | | 62,951 | | | | 8,621,769 | |
Applied Materials, Inc. | | | 15,889 | | | | 2,262,594 | |
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | | | 3,734 | | | | 741,647 | |
AutoZone, Inc. (*) | | | 365 | | | | 544,660 | |
Avery Dennison Corp. | | | 2,763 | | | | 580,893 | |
Badger Meter, Inc. | | | 654 | | | | 64,170 | |
Bank of America Corp. | | | 31,203 | | | | 1,286,500 | |
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Class B (*) | | | 770 | | | | 213,998 | |
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A (*) | | | 116 | | | | 74,738 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 31
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Bio-Techne Corp. | | | 630 | | | $ | 283,664 | |
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | | | 13,044 | | | | 1,111,088 | |
Boston Scientific Corp. (*) | | | 26,267 | | | | 1,123,177 | |
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | | | 5,900 | | | | 394,238 | |
Broadcom, Inc. | | | 1,675 | | | | 798,707 | |
BRP, Inc. | | | 12,495 | | | | 979,108 | |
Bruker Corp. | | | 2,827 | | | | 214,795 | |
Brunswick Corp. | | | 2,223 | | | | 221,455 | |
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. | | | 3,618 | | | | 63,170 | |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (*) | | | 2,233 | | | | 305,519 | |
Campbell Soup Co. | | | 1,270 | | | | 57,899 | |
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. | | | 5,336 | | | | 635,251 | |
CDW Corp. | | | 5,924 | | | | 1,034,627 | |
Centene Corp. (*) | | | 939 | | | | 68,481 | |
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (*) | | | 671 | | | | 248,216 | |
Charter Communications, Inc., Class A (*) | | | 392 | | | | 282,808 | |
Chemed Corp. | | | 263 | | | | 124,794 | |
Chubb, Ltd. | | | 435 | | | | 69,139 | |
Cigna Corp. | | | 1,789 | | | | 424,118 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | | | 9,989 | | | | 529,417 | |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | | | 8,004 | | | | 367,143 | |
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A | | | 14,099 | | | | 976,497 | |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | | | 4,318 | | | | 351,269 | |
Comcast Corp., Class A | | | 19,632 | | | | 1,119,417 | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | | | 272 | | | | 107,622 | |
Crown Castle International Corp., REIT | | | 3,617 | | | | 705,677 | |
Cummins, Inc. | | | 1,153 | | | | 281,113 | |
CVS Health Corp. | | | 12,352 | | | | 1,030,651 | |
D.R. Horton, Inc. | | | 5,441 | | | | 491,703 | |
Deckers Outdoor Corp. (*) | | | 174 | | | | 66,828 | |
Deere & Co. | | | 5,274 | | | | 1,860,193 | |
Devon Energy Corp. | | | 15,384 | | | | 449,059 | |
Diamondback Energy, Inc. | | | 7,413 | | | | 696,007 | |
DocuSign, Inc. (*) | | | 1,067 | | | | 298,301 | |
Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Class A | | | 1,162 | | | | 114,213 | |
Dollar General Corp. | | | 8,411 | | | | 1,820,056 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
32 Semi-Annual Report
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Dominion Energy, Inc. | | | 845 | | | $ | 62,167 | |
Domino’s Pizza, Inc. | | | 410 | | | | 191,261 | |
DTE Energy Co. | | | 2,006 | | | | 259,978 | |
Electronic Arts, Inc. | | | 1,675 | | | | 240,915 | |
Eli Lilly & Co. | | | 4,265 | | | | 978,903 | |
Equitable Holdings, Inc. | | | 15,719 | | | | 478,644 | |
Evergy, Inc. | | | 1,155 | | | | 69,797 | |
Exlservice Holdings, Inc. (*) | | | 707 | | | | 75,126 | |
Extra Space Storage, Inc. REIT | | | 630 | | | | 103,207 | |
Exxon Mobil Corp. | | | 11,316 | | | | 713,813 | |
Facebook, Inc., Class A (*) | | | 8,289 | | | | 2,882,168 | |
Fifth Third Bancorp | | | 7,389 | | | | 282,481 | |
Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. | | | 4,273 | | | | 180,620 | |
FOX Corp., Class B | | | 21,150 | | | | 744,480 | |
FTI Consulting, Inc. (*) | | | 467 | | | | 63,797 | |
Generac Holdings, Inc. (*) | | | 927 | | | | 384,844 | |
General Mills, Inc. | | | 1,474 | | | | 89,811 | |
Graco, Inc. | | | 1,455 | | | | 110,144 | |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. | | | 3,834 | | | | 792,641 | |
Honeywell International, Inc. | | | 5,140 | | | | 1,127,459 | |
Hormel Foods Corp. | | | 3,019 | | | | 144,157 | |
Humana, Inc. | | | 1,848 | | | | 818,147 | |
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | | | 1,446 | | | | 304,745 | |
ICON PLC (*) | | | 1,920 | | | | 396,883 | |
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (*) | | | 1,373 | | | | 867,118 | |
Intel Corp. | | | 13,667 | | | | 767,265 | |
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | | | 16,595 | | | | 1,969,826 | |
Intuit, Inc. | | | 2,163 | | | | 1,060,238 | |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc. (*) | | | 11,721 | | | | 2,840,233 | |
Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. | | | 3,294 | | | | 538,602 | |
Johnson & Johnson | | | 29,637 | | | | 4,882,399 | |
Kellogg Co. | | | 9,654 | | | | 621,042 | |
Keysight Technologies, Inc. (*) | | | 962 | | | | 148,542 | |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | | | 1,084 | | | | 145,018 | |
KLA Corp. | | | 2,244 | | | | 727,527 | |
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (*) | | | 2,470 | | | | 681,349 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 33
Description | | Shares | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lam Research Corp. | | | 362 | | | $ | 235,553 | |
LHC Group, Inc. (*) | | | 1,572 | | | | 314,809 | |
Life Storage, Inc. REIT | | | 750 | | | | 80,513 | |
Lockheed Martin Corp. | | | 4,655 | | | | 1,761,219 | |
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. | | | 3,467 | | | | 209,025 | |
Lowe’s Cos., Inc. | | | 9,623 | | | | 1,866,573 | |
Manhattan Associates, Inc. (*) | | | 1,644 | | | | 238,117 | |
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., Class A | | | 5,292 | | | | 220,835 | |
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | | | 816 | | | | 287,077 | |
Matson, Inc. | | | 931 | | | | 59,584 | |
McDonald’s Corp. | | | 7,868 | | | | 1,817,429 | |
McKesson Corp. | | | 4,976 | | | | 951,610 | |
MDU Resources Group, Inc. | | | 11,424 | | | | 358,028 | |
Medtronic PLC | | | 4,234 | | | | 525,566 | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | | 7,634 | | | | 593,696 | |
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (*) | | | 241 | | | | 333,867 | |
Microsoft Corp. | | | 30,744 | | | | 8,328,550 | |
Moderna, Inc. (*) | | | 1,372 | | | | 322,393 | |
Mohawk Industries, Inc. (*) | | | 1,348 | | | | 259,072 | |
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | | | 182 | | | | 67,968 | |
Moody’s Corp. | | | 2,951 | | | | 1,069,354 | |
Motorola Solutions, Inc. | | | 10,078 | | | | 2,185,414 | |
MYR Group, Inc. (*) | | | 908 | | | | 82,555 | |
Netflix, Inc. (*) | | | 1,508 | | | | 796,541 | |
Newmont Corp. | | | 816 | | | | 51,718 | |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | | | 2,662 | | | | 967,451 | |
NVIDIA Corp. | | | 2,324 | | | | 1,859,432 | |
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (*) | | | 109 | | | | 61,717 | |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | | | 2,671 | | | | 677,900 | |
Oracle Corp. | | | 8,382 | | | | 652,455 | |
Organon & Co. (*) | | | 340 | | | | 10,288 | |
Ovintiv, Inc. | | | 3,859 | | | | 121,443 | |
Owens Corning | | | 2,089 | | | | 204,513 | |
Paychex, Inc. | | | 4,497 | | | | 482,528 | |
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (*) | | | 4,348 | | | | 1,267,355 | |
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. | | | 3,822 | | | | 235,894 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
34 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | | 1,553 | | | $ | 230,108 | |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | | | 13,374 | | | | 1,325,497 | |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. | | | 899 | | | | 146,105 | |
Portland General Electric Co. | | | 1,299 | | | | 59,858 | |
Premier, Inc., Class A | | | 1,810 | | | | 62,970 | |
PTC, Inc. (*) | | | 9,957 | | | | 1,406,526 | |
Public Storage REIT | | | 768 | | | | 230,930 | |
PulteGroup, Inc. | | | 8,341 | | | | 455,168 | |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | | | 5,308 | | | | 758,672 | |
Quanta Services, Inc. | | | 2,506 | | | | 226,968 | |
Quest Diagnostics, Inc. | | | 680 | | | | 89,740 | |
Quidel Corp. (*) | | | 545 | | | | 69,825 | |
Realty Income Corp. REIT | | | 950 | | | | 63,403 | |
Republic Services, Inc. | | | 2,914 | | | | 320,569 | |
ResMed, Inc. | | | 447 | | | | 110,194 | |
RH (*) | | | 378 | | | | 256,662 | |
Rockwell Automation, Inc. | | | 4,040 | | | | 1,155,521 | |
RPM International, Inc. | | | 1,967 | | | | 174,434 | |
S&P Global, Inc. | | | 5,921 | | | | 2,430,274 | |
SBA Communications Corp. REIT | | | 238 | | | | 75,851 | |
Select Medical Holdings Corp. | | | 5,975 | | | | 252,504 | |
Service Corp. International | | | 3,841 | | | | 205,839 | |
ServiceNow, Inc. (*) | | | 443 | | | | 243,451 | |
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. | | | 1,268 | | | | 243,139 | |
SLM Corp. | | | 14,239 | | | | 298,165 | |
Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. | | | 2,928 | | | | 193,804 | |
Starbucks Corp. | | | 2,013 | | | | 225,074 | |
Stepan Co. | | | 478 | | | | 57,489 | |
STERIS PLC | | | 442 | | | | 91,185 | |
Synopsys, Inc. (*) | | | 6,859 | | | | 1,891,644 | |
Targa Resources Corp. | | | 8,420 | | | | 374,269 | |
Target Corp. | | | 5,439 | | | | 1,314,824 | |
Tesla, Inc. (*) | | | 2,459 | | | | 1,671,382 | |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | | | 8,735 | | | | 1,679,740 | |
Texas Pacific Land Corp. | | | 129 | | | | 206,366 | |
The Allstate Corp. | | | 443 | | | | 57,785 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 35
| | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
The Charles Schwab Corp. | | | 17,410 | | | $ | 1,267,622 | |
The Clorox Co. | | | 1,409 | | | | 253,493 | |
The Coca-Cola Co. | | | 39,331 | | | | 2,128,200 | |
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | | | 1,195 | | | | 74,054 | |
The Hershey Co. | | | 2,930 | | | | 510,347 | |
The Home Depot, Inc. | | | 4,484 | | | | 1,429,903 | |
The J.M. Smucker Co. | | | 514 | | | | 66,599 | |
The Kroger Co. | | | 3,190 | | | | 122,209 | |
The Mosaic Co. | | | 6,839 | | | | 218,232 | |
The Procter & Gamble Co. | | | 15,523 | | | | 2,094,518 | |
The Sherwin-Williams Co. | | | 1,888 | | | | 514,386 | |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | | | 5,589 | | | | 2,819,483 | |
TopBuild Corp. (*) | | | 2,736 | | | | 541,126 | |
Tractor Supply Co. | | | 2,883 | | | | 536,411 | |
Trimble, Inc. (*) | | | 2,542 | | | | 208,012 | |
Tyler Technologies, Inc. (*) | | | 147 | | | | 66,498 | |
Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A | | | 3,528 | | | | 260,225 | |
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B | | | 1,747 | | | | 363,324 | |
United Therapeutics Corp. (*) | | | 730 | | | | 130,969 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | | | 5,171 | | | | 2,070,675 | |
Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B | | | 1,334 | | | | 195,338 | |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | | 60,405 | | | | 3,384,492 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (*) | | | 284 | | | | 57,263 | |
Viatris, Inc. | | | 2,709 | | | | 38,712 | |
Visa, Inc., Class A | | | 8,006 | | | | 1,871,963 | |
Walmart, Inc. | | | 5,412 | | | | 763,200 | |
Warner Music Group Corp., Class A | | | 15,721 | | | | 566,585 | |
Waste Management, Inc. | | | 527 | | | | 73,838 | |
Waters Corp. (*) | | | 305 | | | | 105,411 | |
Watts Water Technologies, Inc., Class A | | | 545 | | | | 79,521 | |
WD-40 Co. | | | 323 | | | | 82,782 | |
WEC Energy Group, Inc. | | | 1,126 | | | | 100,158 | |
Werner Enterprises, Inc. | | | 1,193 | | | | 53,112 | |
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | | | 330 | | | | 118,503 | |
White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. | | | 53 | | | | 60,846 | |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | | | 1,618 | | | | 258,314 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
36 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
WW Grainger, Inc. | | | 603 | | | $ | 264,114 | |
Zoetis, Inc. | | | 11,733 | | | | 2,186,562 | |
| | | | | | | 156,744,065 | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $188,201,483) | | | | | | | 235,740,654 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Security Currency | | Principal Amount (000) | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds | 9.7% | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Canada | 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | |
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 0.950%, 10/23/25 | | USD | | | 1,370 | | | $ | 1,360,980 | |
Rogers Communications, Inc., 3.250%, 05/01/29 | | CAD | | | 1,020 | | | | 860,129 | |
| | | | | | | | | 2,221,109 | |
France | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Schneider Electric SE, 2.950%, 09/27/22 | | USD | | | 938 | | | | 966,914 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Germany | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Daimler AG MTN, 0.750%, 09/10/30 | | EUR | | | 810 | | | | 987,888 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Switzerland | 0.0% | | | | | | | | | | |
ABB Finance USA, Inc., 4.375%, 05/08/42 | | USD | | | 90 | | | | 116,338 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
United Kingdom | 1.0% | | | | | | | | | | |
Ashtead Capital, Inc., 4.125%, 08/15/25 | | USD | | | 825 | | | | 844,594 | |
Tesco Corporate Treasury Services PLC MTN, 2.750%, 04/27/30 | | GBP | | | 985 | | | | 1,454,054 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 37
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Security Currency | | Principal Amount (000) | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Unilever Capital Corp., 1.375%, 09/14/30 | | USD | | $ | 1,040 | | | $ | 1,004,580 | |
| | | | | | | | | 3,303,228 | |
United States | 7.5% | | | | | | | | | | |
Adobe, Inc., 2.300%, 02/01/30 | | USD | | | 870 | | | | 905,849 | |
Alphabet, Inc., 1.100%, 08/15/30 | | USD | | | 1,110 | | | | 1,052,508 | |
Amazon.com, Inc., 3.150%, 08/22/27 | | USD | | | 895 | | | | 988,874 | |
American Express Credit Corp. MTN, 3.300%, 05/03/27 | | USD | | | 885 | | | | 979,012 | |
Apple, Inc., 3.000%, 06/20/27 | | USD | | | 815 | | | | 896,065 | |
Ball Corp., 4.875%, 03/15/26 | | USD | | | 500 | | | | 556,880 | |
Bank of America Corp.: | | | | | | | | | | |
1.486% (SOFR + 1.460%), 05/19/24 (§) | | USD | | | 450 | | | | 457,681 | |
3.248%, 10/21/27 | | USD | | | 895 | | | | 970,842 | |
Clean Harbors, Inc. Co., 4.875%, 07/15/27 | | USD | | | 455 | | | | 476,613 | |
Dell International LLC, 5.300%, 10/01/29 | | USD | | | 1,017 | | | | 1,227,144 | |
John Deere Financial, Inc., 2.410%, 01/14/25 | | CAD | | | 1,270 | | | | 1,062,278 | |
Johnson & Johnson, 3.625%, 03/03/37 | | USD | | | 428 | | | | 499,375 | |
Johnson Controls International PLC, 1.750%, 09/15/30 | | USD | | | 515 | | | | 495,950 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 3.540% (USD LIBOR 3 Month + 1.380%), 05/01/28 (§) | | USD | | | 1,035 | | | | 1,137,946 | |
Kimberly-Clark Corp., 3.200%, 04/25/29 | | USD | | | 773 | | | | 855,891 | |
McDonald’s Corp., 3.125%, 03/04/25 | | CAD | | | 1,185 | | | | 1,013,617 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
38 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Security Currency | | Principal Amount (000) | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Microsoft Corp., 3.500%, 11/15/42 | | USD | | $ | 660 | | | $ | 762,792 | |
Morgan Stanley, 3.625%, 01/20/27 | | USD | | | 885 | | | | 981,306 | |
Mueller Water Products, Inc., 4.000%, 06/15/29 (#) | | USD | | | 465 | | | | 477,843 | |
PepsiCo, Inc., 2.875%, 10/15/49 | | USD | | | 715 | | | | 737,515 | |
Pfizer, Inc., 2.625%, 04/01/30 | | USD | | | 855 | | | | 910,548 | |
Prologis LP, 1.250%, 10/15/30 | | USD | | | 965 | | | | 907,966 | |
Sealed Air Corp., 4.875%, 12/01/22 | | USD | | | 740 | | | | 769,600 | |
Service Corp. International, 4.625%, 12/15/27 | | USD | | | 505 | | | | 534,038 | |
Starbucks Corp., 4.450%, 08/15/49 | | USD | | | 795 | | | | 986,089 | |
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 1.992% (SOFR + 1.090%), 01/27/32 (§) | | USD | | | 1,040 | | | | 1,010,042 | |
The Home Depot, Inc., 5.875%, 12/16/36 | | USD | | | 630 | | | | 900,024 | |
The Procter & Gamble Co., 1.200%, 10/29/30 | | USD | | | 545 | | | | 519,719 | |
Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 2.150%, 02/13/30 | | USD | | | 965 | | | | 989,066 | |
United Rentals North America, Inc., 4.875%, 01/15/28 | | USD | | | 515 | | | | 546,157 | |
Verizon Communications, Inc., 3.875%, 02/08/29 | | USD | | | 1,012 | | | | 1,156,140 | |
Visa, Inc., 0.750%, 08/15/27 | | USD | | | 465 | | | | 450,716 | |
| | | | | | | | | 26,216,086 | |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $32,872,743) | | | | | | | | | 33,811,563 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 39
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Security Currency | | Principal Amount (000) | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign Government Obligations | 12.8% | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Australia | 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | |
New South Wales Treasury Corp., 1.250%, 11/20/30 | | AUD | | $ | 1,400 | | | $ | 1,009,329 | |
Queensland Treasury Corp., 1.250%, 03/10/31 | | AUD | | | 1,410 | | | | 1,014,892 | |
| | | | | | | | | 2,024,221 | |
Bahamas | 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | |
Bahamas Government International Bonds, 6.950%, 11/20/29 | | USD | | | 1,525 | | | | 1,604,872 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Bermuda | 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | |
Government of Bermuda: | | | | | | | | | | |
3.717%, 01/25/27 | | USD | | | 1,360 | | | | 1,483,505 | |
2.375%, 08/20/30 (#) | | USD | | | 1,410 | | | | 1,407,620 | |
| | | | | | | | | 2,891,125 | |
Canada | 1.1% | | | | | | | | | | |
City of Vancouver, 2.900%, 11/20/25 | | CAD | | | 865 | | | | 747,894 | |
Export Development Canada, 1.650%, 07/31/24 | | CAD | | | 1,170 | | | | 967,874 | |
Province of Quebec: | | | | | | | | | | |
2.500%, 04/20/26 | | USD | | | 515 | | | | 551,539 | |
1.850%, 02/13/27 | | CAD | | | 1,965 | | | | 1,627,339 | |
| | | | | | | | | 3,894,646 | |
Chile | 0.9% | | | | | | | | | | |
Bonos de la Tesoreria de la Republica en pesos: | | | | | | | | | | |
4.500%, 03/01/26 | | CLP | | | 315,000 | | | | 446,837 | |
2.300%, 10/01/28 | | CLP | | | 1,290,000 | | | | 1,520,331 | |
Republic of Chile, 0.830%, 07/02/31 | | EUR | | | 880 | | | | 1,057,025 | |
| | | | | | | | | 3,024,193 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
40 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Security Currency | | Principal Amount (000) | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Colombia | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Republic of Colombia, 9.850%, 06/28/27 | | COP | | | 2,975,000 | | | $ | 927,411 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Croatia | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Croatia, 5.500%, 04/04/23 | | USD | | | 945 | | | | 1,024,321 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Czech Republic | 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | |
Czech Republic, 2.000%, 10/13/33 | | CZK | | | 57,990 | | | | 2,738,277 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Hungary | 1.0% | | | | | | | | | | |
Hungary Government Bonds: | | | | | | | | | | |
2.750%, 12/22/26 | | HUF | | | 290,410 | | | | 1,010,906 | |
3.000%, 10/27/27 | | HUF | | | 284,610 | | | | 1,002,826 | |
2.250%, 04/20/33 | | HUF | | | 292,490 | | | | 929,166 | |
Hungary Government International Bonds, 1.750%, 06/05/35 | | EUR | | | 410 | | | | 515,114 | |
| | | | | | | | | 3,458,012 | |
Italy | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Italy Buoni Poliennali Del Tesoro, 1.450%, 03/01/36 | | EUR | | | 760 | | | | 928,674 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Japan | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Japan Bank for International Cooperation, 0.625%, 05/22/23 | | USD | | | 300 | | | | 301,567 | |
Japan International Cooperation Agency, 1.750%, 04/28/31 | | USD | | | 830 | | | | 832,384 | |
| | | | | | | | | 1,133,951 | |
Mexico | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Mexican Bonos, 7.500%, 06/03/27 | | MXN | | | 17,000 | | | | 889,592 | |
United Mexican States, 6.750%, 02/06/24 | | GBP | | | 165 | | | | 261,882 | |
| | | | | | | | | 1,151,474 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 41
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Security Currency | | Principal Amount (000) | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Morocco | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Morocco Government International Bonds, 1.500%, 11/27/31 | | EUR | | | 970 | | | $ | 1,077,429 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Netherlands | 0.2% | | | | | | | | | | |
Nederlandse Waterschapsbank NV, 0.500%, 12/02/25 (#) | | USD | | | 640 | | | | 630,137 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
New Zealand | 0.9% | | | | | | | | | | |
Housing New Zealand, Ltd. MTN, 3.420%, 10/18/28 | | NZD | | | 1,200 | | | | 923,511 | |
New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Bonds, 2.000%, 04/15/37 | | NZD | | | 745 | | | | 470,813 | |
New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Bonds, 1.500%, 04/20/29 | | NZD | | | 2,710 | | | | 1,829,520 | |
| | | | | | | | | 3,223,844 | |
Norway | 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | |
Oslo Kommune: | | | | | | | | | | |
2.300%, 03/14/24 | | NOK | | | 3,000 | | | | 357,081 | |
2.350%, 09/04/24 | | NOK | | | 10,000 | | | | 1,196,286 | |
| | | | | | | | | 1,553,367 | |
Panama | 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | |
Republic of Panama: | | | | | | | | | | |
8.875%, 09/30/27 | | USD | | | 795 | | | | 1,096,007 | |
3.875%, 03/17/28 | | USD | | | 885 | | | | 973,113 | |
| | | | | | | | | 2,069,120 | |
Peru | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Peru Government Bonds, 6.150%, 08/12/32 | | PEN | | | 3,580 | | | | 972,833 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Poland | 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | |
Poland Government Bonds: | | | | | | | | | | |
2.500%, 07/25/27 | | PLN | | | 3,590 | | | | 1,002,611 | |
2.750%, 10/25/29 | | PLN | | | 3,905 | | | | 1,121,789 | |
| | | | | | | | | 2,124,400 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
42 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Security Currency | | Principal Amount (000) | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Romania | 1.0% | | | | | | | | | | |
Romanian Government Bonds: | | | | | | | | | | |
4.750%, 02/24/25 | | RON | | | 7,450 | | | $ | 1,923,570 | |
3.650%, 09/24/31 | | RON | | | 3,680 | | | | 894,461 | |
Romanian Government International Bonds, 3.875%, 10/29/35 | | EUR | | | 485 | | | | 675,729 | |
| | | | | | | | | 3,493,760 | |
Singapore | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Singapore Government Bonds, 3.375%, 09/01/33 | | SGD | | | 1,130 | | | | 988,235 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Spain | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Spain Government Bonds, 1.200%, 10/31/40 | | EUR | | | 816 | | | | 981,531 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Thailand | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Thailand Government Bonds, 1.585%, 12/17/35 | | THB | | | 31,630 | | | | 913,540 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
United Kingdom | 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | |
United Kingdom Gilt: | | | | | | | | | | |
1.750%, 09/07/37 | | GBP | | | 695 | | | | 1,051,149 | |
1.500%, 07/22/47 | | GBP | | | 405 | | | | 592,604 | |
| | | | | | | | | 1,643,753 | |
Total Foreign Government Obligations (Cost $44,036,328) | | | | | | | | | 44,473,126 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Supranational Bonds | 2.4% | | | | | | | | | | |
Asian Development Bank, 2.125%, 03/19/25 | | USD | | | 616 | | | | 648,015 | |
European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, 1.625%, 09/27/24 | | USD | | | 555 | | | | 573,161 | |
European Investment Bank, 1.000%, 01/28/28 | | CAD | | | 1,255 | | | | 979,836 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 43
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Security Currency | | Principal Amount (000) | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Inter-American Development Bank, 7.875%, 03/14/23 | | IDR | | | 18,860,000 | | | $ | 1,368,586 | |
International Bank for Reconstruction & Development: | | | | | | | | | | |
2.500%, 08/03/23 | | CAD | | | 1,200 | | | | 1,006,409 | |
1.900%, 01/16/25 | | CAD | | | 835 | | | | 695,227 | |
2.900%, 11/26/25 | | AUD | | | 1,370 | | | | 1,116,010 | |
International Bank for Reconstruction & Development MTN, 1.250%, 03/16/26 | | NOK | | | 7,700 | | | | 890,215 | |
International Finance Corp. MTN, 1.500%, 04/15/35 | | AUD | | | 1,411 | | | | 971,351 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total Supranational Bonds (Cost $7,883,132) | | | | | | | | | 8,248,810 | |
| | | | | | | | |
US Municipal Bonds | 0.9% | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
California | 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | |
State of California: | | | | | | | | | | |
4.500%, 04/01/33 | | USD | | | 900 | | | | 1,063,122 | |
7.550%, 04/01/39 | | USD | | | 1,000 | | | | 1,704,999 | |
| | | | | | | | | 2,768,121 | |
New York | 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | |
New York State Urban Development Corp., Series B, 3.900%, 03/15/33 | | USD | | | 420 | | | | 476,670 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total US Municipal Bonds (Cost $3,050,057) | | | | | | | | | 3,244,791 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
US Treasury Securities | 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | |
US Treasury Note, 0.625%, 08/15/30
(Cost $1,020,622) | | USD | | | 1,055 | | | | 982,881 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
44 Semi-Annual Report
| | | | | | | | |
Description | | Shares | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | |
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 5.0% | | | | | | | | |
iShares MSCI World ETF (Cost $11,581,362) | | | 138,410 | | | $ | 17,518,553 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Short-Term Investments | 1.2% | | | | | | | | |
State Street Institutional Treasury Money Market Fund, Premier Class, 0.01% (7 day yield) (Cost $4,024,605) | | | 4,024,605 | | | | 4,024,605 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Investments | 99.9% (Cost $292,670,332) (») | | | | | | $ | 348,044,983 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash and Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities | 0.1% | | | | | | | 382,408 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 348,427,391 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 45
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued)
Forward Currency Contracts open at June 30, 2021:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Currency Purchased | | Quantity | | | Currency Sold | | Quantity | | | Counterparty | | Settlement Date | | Unrealized Appreciation | | | Unrealized Depreciation | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
AUD | | | 1,364,391 | | | USD | | | 1,032,148 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | $ | — | | | | $ | 8,848 | |
AUD | | | 56,113 | | | USD | | | 42,256 | | | HSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | — | | | | | 159 | |
AUD | | | 758,145 | | | USD | | | 594,800 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 26,187 | |
AUD | | | 1,662,159 | | | USD | | | 1,292,699 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 46,071 | |
AUD | | | 2,427,397 | | | USD | | | 1,883,915 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 63,354 | |
CAD | | | 2,917,278 | | | USD | | | 2,366,604 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 13,226 | |
CAD | | | 566,801 | | | USD | | | 456,540 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 700 | | | | | — | |
CAD | | | 2,870,482 | | | USD | | | 2,290,101 | | | MSC | | 07/16/21 | | | | 25,526 | | | | | — | |
CHF | | | 324,678 | | | USD | | | 352,930 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 1,889 | |
CHF | | | 94,006 | | | USD | | | 102,480 | | | HSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | — | | | | | 656 | |
CHF | | | 798,698 | | | USD | | | 868,195 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 4,645 | |
CHF | | | 105,714 | | | USD | | | 114,914 | | | MSC | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 616 | |
CLP | | | 374,880,850 | | | USD | | | 516,365 | | | CIT | | 09/15/21 | | | | — | | | | | 6,915 | |
CNH | | | 25,386,786 | | | USD | | | 3,863,899 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 58,104 | | | | | — | |
CNH | | | 32,465,012 | | | USD | | | 5,060,426 | | | HSB | | 09/03/21 | | | | — | | | | | 61,666 | |
CZK | | | 3,996,600 | | | USD | | | 191,286 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 5,468 | |
CZK | | | 14,816,424 | | | USD | | | 692,450 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 3,576 | |
CZK | | | 15,575,870 | | | USD | | | 737,600 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 13,417 | |
EUR | | | 3,340,166 | | | USD | | | 4,002,955 | | | CIT | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 41,187 | |
EUR | | | 354,571 | | | USD | | | 420,763 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 207 | |
EUR | | | 1,398,771 | | | USD | | | 1,669,112 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 10,030 | |
EUR | | | 14,548,789 | | | USD | | | 17,433,960 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 177,652 | |
EUR | | | 944,087 | | | USD | | | 1,127,278 | | | HSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | — | | | | | 5,910 | |
EUR | | | 782,215 | | | USD | | | 938,000 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 10,216 | |
GBP | | | 244,517 | | | USD | | | 346,000 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 7,745 | |
GBP | | | 601,531 | | | USD | | | 838,955 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 6,822 | |
GBP | | | 490,816 | | | USD | | | 696,817 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 17,842 | |
GBP | | | 1,853,809 | | | USD | | | 2,556,390 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 8,094 | | | | | — | |
GBP | | | 279,064 | | | USD | | | 388,289 | | | SSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | — | | | | | 2,189 | |
HKD | | | 1,201,858 | | | USD | | | 154,812 | | | HSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | 5 | | | | | — | |
HUF | | | 529,741,934 | | | USD | | | 1,777,640 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 9,650 | | | | | — | |
INR | | | 61,198,480 | | | USD | | | 816,579 | | | JPM | | 09/30/21 | | | | — | | | | | 1,316 | |
JPY | | | 969,979,579 | | | USD | | | 8,933,235 | | | CIT | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 201,181 | |
JPY | | | 814,930,936 | | | USD | | | 7,505,350 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 169,092 | |
JPY | | | 41,319,428 | | | USD | | | 380,538 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 8,568 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
46 Semi-Annual Report
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Currency Purchased | | Quantity | | | Currency Sold | | Quantity | | | Counterparty | | Settlement Date | | Unrealized Appreciation | | | Unrealized Depreciation | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
JPY | | | 32,352,773 | | | USD | | | 292,712 | | | SSB | | 09/24/21 | | | $ | — | | | | $ | 1,289 | |
KRW | | | 1,561,423,262 | | | USD | | | 1,382,659 | | | JPM | | 08/10/21 | | | | 3,577 | | | | | — | |
MXN | | | 4,434,046 | | | USD | | | 216,234 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 5,818 | | | | | — | |
MXN | | | 4,626,068 | | | USD | | | 230,537 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 1,131 | | | | | — | |
NOK | | | 4,927,024 | | | USD | | | 578,801 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 6,526 | |
NOK | | | 13,146,575 | | | USD | | | 1,538,007 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 11,029 | |
NZD | | | 815,556 | | | USD | | | 594,800 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 24,738 | |
NZD | | | 1,147,330 | | | USD | | | 804,302 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 2,334 | |
NZD | | | 417,020 | | | USD | | | 298,508 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 7,017 | |
NZD | | | 959,408 | | | USD | | | 685,422 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 14,810 | |
PEN | | | 934,460 | | | USD | | | 241,462 | | | CIT | | 08/10/21 | | | | 1,930 | | | | | — | |
PHP | | | 28,492,130 | | | USD | | | 582,387 | | | HSB | | 09/30/21 | | | | — | | | | | 378 | |
PLN | | | 2,027,258 | | | USD | | | 531,966 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 254 | |
PLN | | | 2,446,280 | | | USD | | | 661,000 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 19,386 | |
RON | | | 768,587 | | | USD | | | 185,389 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 496 | |
RON | | | 1,558,572 | | | USD | | | 377,417 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 2,483 | |
RON | | | 3,140,869 | | | USD | | | 760,230 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 4,654 | |
RUB | | | 32,491,655 | | | USD | | | 437,154 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 6,290 | | | | | — | |
SEK | | | 3,941,901 | | | USD | | | 467,622 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 6,956 | |
SEK | | | 1,171,064 | | | USD | | | 138,945 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 2,090 | |
SGD | | | 334,557 | | | USD | | | 249,512 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 715 | |
SGD | | | 212,898 | | | USD | | | 159,475 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 1,151 | |
THB | | | 23,790,456 | | | USD | | | 762,539 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 20,276 | |
USD | | | 31,000 | | | AUD | | | 40,247 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 814 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 487,000 | | | AUD | | | 637,610 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 8,789 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 938,378 | | | AUD | | | 1,209,803 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 31,020 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 1,104,764 | | | AUD | | | 1,428,119 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 33,667 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 3,412,979 | | | AUD | | | 4,410,816 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 104,844 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 2,025,021 | | | AUD | | | 2,617,580 | | | MSC | | 07/16/21 | | | | 61,822 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 3,853,953 | | | CAD | | | 4,830,845 | | | CIT | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 43,107 | |
USD | | | 70,300 | | | CAD | | | 86,379 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 618 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 672,600 | | | CAD | | | 822,993 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 8,688 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 482,091 | | | CAD | | | 596,786 | | | HSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | 673 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 254,829 | | | CAD | | | 319,425 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 2,853 | |
USD | | | 683,900 | | | CAD | | | 824,950 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 18,410 | | | | | — | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 47
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | �� | | | | |
Currency Purchased | | Quantity | | | Currency Sold | | Quantity | | | Counterparty | | Settlement Date | | Unrealized Appreciation | | | Unrealized Depreciation | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
USD | | | 1,218,447 | | | CAD | | | 1,510,695 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | $ | — | | | | $ | 236 | |
USD | | | 1,222,309 | | | CAD | | | 1,515,086 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 85 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 3,446,007 | | | CAD | | | 4,319,328 | | | MSC | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 38,411 | |
USD | | | 22,700 | | | CHF | | | 20,706 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 313 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 255,100 | | | CHF | | | 230,623 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 5,751 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 2,624,064 | | | CLP | | | 1,837,973,201 | | | CIT | | 09/15/21 | | | | 126,324 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 153,100 | | | CNH | | | 996,041 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 778 | |
USD | | | 1,739,600 | | | CNH | | | 11,189,351 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 10,958 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 986,106 | | | COP | | | 3,732,410,766 | | | CIT | | 08/10/21 | | | | — | | | | | 6,578 | |
USD | | | 278,300 | | | CZK | | | 5,897,789 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 4,089 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 2,993,273 | | | CZK | | | 64,706,479 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 15,186 | |
USD | | | 305,542 | | | DKK | | | 1,902,977 | | | HSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | 1,611 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 438,600 | | | EUR | | | 364,407 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 6,377 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 5,402,256 | | | EUR | | | 4,508,229 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 55,049 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 330,000 | | | EUR | | | 271,930 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 7,464 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 487,700 | | | EUR | | | 400,423 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 12,759 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 4,847,700 | | | EUR | | | 4,024,237 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 74,556 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 97,200 | | | GBP | | | 70,406 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 196 | |
USD | | | 1,182,900 | | | GBP | | | 843,495 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 16,044 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 435,311 | | | GBP | | | 312,865 | | | HSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | 2,444 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 267,700 | | | GBP | | | 193,062 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 625 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 1,485,190 | | | GBP | | | 1,077,011 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 4,702 | |
USD | | | 341,166 | | | HKD | | | 2,648,682 | | | SSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | — | | | | | 24 | |
USD | | | 14,400 | | | HUF | | | 4,320,259 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 176 | |
USD | | | 162,300 | | | HUF | | | 47,540,916 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 1,902 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 204,453 | | | HUF | | | 61,658,656 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 3,576 | |
USD | | | 920,385 | | | HUF | | | 275,613,034 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 9,502 | |
USD | | | 2,774,475 | | | HUF | | | 836,781,770 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 48,732 | |
USD | | | 321,024 | | | IDR | | | 4,691,766,818 | | | JPM | | 09/30/21 | | | | — | | | | | 240 | |
USD | | | 696,000 | | | JPY | | | 76,753,836 | | | CIT | | 07/16/21 | | | | 5,038 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 285,500 | | | JPY | | | 31,195,443 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 4,669 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 1,505,214 | | | JPY | | | 165,797,190 | | | HSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | 11,764 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 3,084,900 | | | JPY | | | 340,389,408 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 20,610 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 460,835 | | | JPY | | | 50,756,808 | | | SSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | 3,633 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 22,700 | | | MXN | | | 463,416 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 507 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
48 Semi-Annual Report
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (concluded)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Currency Purchased | | Quantity | | | Currency Sold | | Quantity | | | Counterparty | | Settlement Date | | Unrealized Appreciation | | | Unrealized Depreciation | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
USD | | | 76,035 | | | MXN | | | 1,540,051 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | $ | — | | | | $ | 1,089 | |
USD | | | 255,100 | | | MXN | | | 5,181,464 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 4,382 | |
USD | | | 1,151,672 | | | NOK | | | 9,618,187 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 34,517 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 479,263 | | | NOK | | | 4,120,346 | | | HSB | | 09/24/21 | | | | 566 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 3,353,550 | | | NOK | | | 28,037,868 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 96,946 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 1,733,040 | | | NZD | | | 2,425,613 | | | CIT | | 07/16/21 | | | | 37,572 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 162,300 | | | NZD | | | 229,490 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 1,890 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 1,190,138 | | | NZD | | | 1,651,964 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 35,439 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 1,954,566 | | | NZD | | | 2,735,871 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 42,232 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 1,104,459 | | | PEN | | | 4,216,163 | | | CIT | | 08/10/21 | | | | 6,305 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 162,300 | | | PLN | | | 609,536 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 2,430 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 1,966,049 | | | PLN | | | 7,454,292 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 10,927 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 539,373 | | | PLN | | | 2,045,161 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 2,965 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 33,100 | | | RON | | | 136,137 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 350 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 371,100 | | | RON | | | 1,519,777 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 5,498 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 2,291,077 | | | RON | | | 9,461,163 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 15,074 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 10,300 | | | SEK | | | 87,176 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | 112 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 1,111,571 | | | SGD | | | 1,483,944 | | | JPM | | 07/16/21 | | | | 8,021 | | | | | — | |
USD | | | 915,533 | | | THB | | | 29,437,141 | | | HSB | | 07/16/21 | | | | — | | | | | 2,906 | |
Total gross unrealized appreciation/depreciation on Forward Currency Contracts | | | $ | 1,063,079 | | | | $ | 1,226,413 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 49
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Notes to Portfolios of Investments
June 30, 2021 (unaudited)
(*) | Non-income producing security. |
(‡) | Security valued using Level 2 inputs, based on reference to a similar security which was trading on an active market, under GAAP hierarchy — see Note 8 in the Notes to Financial Statements. |
(#) | Pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, these securities may only be traded among “qualified institutional buyers.” At June 30, 2021, these securities amounted to 0.7% of net assets of Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio. |
(§) | Variable and floating rate securities are securities for which interest rate changes are based on changes in a designated base rate. The rates shown are those in effect on June 30, 2021. |
(») | The Portfolio, at all times, maintains portfolio securities in sufficient amount to cover its obligations related to investments in forward currency contracts. |
Security Abbreviations:
ADR | — American Depositary Receipt |
GDR | — Global Depositary Receipt |
LIBOR | — London Interbank Offered Rate |
PJSC | — Public Joint Stock Company |
REIT | — Real Estate Investment Trust |
SOFR | — Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
Currency Abbreviations:
AUD | — Australian Dollar | JPY | — Japanese Yen | |
CAD | — Canadian Dollar | KRW | — South Korean Won | |
CHF | — Swiss Franc | MXN | — Mexican New Peso | |
CLP | — Chilean Peso | NOK | — Norwegian Krone | |
CNH | — Chinese Yuan Renminbi | NZD | — New Zealand Dollar | |
COP | — Colombian Peso | PEN | — Peruvian Nuevo Sol | |
CZK | — Czech Koruna | PHP | — Philippine Peso | |
DKK | — Danish Krone | PLN | — Polish Zloty | |
EUR | — Euro | RON | — New Romanian Leu | |
GBP | — British Pound Sterling | RUB | — Russian Ruble | |
HKD | — Hong-Kong Dollar | SEK | — Swedish Krone | |
HUF | — Hungarian Forint | SGD | — Singapore Dollar | |
IDR | — Indonesian Rupiah | THB | — Thai Baht | |
INR | — Indian Rupee | USD | — United States Dollar | |
Counterparty Abbreviations:
CIT | — Citibank NA |
HSB | — HSBC Bank USA NA |
JPM | — JPMorgan Chase Bank NA |
MSC | — Morgan Stanley & Co. |
SSB | — State Street Bank and Trust Co. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
50 Semi-Annual Report
Portfolio holdings by industry (as a percentage of net assets), for those Portfolios previously presented by country:
Industry† | | Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio | | | Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio | | | Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common & Preferred Stocks and Corporate Bonds | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Aerospace & Defense | | | — | % | | | 2.9 | % | | | 1.1 | % |
Air Freight & Logistics | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.6 | |
Airlines | | | — | | | | 1.4 | | | | — | |
Auto Components | | | 1.5 | | | | 1.4 | | | | 0.2 | |
Automobiles | | | 2.0 | | | | 3.3 | | | | 1.8 | |
Banks | | | 24.7 | | | | 7.7 | | | | 4.4 | |
Beverages | | | — | | | | 3.9 | | | | 2.5 | |
Biotechnology | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.2 | |
Building Products | | | — | | | | 1.0 | | | | 0.7 | |
Capital Markets | | | — | | | | 2.2 | | | | 3.6 | |
Chemicals | | | 1.9 | | | | 5.1 | | | | 0.6 | |
Commercial Services & Suppliers | | | 1.1 | | | | — | | | | 0.5 | |
Communications Equipment | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.8 | |
Construction & Engineering | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.1 | |
Construction Materials | | | 2.9 | | | | — | | | | 0.4 | |
Consumer Finance | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.2 | |
Containers & Packaging | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.6 | |
Diversified Consumer Services | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.3 | |
Diversified Financial Services | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.2 | |
Diversified Telecommunication Services | | | 2.3 | | | | 1.2 | | | | 1.6 | |
Electric Utilities | | | 0.7 | | | | 2.0 | | | | 0.6 | |
Electrical Equipment | | | — | | | | 4.2 | | | | 1.3 | |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | | | 2.5 | | | | 3.2 | | | | 0.9 | |
Entertainment | | | — | | | | 3.2 | | | | 1.1 | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1.5 | |
Food & Staples Retailing | | | 1.0 | | | | 2.4 | | | | 1.2 | |
Food Products | | | 0.8 | | | | 0.6 | | | | 0.6 | |
Gas Utilities | | | — | | | | 1.1 | | | | 0.2 | |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | | | — | | | | 2.9 | | | | 0.9 | |
Health Care Providers & Services | | | 2.9 | | | | — | | | | 2.4 | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | | | 0.7 | | | | — | | | | 1.7 | |
Household Durables | | | 1.4 | | | | — | | | | 0.5 | |
Household Products | | | 0.7 | | | | — | | | | 1.3 | |
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers | | | 0.8 | | | | 0.7 | | | | 0.3 | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 1.1 | | | | — | | | | 0.4 | |
Insurance | | | 3.4 | | | | 4.1 | | | | 2.3 | |
Interactive Media & Services | | | — | | | | 1.2 | | | | 2.9 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 51
Industry† | | Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio | | | Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio | | | Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | | | — | % | | | — | % | | | 1.6 | % |
IT Services | | | 1.3 | | | | 3.0 | | | | 2.6 | |
Leisure Products | | | — | | | | 1.9 | | | | 0.6 | |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2.2 | |
Machinery | | | 0.7 | | | | 4.1 | | | | 1.7 | |
Marine | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.1 | |
Media | | | — | | | | 1.3 | | | | 0.8 | |
Metals & Mining | | | 3.8 | | | | 1.4 | | | | 0.9 | |
Multiline Retail | | | — | | | | 1.0 | | | | 0.9 | |
Multi-Utilities | | | — | | | | 2.3 | | | | 0.3 | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | | | 10.1 | | | | 4.5 | | | | 1.7 | |
Paper & Forest Products | | | 0.8 | | | | — | | | | 0.1 | |
Personal Products | | | 3.4 | | | | 1.6 | | | | 0.5 | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | — | | | | 5.7 | | | | 3.9 | |
Professional Services | | | — | | | | 4.1 | | | | 1.6 | |
Real Estate Management & Development | | | 1.0 | | | | 3.3 | | | | 0.4 | |
Road & Rail | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.6 | |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | | | 10.6 | | | | 1.2 | | | | 3.6 | |
Software | | | — | | | | — | | | | 5.2 | |
Specialty Retail | | | 1.2 | | | | 1.5 | | | | 2.0 | |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | | | 5.9 | | | | 1.4 | | | | 3.1 | |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | | | — | | | | 1.8 | | | | 1.0 | |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.1 | |
Tobacco | | | 1.2 | | | | — | | | | 0.5 | |
Trading Companies & Distributors | | | — | | | | 1.6 | | | | 0.3 | |
Transportation Infrastructure | | | 1.7 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services | | | 4.5 | | | | — | | | | 0.5 | | |
Subtotal | | | 98.6 | | | | 97.4 | | | | 77.3 | |
Exchange Traded Funds | | | — | | | | — | | | | 5.0 | |
Foreign Government Obligations | | | — | | | | — | | | | 12.8 | |
Supranationals | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2.4 | |
US Municipal Bonds | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.9 | |
US Treasury Securities | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.3 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | 2.5 | | | | 2.3 | | | | 1.2 | | |
Total Investments | | | 101.1 | % | | | 99.7 | % | | | 99.9 | % | |
† | Industry classifications may be different than those used for compliance monitoring purposes. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
52 Semi-Annual Report
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Semi-Annual Report 53
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Statements of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)
| | Lazard | | Lazard | |
| | Retirement | | Retirement | |
| | Emerging Markets | | International | |
June 30, 2021 | | Equity Portfolio | | Equity Portfolio | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments in securities, at fair value | | | $ | 496,825,718 | | | | $ | 143,959,245 | | |
Cash | | | | — | | | | | — | | |
Foreign currency, at fair value | | | | 48,855 | | | | | 150,710 | | |
Receivables for: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends and interest | | | | 2,224,717 | | | | | 830,008 | | |
Investments sold | | | | 95,114 | | | | | — | | |
Capital stock sold | | | | 92,070 | | | | | 320,118 | | |
Gross unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts | | | | — | | | | | — | | |
Total assets | | | | 499,286,474 | | | | | 145,260,081 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Payables for: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign capital gains taxes | | | | 1,171,847 | | | | | 443 | | |
Management fees | | | | 416,443 | | | | | 76,241 | | |
Accrued custodian fees | | | | 177,442 | | | | | 42,442 | | |
Accrued distribution fees | | | | 80,168 | | | | | 30,253 | | |
Accrued professional services | | | | 37,412 | | | | | 49,256 | | |
Accrued directors’ fees | | | | 8,929 | | | | | 3,165 | | |
Investments purchased | | | | 5,295,987 | | | | | 627,195 | | |
Capital stock redeemed | | | | 290,055 | | | | | 28,040 | | |
Gross unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts | | | | — | | | | | — | | |
Other accrued expenses and payables | | | | 204,246 | | | | | 38,529 | | |
Total liabilities | | | | 7,682,529 | | | | | 895,564 | | |
Net assets | | | $ | 491,603,945 | | | | $ | 144,364,517 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | |
Paid in capital | | | $ | 424,439,266 | | | | $ | 106,068,585 | | |
Distributable earnings (Accumulated loss) | | | | 67,164,679 | | | | | 38,295,932 | | |
Net assets | | | $ | 491,603,945 | | | | $ | 144,364,517 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets | | | $ | 372,221,904 | | | | $ | 144,364,517 | | |
Shares of capital stock outstanding* | | | | 15,908,905 | | | | | 12,893,520 | | |
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share | | | $ | 23.40 | | | | $ | 11.20 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Investor Shares | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets | | | $ | 119,382,041 | | | | | — | | |
Shares of capital stock outstanding* | | | | 5,147,972 | | | | | — | | |
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share | | | $ | 23.19 | | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of investments in securities | | | $ | 395,125,976 | | | | $ | 119,319,754 | | |
Cost of foreign currency | | | $ | 48,897 | | | | $ | 150,761 | | |
* | $0.001 par value, 2,550,000,000 shares authorized for the Portfolios in total. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
54 Semi-Annual Report
| Lazard | | Lazard |
| Retirement | | Retirement |
| US Small-Mid Cap | | Global Dynamic |
| Equity Portfolio | | Multi-Asset Portfolio |
| | | | | | | | |
| $ | 54,800,244 | | | $ | 348,044,983 | | |
| | — | | | | 4,756 | | |
| | — | | | | 891,527 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | 36,997 | | | | 1,181,131 | | |
| | 187,289 | | | | 1,112,041 | | |
| | 88,920 | | | | 148,572 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | | 1,063,079 | | |
| | 55,113,450 | | | | 352,446,089 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | | — | | |
| | 27,059 | | | | 184,861 | | |
| | 20,034 | | | | 108,696 | | |
| | 11,376 | | | | 72,335 | | |
| | 22,489 | | | | 27,876 | | |
| | 1,953 | | | | 5,727 | | |
| | 182,210 | | | | 2,064,775 | | |
| | 102,130 | | | | 274,145 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | | 1,226,413 | | |
| | 15,683 | | | | 53,870 | | |
| | 382,934 | | | | 4,018,698 | | |
| $ | 54,730,516 | | | $ | 348,427,391 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| $ | 36,205,519 | | | $ | 281,899,044 | | |
| | 18,524,997 | | | | 66,528,347 | | |
| $ | 54,730,516 | | | $ | 348,427,391 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| $ | 54,730,516 | | | $ | 348,046,353 | | |
| | 2,874,232 | | | | 24,278,353 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| $ | 19.04 | | | $ | 14.34 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | $ | 381,038 | | |
| | — | | | | 26,548 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | $ | 14.35 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| $ | 42,874,115 | | | $ | 292,670,332 | | |
| | — | | | $ | 895,961 | | |
Semi-Annual Report 55
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Statements of Operations (unaudited)
| | | Lazard | | | | Lazard | |
| | | Retirement | | | | Retirement | |
| | | Emerging Markets | | | | International | |
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | | | Equity Portfolio | | | | Equity Portfolio | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Income (Loss) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends^ | | | $ | 8,952,976 | | | | $ | 2,853,951 | | |
Interest | | | | — | | | | | — | | |
Total investment income* | | | | 8,952,976 | | | | | 2,853,951 | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | |
Management fees (Note 3) | | | | 2,432,028 | | | | | 529,383 | | |
Distribution fees (Service Shares) | | | | 462,244 | | | | | 176,461 | | |
Custodian fees | | | | 131,085 | | | | | 44,684 | | |
Professional services | | | | 123,609 | | | | | 75,468 | | |
Shareholders’ reports | | | | 71,506 | | | | | 17,887 | | |
Administration fees | | | | 41,230 | | | | | 18,172 | | |
Shareholders’ services | | | | 17,845 | | | | | 6,961 | | |
Directors’ fees and expenses | | | | 15,078 | | | | | 5,799 | | |
Other | | | | 12,691 | | | | | 3,140 | | |
Total gross expenses | | | | 3,307,316 | | | | | 877,955 | | |
Management fees waived and expenses reimbursed | | | | — | | | | | (77,073 | ) | |
Total net expenses | | | | 3,307,316 | | | | | 800,882 | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | | 5,645,660 | | | | | 2,053,069 | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments** | | | | 25,343,998 | | | | | 8,934,614 | | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | | (134,699 | ) | | | | 329 | | |
Forward currency contracts | | | | — | | | | | — | | |
Total net realized gain (loss) | | | | 25,209,299 | | | | | 8,934,943 | | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments† | | | | 19,214,012 | | | | | (3,581,585 | ) | |
Foreign currency translations | | | | 19,366 | | | | | (26,470 | ) | |
Forward currency contracts | | | | — | | | | | — | | |
Total net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | | | 19,233,378 | | | | | (3,608,055 | ) | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | | | | 44,442,677 | | | | | 5,326,888 | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | $ | 50,088,337 | | | | $ | 7,379,957 | | |
*^ Net of foreign withholding taxes of | | | $ | 1,446,797 | | | | $ | (88,543 | ) | |
** Net of foreign capital gains taxes of | | | $ | 243,035 | | | | $ | — | | |
† Includes net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of foreign capital gains taxes of | | | $ | (795,963 | ) | | | $ | (443 | ) | |
^ | Dividend income for Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio includes $335,609 of refunds received as a result of European Union dividend withholding tax reclaim filings. The amount of foreign withholding taxes without such refunds from European Union dividend withholding tax reclaim filings would have been $247,066. Refer to Note 2b in the Notes to Financial Statements for further information. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
56 Semi-Annual Report
| Lazard | | Lazard |
| Retirement | | Retirement |
| US Small-Mid Cap | | Global Dynamic |
| Equity Portfolio | | Multi-Asset Portfolio |
| | | | | | | | |
| $ | 240,674 | | | $ | 2,077,357 | | |
| | — | | | | 1,344,245 | | |
| | 240,674 | | | | 3,421,602 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | 203,307 | | | | 1,382,409 | | |
| | 67,769 | | | | 431,683 | | |
| | 16,268 | | | | 76,597 | | |
| | 35,523 | | | | 93,306 | | |
| | 7,995 | | | | 28,387 | | |
| | 12,737 | | | | 32,430 | | |
| | 7,323 | | | | 11,691 | | |
| | 3,831 | | | | 11,559 | | |
| | 2,164 | | | | 8,386 | | |
| | 356,917 | | | | 2,076,448 | | |
| | (45,180 | ) | | | (262,228 | ) | |
| | 311,737 | | | | 1,814,220 | | |
| | (71,063 | ) | | | 1,607,382 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | 7,119,090 | | | | 12,950,058 | | |
| | — | | | | (260,014 | ) | |
| | — | | | | (1,903,180 | ) | |
| | 7,119,090 | | | | 10,786,864 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | 1,427,603 | | | | 7,501,297 | | |
| | — | | | | (44,334 | ) | |
| | — | | | | 326,873 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | 1,427,603 | | | | 7,783,836 | | |
| | 8,546,693 | | | | 18,570,700 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| $ | 8,475,630 | | | $ | 20,178,082 | | |
| $ | — | | | $ | 137,153 | | |
| $ | — | | | $ | — | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| $ | — | | | $ | — | | |
Semi-Annual Report 57
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Statements of Changes in Net Assets (unaudited)
| | Lazard Retirement | |
| | Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio | |
| | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | |
| | June 30, 2021 | | December 31, | |
| | (unaudited) | | 2020 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | $ | 5,645,660 | | | | $ | 9,311,548 | | |
Net realized gain (loss) | | | | 25,209,299 | | | | | (25,542,063 | ) | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | | | 19,233,378 | | | | | (2,992,046 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | | 50,088,337 | | | | | (19,222,561 | ) | |
Distributions to shareholders (Note 2(e)) | | | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income and net realized gains | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | — | | | | | (8,607,423 | ) | |
Investor Shares | | | | — | | | | | (3,358,135 | ) | |
Net decrease in net assets resulting from distributions | | | | — | | | | | (11,965,558 | ) | |
Capital stock transactions | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net proceeds from sales | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | 26,681,510 | | | | | 63,205,948 | | |
Investor Shares | | | | 7,107,733 | | | | | 22,383,429 | | |
Net proceeds from reinvestment of distributions | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | — | | | | | 8,607,423 | | |
Investor Shares | | | | — | | | | | 3,358,135 | | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | (57,307,743 | ) | | | | (98,961,364 | ) | |
Investor Shares | | | | (24,989,588 | ) | | | | (61,959,254 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital stock transactions | | | | (48,508,088 | ) | | | | (63,365,683 | ) | |
Total increase (decrease) in net assets | | | | 1,580,249 | | | | | (94,553,802 | ) | |
Net assets at beginning of period | | | | 490,023,696 | | | | | 584,577,498 | | |
Net assets at end of period | | | $ | 491,603,945 | | | | $ | 490,023,696 | | |
Shares issued and redeemed | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding at beginning of period | | | | 17,272,471 | | | | | 18,647,347 | | |
Shares sold | | | | 1,195,651 | | | | | 3,605,190 | | |
Shares issued to shareholders from reinvestment of distributions | | | | — | | | | | 491,011 | | |
Shares redeemed | | | | (2,559,217 | ) | | | | (5,471,077 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) | | | | (1,363,566 | ) | | | | (1,374,876 | ) | |
Shares outstanding at end of period | | | | 15,908,905 | | | | | 17,272,471 | | |
Investor Shares | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding at beginning of period | | | | 5,987,048 | | | | | 8,005,599 | | |
Shares sold | | | | 315,513 | | | | | 1,300,059 | | |
Shares issued to shareholders from reinvestment of distributions | | | | — | | | | | 193,664 | | |
Shares redeemed | | | | (1,154,589 | ) | | | | (3,512,274 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) | | | | (839,076 | ) | | | | (2,018,551 | ) | |
Shares outstanding at end of period | | | | 5,147,972 | | | | | 5,987,048 | | |
* | Shares and share transactions prior to December 4, 2020 were adjusted to reflect a 1:2 reverse shares split. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
58 Semi-Annual Report
| Lazard Retirement | | Lazard Retirement | |
| International Equity Portfolio | | US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio | |
| Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | |
| June 30, 2021 | | December 31, | | June 30, 2021 | | December 31, | |
| (unaudited) | | 2020 | | (unaudited) | | 2020 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| $ | 2,053,069 | | | $ | 1,174,575 | | | $ | (71,063 | ) | | $ | 75,357 | | |
| | 8,934,943 | | | | 1,868,337 | | | | 7,119,090 | | | | (440,191 | ) | |
| | (3,608,055 | ) | | | 7,037,577 | | | | 1,427,603 | | | | 2,826,907 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 7,379,957 | | | | 10,080,489 | | | | 8,475,630 | | | | 2,462,073 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | | (7,373,572 | ) | | | — | | | | (3,542,237 | ) | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | — | | | | (7,373,572 | ) | | | — | | | | (3,542,237 | ) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 11,336,198 | | | | 14,335,235 | | | | 3,147,133 | | | | 10,633,780 | | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | | 7,373,572 | | | | — | | | | 3,542,237 | | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (19,927,173 | ) | | | (31,565,292 | ) | | | (8,183,040 | ) | | | (21,265,117 | ) | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (8,590,975 | ) | | | (9,856,485 | ) | | | (5,035,907 | ) | | | (7,089,100 | ) | |
| | (1,211,018 | ) | | | (7,149,568 | ) | | | 3,439,723 | | | | (8,169,264 | ) | |
| | 145,575,535 | | | | 152,725,103 | | | | 51,290,793 | | | | 59,460,057 | | |
| $ | 144,364,517 | | | $ | 145,575,535 | | | $ | 54,730,516 | | | $ | 51,290,793 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 13,703,186 | | | | 14,723,964 | | | | 3,153,046 | | | | 3,613,885 | * | |
| | 1,019,785 | | | | 1,568,228 | | | | 171,231 | | | | 743,293 | * | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | | 787,758 | | | | — | | | | 260,070 | * | |
| | (1,829,451 | ) | | | (3,376,764 | ) | | | (450,045 | ) | | | (1,464,202 | )* | |
| | (809,666 | ) | | | (1,020,778 | ) | | | (278,814 | ) | | | (460,839 | )* | |
| | 12,893,520 | | | | 13,703,186 | | | | 2,874,232 | | | | 3,153,046 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
| | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Semi-Annual Report 59
| | Lazard Retirement | |
| | Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio | |
| | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | |
| | June 30, 2021 | | December 31, | |
| | (unaudited) | | 2020 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operations | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | $ | 1,607,382 | | | | $ | 2,683,360 | | |
Net realized gain (loss) | | | | 10,786,864 | | | | | (1,348,457 | ) | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | | | 7,783,836 | | | | | (165,745 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | | 20,178,082 | | | | | 1,169,158 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributions to shareholders (Note 2(e)) | | | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income and net realized gains | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | — | | | | | (6,026,173 | ) | |
Investor Shares | | | | — | | | | | (2,429 | ) | |
Net decrease in net assets resulting from distributions | | | | — | | | | | (6,028,602 | ) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital stock transactions | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net proceeds from sales | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | 8,671,710 | | | | | 26,196,032 | | |
Investor Shares | | | | 256,729 | | | | | 208,461 | | |
Net proceeds from reinvestment of distributions | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | — | | | | | 6,026,173 | | |
Investor Shares | | | | — | | | | | 2,429 | | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | (35,643,505 | ) | | | | (73,198,221 | ) | |
Investor Shares | | | | (90,360 | ) | | | | (46,722 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital stock transactions | | | | (26,805,426 | ) | | | | (40,811,848 | ) | |
Total increase (decrease) in net assets | | | | (6,627,344 | ) | | | | (45,671,292 | ) | |
Net assets at beginning of period | | | | 355,054,735 | | | | | 400,726,027 | | |
Net assets at end of period | | | $ | 348,427,391 | | | | $ | 355,054,735 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares issued and redeemed | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding at beginning of period | | | | 26,229,857 | | | | | 29,362,855 | | |
Shares sold | | | | 624,188 | | | | | 2,145,528 | | |
Shares issued to shareholders from reinvestment of distributions | | | | — | | | | | 474,493 | | |
Shares redeemed | | | | (2,575,692 | ) | | | | (5,753,019 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) | | | | (1,951,504 | ) | | | | (3,132,998 | ) | |
Shares outstanding at end of period | | | | 24,278,353 | | | | | 26,229,857 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Investor Shares | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding at beginning of period | | | | 14,719 | | | | | 2,331 | | |
Shares sold | | | | 18,226 | | | | | 15,925 | | |
Shares issued to shareholders from reinvestment of distributions | | | | — | | | | | 191 | | |
Shares redeemed | | | | (6,397 | ) | | | | (3,728 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) | | | | 11,829 | | | | | 12,388 | | |
Shares outstanding at end of period | | | | 26,548 | | | | | 14,719 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
60 Semi-Annual Report
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Financial Highlights (unaudited)
LAZARD RETIREMENT EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY PORTFOLIO
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding | | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | |
throughout each period | | 6/30/21† | | 12/31/20 | | | 12/31/19 | | | 12/31/18 | | | 12/31/17 | | | 12/31/16 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $ | 21.12 | | | $ | 22.00 | | | $ | 18.80 | | | $ | 23.59 | | | $ | 18.78 | | | $ | 15.70 | |
Income (Loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.36 | | | | 0.43 | | | | 0.42 | | | | 0.31 | | | | 0.23 | ^ |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | | | 2.03 | | | | (0.75 | ) | | | 2.95 | | | | (4.80 | ) | | | 4.89 | | | | 3.04 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 2.28 | | | | (0.39 | ) | | | 3.38 | | | | (4.38 | ) | | | 5.20 | | | | 3.27 | |
Less distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | | | | (0.49 | ) | | | (0.18 | ) | | | (0.41 | ) | | | (0.39 | ) | | | (0.19 | ) |
Total distributions | | | — | | | | (0.49 | ) | | | (0.18 | ) | | | (0.41 | ) | | | (0.39 | ) | | | (0.19 | ) |
Net asset value, end of period | | $ | 23.40 | | | $ | 21.12 | | | $ | 22.00 | | | $ | 18.80 | | | $ | 23.59 | | | $ | 18.78 | |
Total Return (b) | | | 10.80 | % | | | -1.32 | % | | | 18.14 | % | | | -18.56 | % | | | 27.76 | % | | | 20.84 | %^ |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios and Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 372,222 | | | $ | 364,846 | | | $ | 410,188 | | | $ | 403,949 | | | $ | 942,572 | | | $ | 880,047 | |
Ratios to average net assets (c): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 1.42 | % | | | 1.43 | % | | | 1.42 | % | | | 1.36 | % | | | 1.38 | % | | | 1.37 | %^ |
Gross expenses | | | 1.42 | % | | | 1.43 | % | | | 1.43 | % | | | 1.36 | % | | | 1.38 | % | | | 1.38 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 2.26 | % | | | 1.95 | % | | | 2.10 | % | | | 1.89 | % | | | 1.45 | % | | | 1.29 | %^ |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 19 | % | | | 27 | % | | | 19 | % | | | 16 | % | | | 10 | % | | | 12 | % |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 61
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding | | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | |
throughout each period | | 6/30/21† | | 12/31/20 | | | 12/31/19 | | | 12/31/18 | | | 12/31/17 | | | 12/31/16 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investor Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $ | 20.91 | | | $ | 21.78 | | | $ | 18.58 | | | $ | 23.31 | | | $ | 18.56 | | | $ | 15.51 | |
Income (Loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | | 0.28 | | | | 0.41 | | | | 0.47 | | | | 0.45 | | | | 0.37 | | | | 0.26 | ^ |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | | | 2.00 | | | | (0.75 | ) | | | 2.91 | | | | (4.72 | ) | | | 4.83 | | | | 3.02 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 2.28 | | | | (0.34 | ) | | | 3.38 | | | | (4.27 | ) | | | 5.20 | | | | 3.28 | |
Less distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | | | | (0.53 | ) | | | (0.18 | ) | | | (0.46 | ) | | | (0.45 | ) | | | (0.23 | ) |
Total distributions | | | — | | | | (0.53 | ) | | | (0.18 | ) | | | (0.46 | ) | | | (0.45 | ) | | | (0.23 | ) |
Net asset value, end of period | | $ | 23.19 | | | $ | 20.91 | | | $ | 21.78 | | | $ | 18.58 | | | $ | 23.31 | | | $ | 18.56 | |
Total Return (b) | | | 10.90 | % | | | -1.03 | % | | | 18.36 | % | | | -18.32 | % | | | 28.07 | % | | | 21.18 | %^ |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios and Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 119,382 | | | $ | 125,178 | | | $ | 174,389 | | | $ | 165,177 | | | $ | 238,656 | | | $ | 187,408 | |
Ratios to average net assets (c): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 1.17 | % | | | 1.18 | % | | | 1.18 | % | | | 1.11 | % | | | 1.14 | % | | | 1.12 | %^ |
Gross expenses | | | 1.17 | % | | | 1.18 | % | | | 1.18 | % | | | 1.11 | % | | | 1.14 | % | | | 1.14 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 2.51 | % | | | 2.28 | % | | | 2.37 | % | | | 2.09 | % | | | 1.74 | % | | | 1.52 | %^ |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 19 | % | | | 27 | % | | | 19 | % | | | 16 | % | | | 10 | % | | | 12 | % |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
62 Semi-Annual Report
† | Unaudited |
^ | Refer to Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements for discussion of prior period custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed to the Portfolio in the period. The amount of the reimbursement was less than $0.005 per share. There was a 0.06% impact on the total return of the Portfolio. There was a 0.02% impact on the net expenses and net investment income (loss) ratios of the Portfolio. |
(a) | Net investment income (loss) has been computed using the average shares method. |
(b) | Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. Return for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(c) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 63
LAZARD RETIREMENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding | | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | |
throughout each period | | 6/30/21† | | 12/31/20 | | | 12/31/19 | | | 12/31/18 | | | 12/31/17 | | | 12/31/16 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $ | 10.62 | | | $ | 10.37 | | | $ | 8.60 | | | $ | 10.83 | | | $ | 11.57 | | | $ | 12.28 | |
Income (Loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.16 | * | | | 0.11 | | | | 0.20 | | | | 0.18 | | | | 0.31 | | | | 0.19 | ^ |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | | | 0.42 | | | | 0.68 | | | | 1.60 | | | | (1.70 | ) | | | 2.24 | | | | (0.71 | ) |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.58 | | | | 0.79 | | | | 1.80 | | | | (1.52 | ) | | | 2.55 | | | | (0.52 | ) |
Less distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | | | | (0.22 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.17 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) |
Net realized gains | | | — | | | | (0.32 | ) | | | — | | | | (0.54 | ) | | | (2.96 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) |
Total distributions | | | — | | | | (0.54 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.71 | ) | | | (3.29 | ) | | | (0.19 | ) |
Net asset value, end of period | | $ | 11.20 | | | $ | 10.62 | | | $ | 10.37 | | | $ | 8.60 | | | $ | 10.83 | | | $ | 11.57 | |
Total Return (a) | | | 5.46 | %* | | | 8.24 | % | | | 21.00 | % | | | -13.91 | %** | | | 22.33 | % | | | -4.29 | %^ |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios and Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 144,365 | | | $ | 145,576 | | | $ | 152,725 | | | $ | 169,698 | | | $ | 221,307 | | | $ | 653,014 | |
Ratios to average net assets (b): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 1.13 | % | | | 1.17 | % | | | 1.12 | % | | | 1.12 | % | | | 1.11 | % | | | 1.08 | %^ |
Gross expenses | | | 1.24 | % | | | 1.27 | % | | | 1.20 | % | | | 1.14 | % | | | 1.12 | % | | | 1.09 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 2.91 | %* | | | 0.88 | % | | | 1.87 | % | | | 1.62 | % | | | 1.11 | % | | | 1.59 | %^ |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 23 | % | | | 33 | % | | | 32 | % | | | 33 | % | | | 44 | % | | | 28 | % |
† | Unaudited. |
^ | Refer to Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements for discussion of prior period custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed to the Portfolio in the period. The amount of the reimbursement was less than $0.005 per share. There was no impact on the total return of the Portfolio. There was a 0.01% impact on the net expenses and net investment income (loss) ratios of the Portfolio. |
* | Includes $0.03 of refunds received as a result European Union dividend withholding tax reclaims filings. There was a 0.28% impact on the total return of the Portfolio. There was a 0.43% impact the net investment income (loss) ratio of the Portfolio. Refer to Note 2b in the Notes to Financial Statements for further information. |
** | The Portfolio received settlement proceeds from a foreign exchange trading class action lawsuit. The proceeds from the settlement represented a realized gain and was recorded in the period received. There was a 0.10% impact on the total return of the Portfolio. |
(a) | Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Certain expenses of the Portfolio may have been waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, State Street or DST; without such waiver/reimbursement of expenses, the Portfolio’s returns would have been lower. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. Return for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(b) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
64 Semi-Annual Report
LAZARD RETIREMENT US SMALL-MID CAP EQUITY PORTFOLIO
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding | | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | |
throughout each period | | 6/30/21† | | 12/31/20* | | | 12/31/19* | | | 12/31/18* | | | 12/31/17* | | | 12/31/16* | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $ | 16.27 | | | $ | 16.46 | | | $ | 12.92 | | | $ | 16.66 | | | $ | 16.18 | | | $ | 14.78 | |
Income (Loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | 0.03 | | | | 0.04 | | | | 0.02 | | | | 0.02 | | | | 0.06 | ^ |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | | | 2.79 | | | | 0.87 | | | | 3.80 | | | | (2.08 | ) | | | 2.14 | | | | 2.18 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 2.77 | | | | 0.90 | | | | 3.84 | | | | (2.06 | ) | | | 2.16 | | | | 2.24 | |
Less distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | — | | | | — | (a) | | | (0.06 | ) | | | — | |
Net realized gains | | | — | | | | (1.06 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (1.68 | ) | | | (1.62 | ) | | | (0.84 | ) |
Total distributions | | | — | | | | (1.09 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (1.68 | ) | | | (1.68 | ) | | | (0.84 | ) |
Net asset value, end of period | | $ | 19.04 | | | $ | 16.27 | | | $ | 16.46 | | | $ | 12.92 | | | $ | 16.66 | | | $ | 16.18 | |
Total Return (b) | | | 17.03 | % | | | 6.76 | % | | | 29.93 | % | | | -13.24 | % | | | 13.95 | % | | | 15.78 | %^ |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios and Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 54,731 | | | $ | 51,291 | | | $ | 59,460 | | | $ | 51,793 | | | $ | 66,869 | | | $ | 65,478 | |
Ratios to average net assets (c): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 1.15 | % | | | 1.15 | % | | | 1.15 | % | | | 1.15 | % | | | 1.19 | % | | | 1.25 | %^ |
Gross expenses | | | 1.32 | % | | | 1.33 | % | | | 1.27 | % | | | 1.23 | % | | | 1.25 | % | | | 1.32 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | -0.26 | % | | | 0.15 | % | | | 0.27 | % | | | 0.14 | % | | | 0.09 | % | | | 0.46 | %^ |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 35 | % | | | 71 | % | | | 60 | % | | | 81 | % | | | 79 | % | | | 94 | % |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 65
† | Unaudited. |
* | On December 4, 2020, the Portfolio effected a 1:2 reverse share split. All per share data prior to December 4, 2020 has been adjusted to reflect the reverse share split. |
^ | Refer to Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements for discussion of prior period custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed to the Portfolio in the period. The amount of the reimbursement was less than $0.005 per share. There was no impact on the total return of the Portfolio. The net expenses and net investment income (loss) ratios of the Portfolio would be unchanged as the change to period custodian fees was offset against current period expense waivers/reimbursements with no impact to net expenses or net investment income (loss). |
(a) | Amount is less than $0.01 per share. |
(b) | Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Certain expenses of the Portfolio may have been waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, State Street or DST; without such waiver/reimbursement of expenses, the Portfolio’s returns would have been lower. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. Return for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(c) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
66 Semi-Annual Report
LAZARD RETIREMENT GLOBAL DYNAMIC MULTI-ASSET PORTFOLIO
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding | | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | |
throughout each period | | 6/30/21† | | 12/31/20 | | | 12/31/19 | | | 12/31/18 | | | 12/31/17 | | | 12/31/16 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $ | 13.53 | | | $ | 13.65 | | | $ | 11.61 | | | $ | 13.49 | | | $ | 11.82 | | | $ | 11.51 | |
Income (Loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | | 0.06 | | | | 0.10 | | | | 0.16 | | | | 0.16 | | | | 0.17 | | | | 0.14 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | | | 0.75 | | | | — | (b) | | | 1.91 | | | | (1.06 | ) | | | 2.25 | | | | 0.24 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.81 | | | | 0.10 | | | | 2.07 | | | | (0.90 | ) | | | 2.42 | | | | 0.38 | |
Less distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.18 | ) | | | — | | | | (0.03 | ) |
Net realized gains | | | — | | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | (0.80 | ) | | | (0.75 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) |
Total distributions | | | — | | | | (0.22 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.98 | ) | | | (0.75 | ) | | | (0.07 | ) |
Net asset value, end of period | | $ | 14.34 | | | $ | 13.53 | | | $ | 13.65 | | | $ | 11.61 | | | $ | 13.49 | | | $ | 11.82 | |
Total Return (c) | | | 5.99 | % | | | 0.81 | % | | | 17.79 | % | | | -6.57 | % | | | 20.53 | % | | | 3.30 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios and Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 348,046 | | | $ | 354,856 | | | $ | 400,694 | | | $ | 386,902 | | | $ | 384,208 | | | $ | 293,286 | |
Ratios to average net assets (d): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 1.05 | % | | | 1.05 | % | | | 1.05 | % | | | 1.05 | % | | | 1.05 | % | | | 1.05 | % |
Gross expenses | | | 1.20 | % | | | 1.22 | % | | | 1.20 | % | | | 1.17 | % | | | 1.19 | % | | | 1.25 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 0.93 | % | | | 0.75 | % | | | 1.23 | % | | | 1.22 | % | | | 1.28 | % | | | 1.23 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 42 | % | | | 177 | % | | | 115 | % | | | 110 | % | | | 104 | % | | | 105 | % |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Semi-Annual Report 67
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding | | Six Months Ended | | Year Ended | | | | | | | | |
throughout each period | | 6/30/21† | | 12/31/20 | | | 12/31/19 | | | 12/31/18* | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investor Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $ | 13.53 | | | $ | 13.65 | | | $ | 11.61 | | | $ | 11.61 | | | | | | | | | |
Income (Loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) (a) | | | 0.08 | | | | 0.12 | | | | 0.14 | | | | — | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | | | 0.74 | | | | — | (b) | | | 1.93 | | | | — | (b) | | | | | | | | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.82 | | | | 0.12 | | | | 2.07 | | | | — | (b) | | | | | | | | |
Less distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | | | | (0.10 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | — | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gains | | | — | | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | — | | | | | | | | | |
Total distributions | | | — | | | | (0.24 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | — | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $ | 14.35 | | | $ | 13.53 | | | $ | 13.65 | | | $ | 11.61 | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return (c) | | | 6.06 | % | | | 0.96 | % | | | 17.79 | % | | | 0.00 | % | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios and Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $ | | | 381 | | | $ | 199 | | | $ | 32 | | | $ | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios to average net assets (d): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 0.90 | % | | | 0.90 | % | | | 0.90 | % | | | 0.00 | % | | | | | | | | |
Gross expenses | | | 2.65 | % | | | 4.14 | % | | | 84.50 | % | | | 0.00 | % | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | 1.11 | % | | | 0.93 | % | | | 1.05 | % | | | 0.00 | % | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 42 | % | | | 177 | % | | | 115 | % | | | NA | | | | | | | | | |
† | Unaudited |
* | The inception date for the Investor Shares was December 31, 2018. |
(a) | Net investment income (loss) has been computed using the average shares method. |
(b) | Amount is less than $0.01 per share. |
(c) | Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Certain expenses of the Portfolio may have been waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, State Street or DST; without such waiver/reimbursement of expenses, the Portfolio’s returns would have been lower. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. Return for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(d) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2021 (unaudited)
1. Organization
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. was incorporated in Maryland on February 13, 1997 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Fund, comprised of twenty-three no-load portfolios (each referred to as a “Portfolio”), is currently offered only to separate accounts established by insurance companies to fund variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Portfolio shares may also be offered to certain qualified pension and retirement plans and accounts permitting accumulation of assets on a tax-deferred basis. Currently only the following four Portfolios, each of which is “diversified”, as defined in the 1940 Act, are offered: Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (“Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio”), Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio (“International Equity Portfolio”), Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio (“US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio”), and Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio (“Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio”). Each of the other nineteen Portfolios had not commenced operations as of June 30, 2021. Effective January 31, 2006, the Fund designated its existing class of shares as Service Shares and commenced offering Investor Shares. Investor Shares and Service Shares are identical, except as to the services offered to, and expenses borne by, each class of shares. As of June 30, 2021, only the Emerging Markets Equity and Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolios had issued Investor Shares.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The accompanying financial statements are presented in conformity with GAAP. The Fund is an investment company and therefore applies specialized accounting guidance in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of the financial statements:
(a) Valuation of Investments—Equity securities traded on a securities exchange or market, including exchange-traded option contracts, rights and warrants, are valued at the last reported sales price (for US listed equity securities) or the closing price (for non-
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US listed equity securities) on the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded or, for securities trading on the NASDAQ National Market System (“NASDAQ”), the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If there is no available closing price for a non-US listed equity security, the last reported sales price is used. If there are no reported sales of a security on the valuation date, the security is valued at the most recent quoted bid price on such date reported by such principal exchange or market. Forward currency contracts generally are valued using quotations from an independent pricing service. Investments in money market funds are valued at the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share.
Bonds and other fixed-income securities that are not exchange-traded are valued on the basis of prices provided by independent pricing services which are based on, among other things, trading in securities with similar characteristics, brokers’ quotations and/or a matrix system which considers such factors as other security prices, yields and maturities.
Calculation of a Portfolio’s NAV may not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of portfolio assets used in such calculation. Trading on certain non-US securities exchanges or markets, such as those in Europe and Asia, ordinarily may be completed before the close of business on each business day in New York (i.e., a day on which the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open). In addition, securities trading in a particular non-US country or countries, may not take place on all business days in New York and on which the NAV of a Portfolio is calculated.
If a significant event materially affecting the value of securities occurs between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded and the time when a Portfolio’s NAV is calculated, or when current market quotations otherwise are determined not to be readily available or reliable (including restricted or other illiquid securities such as certain derivative instruments), such securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by, or in accordance with procedures approved by, the Board of Directors (the “Board”). The fair value of non-US securities may be determined with the assistance of an independent pricing service using correlations between the movement of prices
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of such securities and indices of US securities and other appropriate indicators, such as closing market prices of relevant ADRs or futures contracts. Certain non-US securities may trade on days when a Portfolio is not open for business, thus affecting the value of the Portfolio’s assets on days when Portfolio shareholders may not be able to buy or sell Portfolio shares.
The Valuation Committee of the Investment Manager, which is subject to the oversight of the Board, may evaluate a variety of factors to determine the fair value of securities for which market quotations are determined not to be readily available or reliable. These factors include, but are not limited to, the type of security, the value of comparable securities, observations from financial institutions and relevant news events. Input from the Investment Manager’s portfolio management team also will be considered.
The effect of using fair value pricing is that the NAV of a Portfolio will reflect the affected securities’ values as determined in the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined by the market. Using a fair value pricing methodology to price securities may result in a value that is different from the most recent closing price of a security and from the prices used by other investment companies to calculate their portfolios’ NAVs.
(b) Portfolio Securities Transactions and Investment Income—Portfolio securities transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gain (loss) on sales of investments are recorded on a specific identification basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except for certain dividends from non-US securities where the dividend rate is not available. In such cases, the dividend is recorded as soon as the information is received by a Portfolio. Interest income, if any, is accrued daily. A Portfolio amortizes premiums and accretes discounts on fixed-income securities using the effective yield method.
A Portfolio may be subject to taxes imposed by non-US countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based upon income earned or capital gains (realized and/or unrealized). An affected Portfolio accrues and applies such taxes to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized gains concurrent with the
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recognition of income earned or capital gains (realized and/or unrealized) from the applicable portfolio securities.
As a result of several court cases in certain countries across the European Union, some Portfolios have filed tax reclaims for previously withheld taxes on dividends earned in certain European Union countries. These filings are subject to various administrative proceedings by the local jurisdictions’ tax authorities within the European Union, as well as a number of related judicial proceedings. Uncertainty exists as to the ultimate resolution of these proceedings, the likelihood of receipt of these claims, and the potential timing of payment, and accordingly no amounts are reflected in the financial statements. Such amounts, if and when recorded, would reduce foreign withholding taxes and increase dividend income, potentially resulting in an increase in a Portfolio’s NAV per share.
(c) Foreign Currency Translation and Forward Currency Contracts—The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in US dollars. Portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated daily into US dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. Purchases and sales of securities, income receipts and expense payments are translated into US dollars at the prevailing exchange rates on the respective transaction dates.
The Portfolios do not isolate the portion of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in their market prices. Such fluctuations are included in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments.
A forward currency contract is an agreement between two parties to buy or sell currency at a set price on a future date. Daily fluctuations in the value of forward currency contracts are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward currency contracts. When the contract is closed, the Portfolio records a realized gain (loss) equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions and forward currency contracts represent net foreign currency gain (loss) from forward
72 Semi-Annual Report
currency contracts, disposition of foreign currencies, currency gain (loss) realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amount of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Portfolios’ accounting records and the US dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency reflects the impact of changes in exchange rates on the value of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, during the period.
During the period ended June 30, 2021, the Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio traded in forward currency contracts.
(d) Federal Income Taxes—The Fund’s policy is for each Portfolio to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to distribute all of its taxable income, including any net realized capital gains, to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
At December 31, 2020, the following Portfolio had unused realized capital loss carryovers which, for federal income tax purposes, could be used to offset future realized capital gains. with no expiration date as follows:
Portfolio | | Short-Term | | Long-Term |
| | | | | | | | |
Emerging Markets Equity | | | $13,134,879 | | | | $55,827,050 | |
Global Dynamic Multi-Asset | | | 6,457,455 | | | | — | |
Under current tax law, post-October capital losses or certain late-year ordinary losses, as defined by the Code, within the taxable year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. For the tax year ended December 31, 2020, the Portfolios had no such losses to defer.
For federal income tax purposes, the aggregate cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation, aggregate gross unrealized depreciation and the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) were as follows:
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Portfolio | | Aggregate Cost | | | Aggregate Gross Unrealized Appreciation | | | Aggregate Gross Unrealized Depreciation | | | Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Emerging Markets Equity | | $ | 395,125,976 | | | $ | 119,304,147 | | | $ | 17,604,405 | | | $ | 101,699,742 | |
International Equity | | | 119,319,754 | | | | 27,175,920 | | | | 2,536,429 | | | | 24,639,491 | |
US Small-Mid Cap Equity | | | 42,874,115 | | | | 12,307,196 | | | | 381,067 | | | | 11,926,129 | |
Global Dynamic Multi-Asset | | | 292,670,332 | | | | 59,083,657 | | | | 3,865,717 | | | | 55,217,940 | |
Management has analyzed the Portfolios’ tax positions, and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on tax returns filed for any open tax years (or expected to be taken on future tax returns). Open tax years are those that remain subject to examination and are based on each tax jurisdiction’s statute of limitations. Each Portfolio files a US federal income tax return annually after its fiscal year-end, which is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years from the date of filing.
(e) Dividends and Distributions—For each Portfolio, income dividends if any, will be declared and paid annually. During any particular year, net realized gains from investment transactions in excess of available capital loss carryforwards would be taxable to the Portfolios, if not distributed. The Portfolios intend to declare and distribute these amounts, at least annually, to shareholders, but may be distributed more frequently. Differences in per share distributions, by class, are generally due to differences in class specific expenses.
Income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations which may differ from GAAP. These book/tax differences, which may result in distribution reclassifications, are primarily due to differing treatments of foreign currency transactions, certain expenses, currency straddles, wash sales, passive foreign investment companies, distributions redesignations, return of capital distributions, premium amortization, non-deductible organization expenses and distributions from real estate investment trusts. The book/tax differences relating to
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shareholder distributions may result in reclassifications among certain capital accounts.
(f) Allocation of Expenses—Expenses common to the Fund, The Lazard Funds, Inc., and Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc. (each a “Lazard Fund” and collectively, the “Lazard Fund Complex”), each a registered management investment company advised by the Investment Manager, not directly chargeable to one or more specific Lazard Funds are allocated to the Fund and among its Portfolios primarily on the basis of relative net assets. Expenses of the Fund not directly chargeable to one or more Portfolios are similarly allocated among the Portfolios primarily on the basis of relative net assets. Portfolios accrue distribution and service (12b-1) fees to Service Shares. Each Portfolio’s income, expenses (other than class specific expenses) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated proportionally each day between its classes (if applicable) based upon the relative net assets of each class.
(g) Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make 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 resulting from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(h) Net Asset Value—The NAV per share for each class of each Portfolio is determined each day the NYSE is open for trading as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The Fund will not treat an intraday unscheduled disruption in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE, and will price its shares as of 4:00 p.m., if the particular disruption directly affects only the NYSE. The NAV per share of a class is determined by dividing the value of the total assets of the Portfolio represented by such class, less all liabilities, by the total number of Portfolio shares of such class outstanding.
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3. Investment Management, Administration, Custody, Distribution and Transfer Agency Agreements
The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, has entered into a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Investment Manager. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Investment Manager manages the investment operations of each Portfolio and the assets of each Portfolio including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Portfolio’s investment objective(s), policies, and restrictions, and provides the Portfolios with administrative, operational and compliance assistance services. For its services provided to the Portfolios, the Investment Manager earns a management fee, accrued daily as a percentage of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets and payable by each Portfolio monthly, at the annual rate set forth below:
Portfolio | | Annual Rate | | |
| | | | | |
Emerging Markets Equity | | | 1.00 | % | |
International Equity | | | 0.75 | | |
US Small-Mid Cap Equity | | | 0.75 | | |
Global Dynamic Multi-Asset | | | 0.80 | | |
The Investment Manager has voluntarily agreed to waive its fees and, if necessary, reimburse each Portfolio until April 30, 2022 (or such other date as indicated below) if the aggregate direct expenses of the Portfolio, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short, fees and expenses of “Acquired Funds” (as defined in Form N-1A), fees and expenses related to filing foreign tax reclaims, and extraordinary expenses, on behalf of the Portfolio, exceed the applicable percentage(s) of the value of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets set forth opposite the Portfolio’s name in the table below. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, may deduct from the payment to be made to the Investment Manager under the Management Agreement, or the Investment Manager will bear, such excess expenses.
Portfolio | | Service Shares | | Investor Shares |
| | | | | | | | |
Emerging Markets Equity | | | 1.45 | % | | | 1.20 | % |
International Equity | | | 1.10 | | | | N/A | |
US Small-Mid Cap Equity | | | 1.15 | | | | N/A | |
Global Dynamic Multi-Asset | | | 1.05 | | | | 0.90 | (a) |
(a) This agreement will continue in effect until on April 30, 2031 for Investor Shares.
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During the period ended June 30, 2021, the Investment Manager waived its management fees and reimbursed the following Portfolios for other expenses as follows:
| | Service Shares | | Investor Shares | | |
Portfolio | | Management Fees Waived | | Expenses Reimbursed | | Management Fees Waived | | Expenses Reimbursed | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
International Equity | | $ | 77,073 | | | $ | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
US Small-Mid Cap Equity | | | 45,180 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | |
Global Dynamic Multi-Asset | | | 259,984 | | | | — | | | | $1,025 | | | | $1,219 | | |
The aforementioned waivers and/or reimbursements are not subject to recoupment by the Investment Manager.
State Street serves as the Fund’s custodian and provides the Fund with certain administrative services.
In December 2015, State Street announced that it had identified inconsistencies in the way in which clients were invoiced for custody out-of-pocket expenses from 1998 until 2015. The difference between what was charged and what should have been charged, plus interest, was recorded as a reimbursement when determined in 2016. Pursuant to the expense limitations described above, certain Portfolios experienced management fee waivers during the year ended December 31, 2016. Accordingly, the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses resulted in the reduction in the waiver of management fees for certain Portfolios for the year ended December 31, 2016.
The Fund has a distribution agreement with Lazard Asset Management Securities LLC (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Investment Manager, to serve as the distributor for shares of each Portfolio. The Distributor bears, amongst other expenses, the cost of preparing and distributing materials used by the Distributor in connection with its offering Portfolio shares and other advertising and promotional expenses.
Under a distribution and servicing plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, each Portfolio pays a monthly fee to the Distributor, at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of its Service Shares, for certain distribution activities and
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providing services to holders of the Portfolio’s Service Shares. The Distributor may make payments to participating insurance companies or to other third parties such as financial institutions, securities dealers and other industry professionals in respect of these services.
DST is the Fund’s transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.
4. Directors’ Compensation
Certain Directors of the Fund are officers of the Investment Manager. For 2021, the annual compensation for each Director who is not an affiliated person of the Investment Manager or any of its affiliates was paid by all of the funds in the Lazard Fund Complex is: (1) an annual retainer of $237,000, (2) an additional annual retainer of $33,700 to the lead Independent Director, and (3) an additional annual retainer of $23,500 to the Audit Committee Chair. The Independent Directors (an “Independent Director” is a Director who is not an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund) also may be paid additional fees for participation on ad hoc committees or other work performed on behalf of the Board. The Independent Directors are reimbursed for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses for attending Board and committee meetings or incurred in connection with work performed on behalf of the Board. The Directors do not receive benefits from the Fund pursuant to any pension, retirement or similar arrangement. Independent Directors’ fees and expenses are allocated among the active Portfolios in the Lazard Fund Complex at a rate of $5,000 per active portfolio with the remainder allocated among the active Portfolios on the basis of relative net assets. The Statement of Operations of each Portfolio shows the Independent Directors’ compensation and expenses paid by each Portfolio.
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5. Securities Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates
Purchases and sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments) for the period ended June 30, 2021 were as follows:
Portfolio | | Purchases | | | Sales | |
| | | | | | | | |
Emerging Markets Equity | | $ | 90,560,433 | | | $ | 130,580,755 | |
International Equity | | | 31,590,966 | | | | 39,651,826 | |
US Small-Mid Cap Equity | | | 18,552,751 | | | | 24,535,651 | |
Global Dynamic Multi-Asset | | | 142,319,527 | | | | 166,447,982 | |
| | US Treasury Securities | |
Portfolio | | Purchases | | | Sales | |
| | | | | | | | |
Global Dynamic Multi-Asset | | $ | 1,545,563 | | | $ | 2,844,312 | |
For the period ended June 30, 2021, the Portfolios did not engage in any cross-trades in accordance with Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, and no brokerage commissions were paid to affiliates of the Investment Manager or other affiliates of the Fund for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.
6. Investment Risks
Not all risks described below apply to all Portfolios, or may not apply to the same degree for one or more Portfolios compared to one or more other Portfolios. In addition, not all risks applicable to an investment in a Portfolio are described below. Please see the current summary prospectus for the relevant Portfolio(s) or a current Portfolio prospectus for further information regarding a Portfolio’s investment strategy and related risks.
(a) Market Risk—A Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, a Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets
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may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect a Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact a Portfolio and its investments.
(b) Non-US Securities Risk—A Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
(c) Emerging Market Risk—Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
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(d) Foreign Currency Risk—Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. A Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies.
(e) Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk—The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening.
Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices.
A Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher-rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering a Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.
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Some debt securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity, and during a time of declining interest rates, a Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds of called or redeemed securities in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates).
Structured notes are privately negotiated debt instruments where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to a specified asset, market or rate, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. Structured notes can have risks of both debt securities and derivatives transactions.
(f) Derivatives and Hedging Risk—Derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Swap agreements; forward currency contracts; over-the-counter options on securities, indexes, currencies and structured notes; and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risks of the creditworthiness of, and default by, the counterparty and consequently may lose all or a portion of their value due solely to the creditworthiness of, or default by, the counterparty. Over-the-counter derivatives frequently may be illiquid and difficult to value. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded futures and options in which a Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of the related reference asset, index or rate. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on a Portfolio’s performance. In fact, many derivatives may be subject to greater risks than those associated with investing directly in the underlying or other reference asset. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted
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from hedging activities. Successful use of derivatives, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market and, for hedging activities, correlation of the derivative instruments used with the investments seeking to be hedged. Use of derivatives transactions, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause a Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. The SEC recently adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which will regulate the use of derivatives for certain funds and may require one or more Portfolios to alter, perhaps materially, its use of derivatives.
(g) ETF Risk—Shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) may trade at prices that vary from their net asset values, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their most recent net asset value. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. A Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of such ETF’s investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. Portfolio shares will bear not only a Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also a Portfolio’s proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which a Portfolio invests. A Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in ETFs unless another ETF has received an exemptive order from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on which a Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow a Portfolio to acquire the securities of another investment company, including ETFs, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date a Portfolio will have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
Semi-Annual Report 83
(h) Depositary Receipts Risk—ADRs and similar depositary receipts typically will be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of non-US companies, because their values depend on the performance of the underlying non-US securities. However, currency fluctuations will impact investments in depositary receipts differently than direct investments in non-US dollar-denominated non-US securities, because a depositary receipt will not appreciate in value solely as a result of appreciation in the currency in which the underlying non-US dollar security is denominated.
(i) Sector Risk—Implementation of certain Portfolios’ investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of such Portfolios’ assets in a particular market sector, and a Portfolio would be expected to be affected by developments in that sector.
(j) Cybersecurity Risk—The Portfolios and their service providers are susceptible to operational and information security and related risks of cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. Cybersecurity incidents affecting the Investment Manager, transfer agent or custodian or other service providers such as financial intermediaries have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, including by impediments to a Portfolio’s investment trading; the inability of Portfolio shareholders to purchase and redeem Portfolio shares; interference with a Portfolio’s ability to calculate its NAV; violations of applicable privacy, data security or other laws; regulatory fines and penalties; reputational damage; reimbursement or other compensation or remediation costs; legal fees; or additional compliance costs. Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity incidents affecting issuers of securities in which a Portfolio invests; counterparties with which a Portfolio engages in transactions; governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial market operators; and banks, bro-
84 Semi-Annual Report
kers, dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions and other parties. There are inherent limitations in any cybersecurity risk management systems or business continuity plans, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified.
7. Contractual Obligations
The Fund enters into contracts in the normal course of business that contain a variety of indemnification provisions. A Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
8. Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that a Portfolio would receive to sell an asset, or would pay to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the date of measurement. The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures provisions of GAAP also establish a framework for measuring fair value, and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurement that is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer, broadly, to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy for the assets and liabilities of the Fund is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the overall fair value measurement. The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:
• | Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities |
• | Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
Semi-Annual Report 85
• | Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of assets and liabilities) |
Changes in valuation methodology or inputs may result in transfers into or out of the current assigned level within the hierarchy.
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities.
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Portfolios’ assets and liabilities by each fair value hierarchy level as of June 30, 2021:
Description | | Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1) | | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | | Balance as of June 30, 2021 | |
Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brazil | | | $ | 39,955,644 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 39,955,644 | |
China | | | | — | | | | 84,957,963 | | | | — | | | | 84,957,963 | |
Egypt | | | | — | | | | 4,831,766 | | | | — | | | | 4,831,766 | |
Greece | | | | — | | | | 3,485,346 | | | | — | | | | 3,485,346 | |
Hong Kong | | | | — | | | | 4,686,756 | | | | — | | | | 4,686,756 | |
Hungary | | | | — | | | | 12,320,536 | | | | — | | | | 12,320,536 | |
India | | | | 2,635,061 | | | | 44,782,062 | | | | — | | | | 47,417,123 | |
Indonesia | | | | 7,035,317 | | | | 11,057,142 | | | | — | | | | 18,092,459 | |
Mexico | | | | 27,158,464 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 27,158,464 | |
Portugal | | | | — | | | | 5,050,216 | | | | — | | | | 5,050,216 | |
Russia | | | | 8,336,704 | | | | 44,725,410 | | | | — | | | | 53,062,114 | |
South Africa | | | | — | | | | 33,709,517 | | | | — | | | | 33,709,517 | |
South Korea | | | | — | | | | 77,457,843 | | | | — | | | | 77,457,843 | |
Taiwan | | | | — | | | | 45,301,946 | | | | — | | | | 45,301,946 | |
Thailand | | | | 7,635,890 | | | | 4,314,691 | | | | — | | | | 11,950,581 | |
United Kingdom | | | | — | | | | 14,881,915 | | | | — | | | | 14,881,915 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | | 12,505,529 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 12,505,529 | |
Total | | | $ | 105,262,609 | | | $ | 391,563,109 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 496,825,718 | |
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Description | | Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1) | | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | | Balance as of June 30, 2021 | |
International Equity Portfolio | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Canada | | | $ | 5,367,702 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 5,367,702 | |
China | | | | 1,721,355 | | | | 2,671,905 | | | | — | | | | 4,393,260 | |
Denmark | | | | — | | | | 5,675,318 | | | | — | | | | 5,675,318 | |
Finland | | | | — | | | | 3,055,565 | | | | — | | | | 3,055,565 | |
France | | | | — | | | | 19,320,315 | | | | — | | | | 19,320,315 | |
Germany | | | | — | | | | 12,902,995 | | | | — | | | | 12,902,995 | |
Hong Kong | | | | — | | | | 1,361,292 | | | | — | | | | 1,361,292 | |
India | | | | — | | | | 1,301,057 | | | | — | | | | 1,301,057 | |
Ireland | | | | 1,945,183 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,945,183 | |
Israel | | | | — | | | | 1,800,375 | | | | — | | | | 1,800,375 | |
Italy | | | | — | | | | 2,868,397 | | | | — | | | | 2,868,397 | |
Japan | | | | — | | | | 23,848,618 | | | | — | | | | 23,848,618 | |
Mexico | | | | 1,154,808 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,154,808 | |
Netherlands | | | | — | | | | 7,405,733 | | | | — | | | | 7,405,733 | |
Norway | | | | — | | | | 3,447,993 | | | | — | | | | 3,447,993 | |
Portugal | | | | — | | | | 1,284,294 | | | | — | | | | 1,284,294 | |
Singapore | | | | — | | | | 1,703,379 | | | | — | | | | 1,703,379 | |
South Korea | | | | — | | | | 2,008,630 | | | | — | | | | 2,008,630 | |
Spain | | | | — | | | | 4,341,549 | | | | — | | | | 4,341,549 | |
Sweden | | | | — | | | | 1,880,217 | | | | — | | | | 1,880,217 | |
Switzerland | | | | — | | | | 5,268,622 | | | | — | | | | 5,268,622 | |
United Kingdom | | | | — | | | | 15,852,050 | | | | — | | | | 15,852,050 | |
United States | | | | 6,982,460 | | | | 2,376,543 | | | | — | | | | 9,359,003 | |
Preferred Stocks* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Germany | | | | — | | | | 3,144,976 | | | | — | | | | 3,144,976 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | | 3,267,914 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,267,914 | |
Total | | | $ | 20,439,422 | | | $ | 123,519,823 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 143,959,245 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks* | | | $ | 53,512,992 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 53,512,992 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | | 1,287,252 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,287,252 | |
Total | | | $ | 54,800,244 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 54,800,244 | |
Semi-Annual Report 87
Description | | Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1) | | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | | | Balance as of June 30, 2021 | |
Global Dynamic Multi Asset Portfolio | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Australia | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3,979,487 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3,979,487 | |
Belgium | | | | — | | | | 1,100,325 | | | | — | | | | 1,100,325 | |
Canada | | | | 7,870,014 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 7,870,014 | |
China | | | | — | | | | 229,876 | | | | — | | | | 229,876 | |
Denmark | | | | 2,121,871 | | | | 926,116 | | | | — | | | | 3,047,987 | |
Finland | | | | — | | | | 338,431 | | | | — | | | | 338,431 | |
France | | | | 1,995,796 | | | | 2,783,653 | | | | — | | | | 4,779,449 | |
Germany | | | | 1,788,548 | | | | 4,307,653 | | | | — | | | | 6,096,201 | |
Hong Kong | | | | 1,542,177 | | | | 266,931 | | | | — | | | | 1,809,108 | |
Israel | | | | — | | | | 61,921 | | | | — | | | | 61,921 | |
Italy | | | | — | | | | 877,420 | | | | — | | | | 877,420 | |
Japan | | | | 2,096,994 | | | | 15,269,757 | | | | — | | | | 17,366,751 | |
Macau | | | | 922,940 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 922,940 | |
Malta | | | | — | | | | 210,735 | | | | — | | | | 210,735 | |
Netherlands | | | | 3,902,138 | | | | 2,684,813 | | | | — | | | | 6,586,951 | |
New Zealand | | | | — | | | | 63,906 | | | | — | | | | 63,906 | |
Norway | | | | — | | | | 442,062 | | | | — | | | | 442,062 | |
Singapore | | | | — | | | | 410,284 | | | | — | | | | 410,284 | |
Spain | | | | 867,566 | | | | 108,812 | | | | — | | | | 976,378 | |
Sweden | | | | 4,218,364 | | | | 370,180 | | | | — | | | | 4,588,544 | |
Switzerland | | | | 2,667,782 | | | | 1,658,201 | | | | — | | | | 4,325,983 | |
United Kingdom | | | | 9,032,565 | | | | 3,879,271 | | | | — | | | | 12,911,836 | |
United States | | | | 156,744,065 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 156,744,065 | |
Corporate Bonds* | | | | — | | | | 33,811,563 | | | | — | | | | 33,811,563 | |
Foreign Government Obligations* | | | | — | | | | 44,473,126 | | | | — | | | | 44,473,126 | |
Supranational Bonds | | | | — | | | | 8,248,810 | | | | — | | | | 8,248,810 | |
US Municipal Bonds | | | | — | | | | 3,244,791 | | | | — | | | | 3,244,791 | |
US Treasury Securities | | | | — | | | | 982,881 | | | | — | | | | 982,881 | |
Exchange-Traded Funds | | | | 17,518,553 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 17,518,553 | |
Short-Term Investments | | | | 4,024,605 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 4,024,605 | |
Other Financial Instruments† | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Currency Contracts | | | | — | | | | 1,063,079 | | | | — | | | | 1,063,079 | |
Total | | | $ | 217,313,978 | | | $ | 131,794,084 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 349,108,062 | |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments† | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Currency Contracts | | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,226,413 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,226,413 | ) |
* | Please refer to Portfolios of Investments and Notes to Portfolios of Investments for portfolio holdings by country and industry. |
† | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments which are valued at their respective unrealized appreciation (depreciation). |
88 Semi-Annual Report
Certain equity securities to which footnote (‡) in the Notes to Portfolios of Investments applies are included in Level 2 and were valued based on reference to similar securities that were trading on active markets.
9. Derivative Instruments
The Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio may use derivative instruments, including forward currency contracts.
Forward currency contracts may be used for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns.
During the period ended June 30, 2021, the approximate average monthly notional exposure for derivative instruments was as follows:
Forward currency contracts: | |
Average amounts purchased | $89,900,000 |
Average amounts sold | $77,900,000 |
The following table summarizes the fair value of derivative instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of June 30, 2021:
Assets—Derivative Financial Instruments | | Total |
Forward currency contracts | Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts | $1,063,079 |
Liabilities—Derivative Financial Instruments | | |
Forward currency contracts | Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts | $1,226,413 |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the period ended June 30, 2021 was:
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Total |
Forward currency contracts | $(1,903,180) |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: | Total |
Forward currency contracts | $326,873 |
None of the other Portfolios traded in derivative instruments during the period ended June 30, 2021.
Semi-Annual Report 89
As of June 30, 2021, the Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio held derivative instruments that are eligible for offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and are subject to master netting arrangements. A master netting arrangement is an agreement between two counterparties who have multiple contracts with each other that provides for the net settlement of all contracts, as well as any cash collateral, through a single payment in the event of default on, or termination of, any one contract.
The required information for the affected Portfolio is presented in the below table, as of June 30, 2021:
Description | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets | | Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities | | Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
Forward Currency Contracts | | | $ | 1,063,079 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,063,079 | |
| | | | Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities | | |
Counterparty | | Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities | | Financial Instruments | | Collateral Received | | Net Amounts of Derivative Assets |
Citibank NA | | | $ | 177,169 | | | $ | (177,169 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
HSBC Bank USA NA | | | | 351,312 | | | | (351,312 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
JPMorgan Chase Bank NA | | | | 443,617 | | | | (260,030 | ) | | | — | | | | 183,587 | |
Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC. | | | | 87,348 | | | | (39,027 | ) | | | — | | | | 48,321 | |
State Street Bank and Trust Co. | | | | 3,633 | | | | (3,502 | ) | | | — | | | | 131 | |
Total | | | $ | 1,063,079 | | | $ | (831,040 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | 232,039 | |
Description | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities | | Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities | | Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
Forward Currency Contracts | | | $ | 1,226,413 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,226,413 | |
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| | | | | | Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities | | | |
Counterparty | | Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities | | Financial Instruments | | Collateral Pledged | | Net Amounts of Derivative Liabilities |
Citibank NA | | | $ | 298,968 | | | $ | (177,169 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | 121,799 | |
HSBC Bank USA NA | | | | 624,886 | | | | (351,312 | ) | | | — | | | | 273,574 | |
JPMorgan Chase Bank NA | | | | 260,030 | | | | (260,030 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC. | | | | 39,027 | | | | (39,027 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
State Street Bank and Trust Co. | | | | 3,502 | | | | (3,502 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | | $ | 1,226,413 | | | $ | (831,040 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | 395,373 | |
10. Accounting Pronouncements
On March 12, 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board concluded its reference rate reform project with the issuance of Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU No. 2020-04”). ASU No. 2020-04 provides elective temporary financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank offered based reference rates as of the end of 2021. ASU No. 2020-04 is effective for certain reference rate- related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU No. 2020-04.
11. Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events potentially affecting the Portfolios through the issuance of the financial statements and has determined that there were no subsequent events that required adjustment or disclosure.
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Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. Other Information (unaudited)
Proxy Voting
A description of the policies and procedures used to determine how proxies relating to Fund portfolio securities are voted is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 823-6300 or (2) on the SEC website at https://www.sec.gov.
The Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 823-6300 or (2) on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. Information as of June 30 each year will generally be available by the following August 31.
Schedule of Portfolio Holdings
The Fund files each Portfolio’s holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.
Board Consideration of Management Agreement
All Portfolios except Lazard Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio
At meetings of the Board held on May 26, 2021 and June 23, 2021, the Board considered the approval, for an additional annual period, of the Management Agreement between the Fund, on behalf of each of the Portfolios, and the Investment Manager. The Independent Directors were assisted in their review by independent legal counsel, who advised the Board on relevant legal standards and met with the Independent Directors in executive sessions separate from representatives of the Investment Manager.
Representatives of the Investment Manager discussed with the Board the Investment Manager’s written materials provided in advance of the meetings, including, at the June 23, 2021 meeting, additional information requested by the Independent Directors at the May 26, 2021 meeting.
Services Provided
The Investment Manager’s materials addressed, among other matters, the nature, extent and quality of services that the Investment
92 Semi-Annual Report
Manager provides the Fund, including a discussion of the Investment Manager and its clients (of which the Lazard Funds complex of 35 active funds comprised approximately $26 billion of the approximately $265 billion of total assets under the management of the Investment Manager and its global affiliates as of March 31, 2021).
The Board considered the various services provided by the Investment Manager including the Investment Manager’s research, portfolio management and trading capabilities and oversight of day-to-day operations, including supervision of fund accounting and administration-related services and assistance in meeting legal and regulatory requirements, as well as regular reporting to, and support of, the Board. The Investment Manager’s representatives stated that the Investment Manager believes that the Fund and its shareholders continue to be able to obtain significant benefits as a result of the resources and support of the Investment Manager’s global research, portfolio management, trading, operations, risk management, technology and legal and compliance infrastructure. The Board also considered information provided by the Investment Manager regarding its personnel, resources, financial condition and experience; the Fund’s distribution channels and the relationships with various intermediaries; marketing and shareholder servicing activities on behalf of the Portfolios; and Portfolio asset flows and the growth or decline in asset levels. The Board accepted the assertion of representatives of the Investment Manager that the Fund benefits from the services and infrastructure provided by the Investment Manager and that such services and infrastructure are greater than those typically provided to a $26 billion fund complex not managed by a large, global firm such as the Investment Manager.
Comparative Fee, Expense Ratio and Performance Information Only the Emerging Markets Equity, Global Dynamic Multi-Asset, International Equity and US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolios (the “active Portfolios”) had commenced operations. For all other Portfolios (the “inactive Portfolios”) the Board determined to defer consideration of advisory fees in the Management Agreement (and review of net expense ratios) until a Portfolio was to com-
Semi-Annual Report 93
mence operations, at which time current information regarding the advisory fee and the estimated net expense ratio would be considered. Accordingly, the following discussion of advisory fees, expense ratios and performance was limited to those of the four active Portfolios (and therefore all references in the discussion to one or more Portfolios refer to active Portfolio(s) unless otherwise stated), although it was noted that the Investment Manager proposed to lower the expense limitation for the Emerging Markets Strategic Equity Portfolio (an inactive Portfolio).
Strategic Insight Advisory Fee and Expense Ratio Comparisons. The Board reviewed, for each Portfolio, information prepared by Strategic Insight, an independent provider of investment company data, including, among other information, each Portfolio’s contractual advisory fee (i.e., without giving effect to any fee waivers) and net expense ratio (i.e., after giving effect to the Portfolio’s expense limitation agreed to by the Investment Manager) to those of:
• | a group of variable annuity underlying funds (i.e., funds offered only through variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and/or certain qualified pension or retirement plans or other accounts permitting accumulation of assets on a tax-deferred basis) not advised by the Investment Manager selected by Strategic Insight as comparable, for expense comparison purposes, to the Portfolio in terms of relevant criteria as appropriate (the “Expense Peer Group”1); and |
| |
• | the variable annuity underlying funds within the broad category of funds to which the Portfolio has been assigned by Morningstar, Inc., an independent third party service that ranks and rates funds (“Morningstar”), with certain exclusions as specified by Strategic Insight (the “Expense Category”). |
1 | The Strategic Insight materials outlined the process for constructing the Expense Peer Groups, as well the Expense Categories, Performance Peer Groups and Performance Categories (all as defined herein). Representatives of the Investment Manager and independent legal counsel had previously discussed with the Board in further detail the methodologies used by Strategic Insight in constructing the Expense Peer Groups, Expense Categories, Performance Peer Groups and Performance Categories, including how the methodologies could affect the results of the comparisons. |
94 Semi-Annual Report
Representatives of the Investment Manager discussed the results of the Strategic Insight advisory fee and net expense ratio comparisons with the Board, which showed that the advisory fees and net expense ratios of the Portfolios were generally competitive within each Portfolio’s respective Expense Peer Group. The Board considered the comparisons, additional perspectives in information prepared by, and in discussions with, representatives of the Investment Manager and that the Investment Manager continues to voluntarily enter into expense limitation agreements for all of the active and inactive Portfolios, pursuant to which the Investment Manager was waiving advisory fees and/or reimbursing expenses for certain Portfolios.
Other Accounts Advisory Fee Comparisons. The Board also considered the actual advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager by other accounts of the Investment Manager that are comparable to each Portfolio in terms of investment objectives, strategies and policies, if any (including other investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles, “Other Accounts”). Representatives of the Investment Manager discussed the nature of the Other Accounts and the significant differences in services provided by the Investment Manager to the different types of Other Accounts as compared to the services provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the relevance of the fee information provided for Other Accounts, in light of the Investment Manager’s discussion of the significant differences in services provided, to evaluate the advisory fees of the relevant Portfolios.
Strategic Insight Performance Comparisons. The Board reviewed information prepared by Strategic Insight including, among other information, each Portfolio’s performance for the one-, three-, five-and ten-year periods ended March 31, 2021, as applicable, compared to performance for the same time periods of that of:
• | a group of variable annuity underlying funds not advised by the Investment Manager selected by Strategic Insight as comparable, for performance comparison purposes, to the Portfolio in terms of relevant criteria as appropriate (the “Performance Peer Group”); |
Semi-Annual Report 95
• | the variable annuity underlying funds within the broad category of funds to which the Portfolio has been assigned by Morningstar (the “Performance Category”); and |
| |
• | the Portfolio’s benchmark index. |
When evaluating the performance of each Portfolio, the Board considered Strategic Insight’s performance analysis along with other information provided by the Investment Manager, including additional information regarding performance expectations, as well as additional perspectives in information prepared by, and in discussions with, representatives of the Investment Manager. The Board also received and would continue to receive regular updates and/or additional information from the Investment Manager in respect of Portfolios with relative underperformance or Portfolios which otherwise are not performing in accordance with expectations, as well as any other Portfolios for which the Board requested additional information.
Investment Manager Profitability and Economies of Scale
The Board reviewed information prepared by the Investment Manager for each active Portfolio concerning the estimated profitability percentage of the Management Agreement to the Investment Manager and its affiliates for the calendar year ended December 31, 2020 and the Investment Manager’s cost allocation methodology to compute an estimate of each active Portfolio’s costs to the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager’s representatives reviewed with the Board information provided on the Investment Manager’s brokerage practices and the active Portfolios’ brokerage allocation, commission payments and soft dollar commissions and benefits. The Investment Manager’s representatives stated that neither the Investment Manager nor its affiliates receive any significant benefits from the Investment Manager acting as investment manager to the Portfolios other than, in connection with the management of certain active Portfolios, the benefit of soft dollar commissions. The representatives of the Investment Manager reminded the Board that the Investment Manager is continuing to support distribution relationships through direct payments from its or its affiliates’ own resources to third parties in
96 Semi-Annual Report
connection with distribution and shareholder servicing and/or administrative and recordkeeping services, and noted that the Fund does not bear any related costs other than the 0.25% 12b-1 fee pursuant to the Distribution and Servicing Plan adopted for the Portfolios’ Service Shares.
The profitability percentages were within ranges determined by relevant court cases not to be so disproportionately large that they bore no reasonable relationship to the services rendered. The Board (1) considered the Investment Manager’s estimated profitability percentage with respect to each active Portfolio as part of their evaluation of the Portfolio’s fee under the Management Agreement, considered in relation to the mix of services provided by the Investment Manager (including the nature, extent and quality of such services), and (2) evaluated the profitability percentage in light of the relevant circumstances for each active Portfolio. Representatives of the Investment Manager and the Board discussed ways economies of scale could be realized and how they could be shared, including the Investment Manager’s reinvestment of profits back into its business, waiving or reducing Portfolio management fees and/or reimbursing expenses, adding discounts to a Portfolio’s management fee schedule as a Portfolio’s assets increase or by instituting management fees at inception that account for future scale. As the assets of each active Portfolio as of the end of the most recently-completed calendar year had decreased from the Portfolio’s assets as of the end of the previous calendar year, the potential that the Investment Manager may have realized any material economies of scale was reduced.
Conclusions and Determinations
At the conclusion of these discussions, the Board expressed the opinion that it had been furnished with such information as may reasonably be necessary to make an informed business decision with respect to evaluation of the renewal of the Management Agreement. Based on its discussions and considerations as described above, with the assistance of independent legal counsel and in the exercise of its business judgment, the Board made the following conclusions and determinations.
Semi-Annual Report 97
• | The Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Investment Manager are adequate and appropriate, noting the benefits of the significant services and infrastructure associated with an approximately $265 billion global asset management business. |
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• | For the active Portfolios, the Board concluded that each Portfolio’s fee paid to the Investment Manager was appropriate under the circumstances and in light of the factors and the totality of the services provided. |
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• | The Board, after considering the information provided and the totality of the relevant circumstances for each active Portfolio, concluded that the investment performance of each active Portfolio was acceptable or that, for any Portfolios that were not performing in accordance with expectations, the Board accepted that the Investment Manager was taking steps intended to improve performance and the Board would continue to monitor performance. |
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• | The Board recognized that economies of scale may be realized, particularly as the assets of the active Portfolios increase and determined that it would continue to consider potential material economies of scale. |
In evaluating the Management Agreement, the Board relied on the information described above, in addition to information provided by the Investment Manager throughout the year relating to the operations of the Fund and the investment management and other services provided under the Management Agreement, including information on the investment performance of the active Portfolios in comparison to similar mutual funds and benchmark performance indices over various time periods as well as information regarding the expected pattern of performance for the Portfolios in different market conditions and/or as compared to the performance of other funds that may be included in a Portfolio’s Performance Peer Group and/or Performance Category; general market outlook as applicable to the Portfolios; and compliance reports. The Board also relied on its previous knowledge, gained through meetings and other interactions with the Investment Manager, of
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the Investment Manager and the services provided to the Fund by the Investment Manager. The Board considered these conclusions and determinations in their totality and determined to approve the Fund’s Management Agreement for each Portfolio. In deciding whether to vote to approve the Management Agreement for each Portfolio, each Director may have accorded different weights to different factors so that each Director may have had a different basis for his or her decision.
Statement Regarding Liquidity Risk Management Program
The Fund has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “LRMP”) pursuant to the requirements of Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, which requires registered open-end funds (other than money market funds) to adopt and implement a written liquidity risk management program that is reasonably designed to assess and manage liquidity risk. The rule is designed to promote effective liquidity risk management and reduce liquidity risk—i.e., the risk that a fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the fund.
The Board approved the Investment Manager to administer the LRMP (the “Program Administrator”). As Program Administrator, the Investment Manager delegates the day-to-day activities required by the LRMP to a Valuation and Liquidity Committee comprised of various Fund officers and senior personnel of the Investment Manager. In addition, the Fund has contracted with a third party liquidity assessment vendor to support the classification of Portfolio investments.
Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 22e-4, the Board must review, no less frequently than annually, a written report prepared by the Program Administrator that, among other things, addresses the operation of the LRMP and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation and any material changes to the LRMP. The Board received a written report in June 2021 (the “Annual Report”). The Annual Report included, among other things, a statement that the Investment Manager, as the Program Administrator, acting primarily through the Valuation and Liquidity Committee,
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has reviewed the operation of the LRMP and believes that the LRMP is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Portfolios’ liquidity risk and is adequate and effective in its implementation. There were no material compliance matters relating to compliance with Rule 22e-4 identified in the Annual Report.
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NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc.
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112-6300
Telephone: 800-823-6300
www.lazardassetmanagement.com
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112-6300
Telephone: 800-823-6300
Distributor
Lazard Asset Management Securities LLC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112-6300
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Iron Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210-1641
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent
DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.
2000 Crown Colony Drive
Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-0953
Telephone: 617-483-7000
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112-0015
Legal Counsel
Proskauer Rose LLP
Eleven Times Square
New York, New York 10036-8299
www.proskauer.com
Lazard Asset Management LLC • 30 Rockefeller Plaza • New York, NY 10112 • www. lazardassetmanagement.com | | |
Performance information as of the most recent month end is available online at www. lazardassetmanagement.com. LZDPS010 | | We Recycle This document is printed on recycled paper. |
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.
There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Directors during the period covered by this report.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) The Registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files or submits on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) There were no changes to the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) Not applicable.
(a)(2) Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) Certifications of principal executive and principal financial officers as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
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.
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc.
By /s/ Nathan A. Paul
Nathan A. Paul
Chief Executive Officer
Date August 25, 2021
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/ Nathan A. Paul
Nathan A. Paul
Chief Executive Officer
Date August 25, 2021
By /s/ Christopher Snively
Christopher Snively
Chief Financial Officer
Date August 25, 2021