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Correspondence 0000930413-23-001152 from LAZARD FUNDS INC (CIK 0000874964)

LAZARD FUNDS INC (CIK 0000874964)
Date: April 3, 2023 · CIK: 0000874964 · Accession: 0000930413-23-001152

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

File numbers found in text: 333-270259

Date
April 3, 2023
Author
Spiro
Form
CORRESP
Company
LAZARD FUNDS INC (CIK 0000874964)

Letter

Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 Attention: Mr. David Manion Mr. Bernard Nolan Re: The Lazard Funds, Inc. (File No. 333-270259)

Dear Messrs. Manion and Nolan:

Thank you for your telephonic comments regarding the combined information statement and prospectus on Form N-14 for Lazard Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio (the “Acquiring Portfolio”), a series of The Lazard Funds, Inc. (the “Company”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on March 3, 2023, in connection with a proposed Plan of Reorganization, pursuant to which all of the assets and liabilities of Lazard Emerging Markets Strategic Equity Portfolio (the “Acquired Portfolio”), also a series of the Company, will be transferred to the Acquiring Portfolio in exchange for the Institutional Shares and Open Shares of the Acquiring Portfolio (the “Reorganization”). The Acquired Portfolio and Acquiring Portfolio are referred to herein together as the “Portfolios”.

Accounting Comments

Comment 1.

Please confirm and disclose in the combined Information Statement and Prospectus that the Acquiring Portfolio and the Acquired Portfolio each have registered Class R6 Shares. Please clarify and disclose why Class R6 Shares are not being exchanged in the Reorganization.

Response 1.

The Company confirms that the Acquiring Portfolio and the Acquired Portfolio each have registered Class R6 Shares and confirms that the Acquiring Portfolio has issued Class R6 Shares and the Acquired Portfolio has not issued Class R6 Shares. The Company has added the following disclosure to the Letter to Stockholders, the introduction of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus and the “Summary – Approved Transaction” and the “Information About the Reorganization – Plan of Reorganization” sections of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus, the introduction to the Statement of Additional Information and the “Pro Forma Financial Information” section of the Statement of Additional Information:

Since there are no outstanding Class R6 Shares of the Acquired Portfolio, no Class R6 Shares will be exchanged in the reorganization.

Comment 2.

In the “Questions and Answers” section, please disclose the estimated costs of the reorganization.

Response 2.

The Company has updated the disclosure to the “Questions and Answers” section of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus as follows:

WHO WILL PAY THE EXPENSES OF THE REORGANIZATION?

LAM, and not the Acquired Portfolio or the Acquiring Portfolio, will pay the expenses directly related to the reorganization, except that the Acquired Portfolio and the Acquiring Portfolio will bear their respective brokerage commissions and other portfolio transaction costs associated with the reorganization. The expenses of the reorganization are estimated to be approximately $130,000, all of which will be borne by LAM.

Comment 3.

Please supplementally explain the reason(s) for the difference in the Financial Highlights tables included in the Annual Report for the December 31, 2022 fiscal-year end and in the Financial Highlights tables included in the combined Information Statement and Prospectus.

Response 3.

On June 28, 2022, the Company filed a supplement to the current prospectus indicating certain reductions to the expense limitations for the Acquiring Portfolio and the Acquired Portfolio. As a result, the expense ratios disclosed in the Financial Highlights tables in the Annual Report reflect the operation of two expense limitation agreements during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The Financial Highlights tables in the combined Information Statement and Prospectus reflect current fees as if they had been in effect during the previous fiscal year, pursuant to Instruction 3(d)(ii) to Item 3 of Form N-1A. Footnotes to the tables within the “Fees and Expenses” section indicate that such disclosure reflects a contractual arrangement, as of December 31, 2022, by LAM to waive its fees and if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2023.

Additionally, pursuant to Instruction 3(d)(ii) to Item 3 of Form N-1A, a footnote has been added to the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses tables indicating that the expense information has been restated to reflect current expense limitation agreements.

Comment 4.

Please confirm that the calculations for the expense examples in the combined Information Statement and Prospectus are correct.

Response 4.

The Company confirms that the calculations for the expense examples in the combined Information Statement and Prospectus are correct.

Comment 5.

Please include Class R6 Shares in the “Capitalization” section of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus.

Response 5.

The Company has revised the disclosure in the “Capitalization” section of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus as follows:

Acquired

Portfolio

Lazard

Emerging

Markets

Strategic

Equity

Portfolio

R6

Shares

Acquiring Portfolio

Lazard

Emerging

Markets Core

Equity Portfolio

R6 Shares

Adjustments

Acquiring

Portfolio

Pro Forma

After

Reorganization

Lazard

Emerging

Markets Core

Equity Portfolio

Institutional

Shares

Total net assets

N/A

$346,658

$346,658

Net asset value per share

N/A

$8.88

$8.88

Shares outstanding

39,040

0*

39,040

* Adjustment to reflect the exchange of shares outstanding from the Acquired Portfolio to the Acquiring Portfolio.

Comment 6.

Please confirm that all hyperlinks are included in the combined Information Statement and Prospectus.

Response 6.

The Company confirms that all hyperlinks are included in the combined Information Statement and Prospectus.

Disclosure Comments

Comment 7.

As you are relying on Rule 488 of the Securities Act of 1933, and it appears that you will not be requesting acceleration of effectiveness under Rule 461, please supplementally advise us whether you intend to request acceleration in light of this disclosure.

Response 7.

The Company confirms that it is not intending to request accelerated effectiveness.

Comment 8.

As you otherwise state that stockholder approval is not required, please revise the statement directing stockholders to carefully review the registration statement before they vote.

Response 8.

The Company has revised the letter to the stockholders to remove the statement directing stockholders to carefully review the registration statement before they vote. The post-effective amendment will reflect the deletion of this language.

Comment 9.

You state in the “Questions and Answers” section and on page 8 of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus that both the Acquired Portfolio and the Acquiring Portfolio may invest in securities across the capitalization spectrum but that the Acquiring Portfolio typically invests in securities of companies with a market capitalization of $300 million or more. It is not necessarily clear what this

qualification (i.e., $300 million threshold) means in the context of this disclosure. In this regard, we note in the discussion of risks that while you identify small-, mid- and large-capitalization companies as a principal risk of the Acquired Portfolio, you identify only small-capitalization companies as a principal risk of the Acquiring Portfolio. Please revise your disclosure to clarify, if true, that the Acquiring Portfolio typically invests in securities of small-capitalization companies and combine the discussion of small-capitalization companies risk.

Response 9.

The Company has revised the risk disclosure to indicate that the Acquiring Portfolio is subject to risks associated with investments in small and mid capitalization companies as well as investments in large capitalization companies.

Comment 10.

Please revise the undertaking regarding the filing of the tax opinion by post-effective amendment to indicate that the opinion will be filed within a reasonable time after receipt of it.

Response 10.

The Company has revised the undertaking regarding the filing of the tax opinion by post-effective amendment to indicate that the opinion will be filed within a reasonable time after receiving such opinion.

Comment 11.

Please revise the description of Exhibit 20(a) in Part C as the Power of Attorney is not limited to Board members.

Response 11.

The Company has updated the description of Exhibit 20(a).

Comment 12.

It is unclear whether your Principal Accounting Officer signed your registration statement. Please revise your signature section and Power of Attorney accordingly.

Response 12.

The Company has updated the “Signatures” page and power of attorney to clarify that the Chief Financial Officer is the principal accounting officer for purposes of signing the registration statement.

* * *

We believe that the foregoing has been responsive to the Staff’s comments. Please call the undersigned at (212) 649-8707 if you wish to discuss this correspondence further.

Very truly yours,
/s/ Robert
Spiro

Show Raw Text
CORRESP
1
filename1.htm

    1095
    Avenue of the Americas

    New York, NY  10036-6797

    +1  212  698  3500  Main

    +1  212  698  3599  Fax

    www.dechert.com

    ROBERT
    SPIRO

    robert.spiro@dechert.com

    +1 212 649 8707  Direct

April 3, 2023

Securities and Exchange Commission

Judiciary Plaza

100 F Street, NE

Washington, D.C. 20549

Attention: Mr. David Manion

Mr. Bernard Nolan

Re: The Lazard
Funds, Inc. (File No. 333-270259)

Dear Messrs. Manion and Nolan:

Thank you for your telephonic comments
regarding the combined information statement and prospectus on Form N-14 for Lazard Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio (the
“Acquiring Portfolio”), a series of The Lazard Funds, Inc. (the “Company”), filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on March 3, 2023, in connection with a proposed Plan of Reorganization,
pursuant to which all of the assets and liabilities of Lazard Emerging Markets Strategic Equity Portfolio (the “Acquired
Portfolio”), also a series of the Company, will be transferred to the Acquiring Portfolio in exchange for the Institutional
Shares and Open Shares of the Acquiring Portfolio (the “Reorganization”). The Acquired Portfolio and Acquiring Portfolio
are referred to herein together as the “Portfolios”.

Accounting Comments

    Comment 1.

    Please confirm and disclose in the combined Information
    Statement and Prospectus that the Acquiring Portfolio and the Acquired Portfolio each have registered Class R6 Shares. Please
    clarify and disclose why Class R6 Shares are not being exchanged in the Reorganization.

    Response 1.

    The Company confirms that the Acquiring Portfolio
    and the Acquired Portfolio each have registered Class R6 Shares and confirms that the Acquiring Portfolio has issued Class
    R6 Shares and the Acquired Portfolio has not issued Class R6 Shares. The Company has added the following disclosure to the
    Letter to Stockholders, the introduction of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus and the “Summary –
    Approved Transaction” and the “Information About the Reorganization – Plan of Reorganization” sections
    of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus, the introduction to the Statement of Additional Information and the
    “Pro Forma Financial Information” section of the Statement of Additional Information:

    Since there are no outstanding
    Class R6 Shares of the Acquired Portfolio, no Class R6 Shares will be exchanged in the reorganization.

    Comment 2.

    In the “Questions and Answers” section,
    please disclose the estimated costs of the reorganization.

    Response 2.

    The Company has updated the disclosure to the “Questions
    and Answers” section of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus as follows:

    WHO WILL PAY THE EXPENSES OF THE REORGANIZATION?

    LAM, and not the Acquired Portfolio or the Acquiring Portfolio, will pay
    the expenses directly related to the reorganization, except that the Acquired Portfolio and the Acquiring Portfolio will bear
    their respective brokerage commissions and other portfolio transaction costs associated with the reorganization. The
    expenses of the reorganization are estimated to be approximately $130,000, all of which will be borne by LAM.

    Comment 3.

    Please supplementally explain the reason(s) for the difference in the Financial Highlights
    tables included in the Annual Report for the December 31, 2022 fiscal-year end and in the Financial Highlights tables included
    in the combined Information Statement and Prospectus.

    Response 3.

    On June 28, 2022, the Company filed a supplement to the current prospectus indicating certain
    reductions to the expense limitations for the Acquiring Portfolio and the Acquired Portfolio.  As a result, the
    expense ratios disclosed in the Financial Highlights tables in the Annual Report reflect the operation of two expense limitation
    agreements during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The Financial Highlights tables in the combined Information Statement
    and Prospectus reflect current fees as if they had been in effect during the previous fiscal year, pursuant to Instruction
    3(d)(ii) to Item 3 of Form N-1A. Footnotes to the tables within the “Fees and Expenses” section indicate that
    such disclosure reflects a contractual arrangement, as of December 31, 2022, by LAM to waive its fees and if necessary,
    reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2023.

    Additionally, pursuant to Instruction 3(d)(ii) to Item 3 of Form N-1A, a footnote has
    been added to the Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses tables indicating that the expense information has been restated to
    reflect current expense limitation agreements.

    Comment 4.

    Please confirm that the calculations for the expense examples in the combined Information
    Statement and Prospectus are correct.

    Response 4.

    The Company confirms that the calculations for the expense examples in the combined Information
    Statement and Prospectus are correct.

    Comment 5.

    Please include Class R6 Shares in the “Capitalization” section of the combined
    Information Statement and Prospectus.

    Response 5.

    The Company has revised the disclosure in the “Capitalization” section of the
    combined Information Statement and Prospectus as follows:

    Acquired

    Portfolio

    Lazard

    Emerging

    Markets

    Strategic

    Equity

    Portfolio

    R6

    Shares

    Acquiring
    Portfolio

    Lazard

    Emerging

    Markets Core

    Equity Portfolio

    R6 Shares

    Adjustments

    Acquiring

Portfolio

    Pro Forma

    After

    Reorganization

    Lazard

    Emerging

    Markets Core

    Equity Portfolio

    Institutional

    Shares

    Total
    net assets

    N/A

    $346,658

    $346,658

    Net asset
    value per share

    N/A

    $8.88

    $8.88

    Shares outstanding

    0

    39,040

    0*

    39,040

    *
    Adjustment
    to reflect the exchange of shares outstanding from the Acquired Portfolio to the Acquiring Portfolio.

    Comment 6.

    Please confirm that all hyperlinks are included in the combined Information
    Statement and Prospectus.

    Response 6.

    The Company confirms that all hyperlinks are included in the combined Information Statement
    and Prospectus.

    Disclosure Comments

    Comment 7.

    As you are relying on Rule 488 of the Securities Act of 1933, and it appears that you will
    not be requesting acceleration of effectiveness under Rule 461, please supplementally advise us whether you intend to request
    acceleration in light of this disclosure.

    Response 7.

    The Company confirms that it is not intending to request accelerated effectiveness.

    Comment 8.

    As you otherwise state that stockholder approval is not required, please revise the statement
    directing stockholders to carefully review the registration statement before they vote.

    Response 8.

    The Company has revised the letter to the stockholders to remove the statement directing stockholders
    to carefully review the registration statement before they vote. The post-effective amendment will reflect the deletion of
    this language.

    Comment 9.

    You state in the “Questions
and Answers” section and on page 8 of the combined Information Statement and Prospectus that both the Acquired Portfolio
and the Acquiring Portfolio may invest in securities across the capitalization spectrum but that the Acquiring Portfolio typically
invests in securities of companies with a market capitalization of $300 million or more. It is not necessarily clear what this

    qualification (i.e.,
    $300 million threshold) means in the context of this disclosure. In this regard, we note in the discussion of risks that while
    you identify small-, mid- and large-capitalization companies as a principal risk of the Acquired Portfolio, you identify only
    small-capitalization companies as a principal risk of the Acquiring Portfolio. Please revise your disclosure to clarify, if
    true, that the Acquiring Portfolio typically invests in securities of small-capitalization companies and combine the discussion
    of small-capitalization companies risk.

    Response 9.

    The Company has revised the
    risk disclosure to indicate that the Acquiring Portfolio is subject to risks associated with investments in small and mid
    capitalization companies as well as investments in large capitalization companies.

    Comment 10.

    Please revise the undertaking
    regarding the filing of the tax opinion by post-effective amendment to indicate that the opinion will be filed within a reasonable
    time after receipt of it.

    Response 10.

    The Company has revised the
    undertaking regarding the filing of the tax opinion by post-effective amendment to indicate that the opinion will be filed
    within a reasonable time after receiving such opinion.

    Comment 11.

    Please revise the description
    of Exhibit 20(a) in Part C as the Power of Attorney is not limited to Board members.

    Response 11.

    The Company has updated the
    description of Exhibit 20(a).

    Comment 12.

    It is unclear whether your
    Principal Accounting Officer signed your registration statement. Please revise your signature section and Power of Attorney
    accordingly.

    Response 12.

    The Company has updated the
    “Signatures” page and power of attorney to clarify that the Chief Financial Officer is the principal accounting
    officer for purposes of signing the registration statement.

*     *     *

We believe that the foregoing has
been responsive to the Staff’s comments. Please call the undersigned at (212) 649-8707 if you wish to discuss this
correspondence further.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Robert
Spiro

Robert Spiro