LORD ABBETT AFFILIATED FUND INC
485BPOS, 1997-02-28
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                                                    1933 Act File No. 2-10638
                                                    1940 Act File No. 811-5

                        SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM N-1A

          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933   [X]
                       Post-Effective Amendment No. 70              [X]
                                       And

       REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

                     Post-Effective Amendment No. 70                [X]


                    LORD ABBETT AFFILIATED FUND, INC.
             Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter

             767 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y. 10153-0203
                      Address of Principal Executive Office

              REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER  (212) 848-1800

                Kenneth B. Cutler, Vice President & Secretary

                     767 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y. 10153
                      Name and Address of Agent for Service

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check  appropriate box)

         immediately on filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485

    X    on March 1, 1997 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
- -------

         60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (1) of Rule 485

                  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) (1) of Rule 485

         75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (2) of rule 485

         on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) (2) of rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:

         This  post-effective  amendment  designates a new effective  date for a
         previously filed post-effective amendment.




<PAGE>



                                         LORD ABBETT AFFILIATED FUND, INC.
                                                     FORM N-1A
                                               Cross Reference Sheet
                                          Post-Effective Amendment No. 70
                                             Pursuant to Rule 481 (a)

Form N-1A                      Location In Prospectus or
ITEM NO.                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1                              Cover Page
2                              Fee Table
3 (a)                          Financial Highlights; Performance
3 (b)                          N/A
3 (c)                          Performance
3 (d)                          N/A
4 (a) (i)                      Cover Page
4 (a) (ii)                     Investment Objective; How We Invest
4 (b) (c)                      How We Invest
5 (a)                          Our Management
5 (b)                          Our Management; Back Cover Page
5 (c)                          Our Management
5 (d)                          N/A
5 (e)                          Back Cover Page
5 (f)                          Our Management
5 (g)                          N/A
5 A                            Performance
6 (a)                          Cover Page
6 (b) (c) (d)                  N/A
6 (e)                          Cover Page
6 (f) (g)                      Dividends, Capital Gains
                             Distributions and Taxes
6 (h)                          N/A
7 (a)                          Back Cover Page
7 (b) (c) (d)
   (e) (f)                     Purchases
8                              Redemptions
9                              N/A
10                             Cover Page
11                             Cover Page - Table of Contents
12                             N/A
13                             Investment Objective and Policies
14                             Directors and Officers
15 (a) (b)                     N/A
15 (c)                         Directors and Officers
16 (a) (i)                     Investment Advisory and Other Services
16 (a) (ii)                    Directors and Officers
16 (a) (iii)                   Investment Advisory and Other Services
16 (b)                         Investment Advisory and Other Services
16 (c) (d) (e)
   (g)                         N/A
16 (f)                         Purchases, Redemptions; Investment Advisory
                               and Other Services
                               and Shareholder Services
16 (h)                         Investment Advisory and Other Services
16 (i)                         N/A


<PAGE>




Form N-1A                      Location In Prospectus or
ITEM NO.                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


17 (a)                         Portfolio Transactions
17 (b)                         N/A
17 (c)(d)                      Portfolio Transactions
17 (e)                         N/A
18 (a)                         Cover Page
18 (b)                         N/A
19 (a) (b)                     Purchases, Redemptions
                               and Shareholder Services
19 (c)                         N/A
20                             Taxes
21 (a)                         Purchases, Redemptions
                               and Shareholder Services
21 (b) (c)                     N/A
22 (a)                         N/A
22 (b)                         Past Performance
23                             Financial Statements


<PAGE>


LORD ABBETT AFFILIATED FUND, INC.
The General Motors Building
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153-0203
800-426-1130

Lord Abbett  Affiliated  Fund, Inc. ("we" or the "Fund"),  is a mutual fund with
three  classes of shares.  These  classes,  designated  Class A, B and C shares,
provide investors with different  investment options in purchasing shares of the
Fund.  See  "Purchases"  for a  description  of these  choices.  Our  investment
objective  is  long-term   growth  of  capital  and  income  without   excessive
fluctuations  in market  value.  We seek to attain our objective by investing in
securities selling at reasonable prices in relation to value. We normally invest
in large, seasoned companies in sound financial condition, issuing common stocks
which are expected to perform  above-average  with respect to earnings and price
appreciation. There can be no assurance that we will achieve our objective. This
Prospectus  sets  forth  concisely  the  information   about  the  Fund  that  a
prospective investor should know before investing.  Additional information about
the Fund has been filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and is
available upon request without charge.  The Statement of Additional  Information
is incorporated  by reference into this Prospectus and may be obtained,  without
charge,  by writing to the Fund or by calling  800-874-3733.  Ask for "Part B of
the  Prospectus -- the Statement of  Additional  Information".  The date of this
Prospectus and of the Statement of Additional Information is March 1, 1997.

PROSPECTUS
Investors  should  read  and  retain  this  Prospectus  for  future   reference.
Shareholder  inquiries  should  be made in  writing  directly  to the Fund or by
calling  800-821-5129.  You also can make inquiries through your  broker-dealer.
Shares of the Fund are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed
by, any bank,  and the shares are not federally  insured by the Federal  Deposit
Insurance  Corporation,  the Federal  Reserve  Board,  or any other  agency.  An
investment in the Fund involves risks, including the possible loss of principal.

        1       Investment Objective    2

        2       Fee Table               2

        3       Financial Highlights    3

        4       How We Invest           4

        5       Purchases               4

        6       Shareholder Services    10

        7       Our Management          11

        8       Dividends, Capital Gains
                Distributions and Taxes 11

        9       Redemptions             12

        10      Performance             12

THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

<PAGE>

1    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

Our  investment  objective  is  long-term  growth of capital and income  without
excessive fluctuations in market value.

2    FEE TABLE

A summary of the Fund's expenses is set forth in the table below. The example is
not a representation of past or future expenses.  Actual expenses may be greater
or less than those shown.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                              Class A                Class B                             Class C
                                              Shares                 Shares                              Shares
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>                   <C>                                    <C>
  Shareholder Transaction Expenses(1)
  (as a percentage of offering price)
  Maximum Sales Load(2) on Purchases
  (See "Purchases")                           5.75%                  None                                None

  Deferred Sales Load(2) (See "Purchases")    None                   5% if shares are redeemed           1% if shares
                                                                     before 1st anniversary              are redeemed
                                                                     of purchase, declining              before 1st anniversary
                                                                     to 1% before 6th                    of purchase
                                                                     anniversary and
                                                                     eliminated on and
                                                                     after 6th anniversary(3)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Annual Fund Operating Expenses(4)
  (as a percentage of average net assets)
  Management Fees (See "Our Management")      0.32%                   0.32%                   0.32%
  12b-1 Fees (See "Purchases")(1)(2)          0.22%                   1.00%                   1.00%
  Other Expenses (See "Our Management")       0.13%                   0.13%                   0.13%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Total Operating Expenses                    0.67%                   1.45%                   1.45%

<FN>

Example:Assume  an  annual  return  of 5% and there is no change in the level of
        expenses described above. For a $1,000 investment,  with reinvestment of
        all  distributions,  you would have paid the following  total  expenses,
        assuming redemption before the end of each time period indicated:

                    1 year     3 years      5 years   10 years
Class A shares      $64       $78            $93       $136
Class B shares      $64       $75            $98       $152
Class C shares      $25       $46            $79       $174


You  would  pay the  following  expenses  on the same  investment,  assuming  no
redemption:

                    1 year    3 years        5 years   10 years
Class A shares      $64       $78            $93       $136
Class B shares      $15       $46            $79       $152
Class C shares      $15       $46            $79       $174

(1)Although  the Fund does not,  with respect to the Class B and Class C shares,
charge a  front-end  sales  charge,  investors  should be aware  that  long-term
shareholders  may pay, under the Rule 12b-1 plans  applicable to the Class B and
Class C shares of the Fund (both of which pay  annual  0.25%  service  and 0.75%
distribution  fees), more than the economic  equivalent of the maximum front-end
sales  charge as  permitted  by certain  rules of the  National  Association  of
Securities  Dealers,  Inc. Likewise,  with respect to Class A shares,  investors
should be aware that,  over the long term,  such  maximum may be exceeded due to
the Rule 12b-1 plan  applicable  to Class A shares which permits the Fund to pay
up to 0.50% in total  annual  fees,  half for  service  and the  other  half for
distribution.  The 12b-1 fee for the Class A shares has been restated to reflect
estimated current fees under the recently amended Class A 12b-1 plan; the actual
12b-1 fees for such shares for the fiscal year ended  October 31, 1996 under the
former plan were 0.21%.

(2)Sales  "load" is  referred  to as sales  "charge",  "deferred  sales load" is
referred to as  "contingent  deferred sales charge" (or "CDSC") and "12b-1 fees"
which  consist of a "service  fee" and a  "distribution  fee" are referred to by
either or both of these terms where appropriate with respect to Class A, Class B
and Class C shares throughout this Prospectus.

(3) Class B shares  will  automatically  convert to Class A shares on the eighth
anniversary of the purchase of Class B shares.

(4)The annual  operating  expenses  shown in the summary have been restated from
October 31, 1996 fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees.

The  foregoing  is provided  to give  investors  a better  understanding  of the
expenses that are incurred by an investment in the Series.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

3    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The  following  table has been  audited by  Deloitte & Touche  llp,  independent
public  accountants,  in  connection  with  their  annual  audit  of the  Fund's
Financial  Statements,  whose report thereon is incorporated by reference in the
Statement of Additional Information and may be obtained on request, and has been
included  herein in reliance upon their  authority as experts in accounting  and
auditing.
<TABLE>

  Per Class A Share+ Operating                            Year Ended October 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C> 
  Performance:                          1996      1995      1994      1993     1992      1991     1990      1989     1988      1987
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Net asset value, beginning of year   $11.98    $11.03    $11.26   $10.55    $10.29    $8.91    $10.43    $9.64    $10.44    $11.71
  Income from investment operations
  Net investment income                   .30       .32       .31      .31       .38      .40       .44      .46       .46      .51
  Net realized and unrealized
  gain (loss) on investments             2.23      1.70       .38     1.43       .61     1.92     (1.16)    1.16       .57     (.12)
  Total from investment operations       2.53      2.02       .69     1.74       .99     2.32      (.72)    1.62      1.03       .39
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Distributions
  Dividends from net investment income   (.30)     (.30)     (.32)    (.35)     (.40)    (.41)     (.44)    (.48)    (.49)     (.52)
  Distributions from net realized gain  (1.19)     (.77)     (.60)    (.68)     (.33)    (.53)     (.36)    (.35)   (1.34)    (1.14)
  Net asset value, end of year         $13.02    $11.98    $11.03   $11.26    $10.55    $10.29    $8.91   $10.43    $9.64    $10.44
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Total Return*                         23.23%    20.46%     6.66%   17.76%    10.36%    28.00%   (7.57)%  18.04%   12.19%    2.84%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Ratios/Supplemental Data:
  Ratios to Average Net Assets:
  Expenses                               0.66%    0.63%      0.63%    0.63%     0.60%    0.58%    0.50%    0.42%     0.43%    0.37%
  Net investment income                  2.61%    2.90%      2.91%    2.95%     3.73%    4.22%    4.37%    4.64%     5.00%    4.18%

</TABLE>
<TABLE>


                                                   Class B Shares                 Class C Shares
  Per Class Share Operating                        August 1, 1996** to            August 1, 1996** to
  Performance:                                     October 31, 1996               October 31, 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                           <C>   
  Net asset value, beginning of period                    $11.88                        $11.88
  Income from investment operations
  Net investment income                                   .060                          .062
  Net realized and unrealized
  gain on securities                                      1.142                         1.130
  Total from investment operations                        1.202                         1.192
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Distributions
  Dividends from net investment income                    (.052)                        (.052)
  Net asset value, end of period                          $13.03                        $13.02
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Total Return*                                           10.15%++                      10.07%++
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Ratios/Supplemental Data:
  Ratios to Average Net Assets:
  Expenses                                                0.34%++                       0.33%++
  Net investment income                                   0.27%++                       0.25%++
<FN>

*   Total return does not consider the effects of sales charges.
**  Commencement of offering Class shares.
+   The Fund had only one class of shares prior to July 12, 1996. That class of 
    shares is now designated Class A shares.
++  Not annualized.
    See Notes to Financial Statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                       Year Ended October 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>      <C>      <C>     <C>      <C>     <C>      <C>     <C>      <C>    <C> 
  Supplemental Data For All Classes:   1996     1995     1994    1993     1992    1991     1990    1989     1988   1987
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Net assets, end of year (000)$6,100,665$4,964,525$4,229,586$4,174,033$3,680,332$3,565,230$3,032,954$3,550,414$3,339,427 $3,364,128
  Portfolio turnover rate             47.06%  53.84%   51.48%   45.15%   42.00%  56.38%  31.78%   34.08%   26.95%   43.11%
  Average commissions per share
  paid on equity transactions $0.064  $0.063        -        -        -       -       -        -      -       -
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

4    HOW WE INVEST

We believe that long-term investors purchase and redeem shares to meet their own
financial requirements rather than to take advantage of price fluctuations.
If so,  their  needs  will be best  served by a growth  investment  seeking  low
fluctuations  in  market  value.  For this  reason,  we try to keep  our  assets
invested in  securities  which are selling at  reasonable  prices in relation to
value and, thus, we are willing to forgo some  opportunities  for gains when, in
our judgment, they carry excessive risk.

We try to  anticipate  major  changes in the economy and select  stocks which we
believe will benefit most from these changes.  We also look for positive  change
within market sectors, industries and individual companies.

Normally we invest in large,  seasoned companies,  in sound financial condition,
issuing  common stocks  (including  securities  convertible  into common stocks)
which are expected to perform  above  average with respect to earnings and price
appreciation. Although the prices of common stocks fluctuate and their dividends
vary, historically,  common stocks have appreciated in value and their dividends
have increased when the companies they represent have prospered and grown.

We constantly  balance the  opportunity  for profit against the risk of loss. In
the past,  very few industries  have  continuously  provided the best investment
opportunities. We believe it is important to take a flexible approach and adjust
the  portfolio  to reflect  changes in the  opportunities  for sound  investment
relative to the risks assumed. Therefore, we sell securities that we judge to be
overpriced and reinvest the proceeds in other  securities which we believe offer
better value.

We may (a) for income and  flexibility,  write covered call options  traded on a
national  securities  exchange with respect to securities in our portfolio,  (b)
invest  up to 10% of our net  assets  (at the  time of  investment)  in  foreign
securities and (c) invest in straight bonds or other debt securities,  including
lower rated,  high-yield  bonds.  We do not intend to write covered call options
with respect to  securities  with an aggregate  market value of more than 10% of
our gross assets at the time an option is written.  We will not invest more than
5% of our net  assets  (at the time of  investment)  in lower  rated  (BB/Ba  or
lower), high-yield bonds.

The Fund may engage in the lending of its portfolio securities.  These loans may
not exceed 30% of the value of the Fund's total assets.  In such an arrangement,
the Fund lends securities from its portfolio to registered broker-dealers.  Such
loans are continuously  collateralized.  Such collateral must be maintained on a
current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the  securities
loaned.  Cash  collateral  is  invested  in  short-term  obligations  issued  or
guaranteed  by the U.S.  Government or its  agencies,  commercial  paper or bond
obligations rated AA or A-1/P-1 by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P") or
Moody's Investors Service  ("Moody's") or repurchase  agreements with respect to
the foregoing.  As with other extensions of credit,  there are risks of delay in
recovery and loss should the borrower of the security fail financially.

We do not purchase securities for trading purposes. To create reserve purchasing
power and also for temporary defensive  purposes,  we may invest in high-quality
money market instruments (short-term  obligations of banks,  corporations or the
U.S. Government).

<PAGE>


The  Fund  may  invest  up to 15% of its  net  assets  in  illiquid  securities.
Securities  determined by the Fund's Board of Directors to be liquid pursuant to
Securities and Exchange  Commission  Rule 144A ("Rule 144A") will not be subject
to this  limit.  Under  Rule  144A,  a  qualifying  security  may be resold to a
qualified institutional buyer without registration and without regard to whether
the seller originally purchased the security for investment.  Investments by the
Fund in Rule 144A  securities  initially  determined to be liquid could have the
effect of  diminishing  the level of the  Fund's  liquidity  during  periods  of
decreased market interest in such securities.

We will not change  our  investment  objective  or our  investment  restrictions
without  shareholder  approval.  If we determine  that our objective can best be
achieved by a  substantive  change in  investment  policy,  which may be changed
without  shareholder  approval,  we may make such change by disclosing it in our
prospectus.

Risk  Factors.  Securities  markets of foreign  countries are not subject to the
same degree of regulation as the U.S.  markets and may be more volatile and less
liquid  than  the  major  U.S.  markets.  There  may be less  publicly-available
information on  publicly-traded  issuers in foreign  countries than is generally
the case in the United  States.  The lack of uniform  accounting  standards  and
practices  among  countries  impairs  the  validity  of  direct  comparisons  of
valuation  measures (such as price/earnings  ratios) for securities in different
countries.  Other  considerations  include  political  and  social  instability,
expropriation,  higher transaction  costs,  currency  fluctuations,  withholding
taxes that cannot be passed through as a tax credit or deduction to shareholders
and different securities settlement practices.  Foreign securities may be traded
on days that we do not value our portfolio securities and, accordingly,  our net
asset value may be significantly  affected on days when shareholders do not have
access to the Fund.

Convertible bonds and convertible preferred stocks tend to be more volatile than
straight  bonds but tend to be less  volatile and produce more income than their
underlying common stocks.

5    PURCHASES

ALTERNATIVE SALES ARRANGEMENTS

Classes of Shares.  The Fund offers investors three different classes of shares.
The different  classes of shares represent  investments in the same portfolio of
securities but are subject to different  expenses and will likely have different
share prices.  Investors  should read this section  carefully to determine which
class represents the best investment option for their particular situation.

Class A Shares.  If you buy Class A shares,  you pay an initial  sales charge on
investments  of less than $1 million (or on investments  for  employer-sponsored
retirement  plans under the Internal  Revenue Code  (hereinafter  referred to as
"Retirement Plans") with less than 100 eligible employees or on investments that
do not qualify to be under a "special  retirement  wrap  program"  defined under
"Class A Net Asset Value  Purchases"  below).  If you purchase Class A shares as
part of an  investment of at least $1 million (or for  Retirement  Plans with at
least 100 eligible  employees  or under a special  retirement  wrap  program) in
shares of one or more Lord  Abbett-sponsored  funds, you will not pay an initial
sales  charge,  but if you redeem any of those shares within 24 months after the
month in which you buy them, you may pay to the Fund a contingent deferred sales
charge  ("CDSC") of 1% except for  redemptions  under a special  retirement wrap
program.  Class A shares are subject to service and  distribution  fees that are
currently estimated to total annually approximately 0.22 of 1% of the annual net
asset value of the Class A shares.  The initial sales charge rates, the CDSC and
the Rule 12b-1 plan  applicable  to the Class A shares are  described in "Buying
Class A Shares" below.

Class B Shares.  If you buy Class B shares,  you pay no sales charge at the time
of  purchase,  but if you redeem your  shares  before the sixth  anniversary  of
buying them, you will normally pay a CDSC to Lord Abbett  Distributor LLC ("Lord
Abbett  Distributor").  That CDSC varies  depending  on how long you own shares.
Class B shares are subject to service and distribution fees at an annual rate of
1% of the  annual net asset  value of the Class B shares.  The CDSC and the Rule
12b-1 plan  applicable  to the Class B shares are  described in "Buying  Class B
Shares" below.

Class C Shares.  If you buy Class C shares,  you pay no sales charge at the time
of  purchase,  but if you redeem your  shares  before the first  anniversary  of
buying  them,  you will  normally  pay the Fund a CDSC of 1%. Class C shares are
subject to service and  distribution  fees at an annual rate of 1% of the annual
net  asset  value of the  Class C  shares.  The CDSC  and the  Rule  12b-1  plan
applicable to the C shares are described in "Buying Class C Shares" below.

Which  Class of Shares  Should You  Choose?  Once you decide that the Fund is an
appropriate  investment  for you,  the  decision  as to which class of shares is
better  suited to your needs  depends  on a number of  factors  which you should
discuss with your financial adviser. The Fund's class-specific  expenses and the
effect of the different  types of sales charges on your  investment  will affect
your investment  results over time. The most important  factors are how much you
plan to invest and how long you plan to hold your investment.  If your goals and
objectives  change over time and you plan to  purchase  additional  shares,  you
should  re-evaluate those factors to see if you should consider another class of
shares.

In the following discussion, to help provide you and your financial adviser with
a framework in which to choose a class,  we have made some  assumptions  using a
hypothetical  investment  in the Fund. We used the sales charge rates that apply
to Class  A,  Class B and  Class C, and  considered  the  effect  of the  higher
distribution  fees on Class B and  Class C  expenses  (which  will  affect  your
investment  return). Of course, the actual performance of your investment cannot
be predicted and will vary, based on the Fund's actual investment  returns,  the
operating  expenses  borne by each class of shares,  and the class of shares you
purchase.  The factors briefly discussed below are not intended to be investment
advice,  guidelines  or  recommendations,   because  each  investor's  financial
considerations are different. The discussion below of the factors to consider in
purchasing a particular  class of shares assumes that you will purchase only one
class of shares and not a combination of shares of different classes.

<PAGE>


How Long Do You Expect to Hold Your  Investment?  While future  financial  needs
cannot be  predicted  with  certainty,  knowing how long you expect to hold your
investment  will assist you in selecting the  appropriate  class of shares.  For
example,  over time, the reduced sales charges available for larger purchases of
Class A shares may offset the effect of paying an initial  sales  charge on your
investment,  compared to the effect over time of higher class-specific  expenses
on Class B or Class C shares for which no initial sales charge is paid.  Because
of the effect of  class-based  expenses,  your choice  should also depend on how
much you plan to invest.

Investing for the Short Term. If you have a short-term  investment horizon (that
is,  you plan to hold your  shares  for not more  than six  years),  you  should
probably  consider  purchasing  Class A or Class C shares  rather  than  Class B
shares.  This is because of the effect of the Class B CDSC if you redeem  before
the sixth  anniversary  of your  purchase,  as well as the effect of the Class B
distribution  fee on the  investment  return for that  class in the short  term.
Class C shares might be the  appropriate  choice  (especially for investments of
less than $100,000), because there is no initial sales charge on Class C shares,
and the CDSC does not apply to amounts you redeem after holding them one year.

However,  if you plan to invest more than $100,000 for the short term,  then the
more you invest and the more your investment horizon increases toward six years,
the more  attractive  the Class A share  option may become.  This is because the
annual  distribution  fee on Class C shares  will have a greater  impact on your
account over the longer term than the reduced  front-end sales charge  available
for  larger  purchases  of Class A shares.  For  example,  Class A might be more
appropriate  than Class C for  investments of more than $100,000  expected to be
held for 5 or 6 years (or more).  For investments  over $250,000  expected to be
held 4 to 6 years (or more),  Class A shares may become  more  appropriate  than
Class  C. If you are  investing  $500,000  or  more,  Class  A may  become  more
desirable as your investment horizon approaches 3 years or more.

For most investors who invest $1 million or more or for Retirement Plans with at
least 100 eligible employees or for investments pursuant to a special retirement
wrap program, in most cases Class A shares will be the most advantageous choice,
no matter how long you intend to hold your shares. For that reason,  Lord Abbett
Distributor  normally will not accept  purchase orders (i) for Class B shares of
$500,000  or more and for  Class C shares  of  $1,000,000  or more from a single
investor or (ii) for Class B or C shares (a) for Retirement  Plans with at least
100 eligible employees or (b) for special retirement wrap programs.

Investing  for the Longer Term.  If you are  investing  for the longer term (for
example,  to provide  for future  college  expenses  for your  child) and do not
expect to need access to your money for seven years or more,  Class B shares may
be an appropriate  investment  option, if you plan to invest less than $100,000.
If you plan to invest more than $100,000 over the long term, Class A shares will
likely be more  advantageous than Class B shares or Class C shares, as discussed
above,  because of the effect of the expected  lower expenses for Class A shares
and the reduced initial sales charges available for larger  investments in Class
A shares under the Fund's Rights of Accumulation.  Of course, these examples are
based on approximations of the effect of current sales charges and expenses on a
hypothetical  investment  over  time,  and  should  not be  relied  on as  rigid
guidelines.

Are There  Differences  in Account  Features  That Matter to You?  Some  account
features  are  available  in whole or in part to  Class A,  Class B and  Class C
shareholders.  Other features (such as Systematic Withdrawal Plans) might not be
advisable in non-Retirement  Plan accounts for Class B shareholders  (because of
the effect of the CDSC on the entire  amount of a  withdrawal  if it exceeds 12%
annually) and in any account for Class C  shareholders  during the first year of
share  ownership  (due  to the  CDSC  on  withdrawals  during  that  year).  See
"Systematic  Withdrawal Plan" under "Shareholder  Services" for more information
about the 12% annual  waiver of the CDSC.  You should  carefully  review how you
plan to use your  investment  account before  deciding which class of shares you
buy. For example, the dividends payable to Class B and Class C shareholders will
be reduced by the expenses  borne solely by each of these  classes,  such as the
higher  distribution  fee to which  Class B and Class C shares are  subject,  as
described below.

How Does It Affect Payments to My Broker?  A salesperson,  such as a broker,  or
any other person who is entitled to receive compensation for selling Fund shares
may  receive  different  compensation  for  selling  one class than for  selling
another class. As discussed in more detail below, such compensation is primarily
paid at the time of sale in the case of  Class A and B shares  and is paid  over
time, so long as shares remain outstanding, in the case of Class C shares. It is
important that investors understand that the primary purpose of the CDSC for the
Class B shares  and the  distribution  fee for Class B and Class C shares is the
same as the purpose of the front-end sales charge on sales of Class A shares: to
compensate  brokers and other persons selling such shares. The CDSC, if payable,
supplements  the Class B  distribution  fee and reduces the Class C distribution
fee expenses for the Fund and Class C shareholders.

GENERAL

How  Much  Must You  Invest?  You may buy our  shares  through  any  independent
securities  dealer having a sales  agreement with Lord Abbett  Distributor,  our
exclusive selling agent. Place your order with your investment dealer or send it
to Lord Abbett  Affiliated  Fund, Inc. (P.O. Box 419100,  Kansas City,  Missouri
64141). The minimum initial investment is $250. For Invest-A-Matic and Div-Move,
the  subsequent  minimum  investment  is $50. See  "Shareholder  Services".  For
information  regarding the proper form of a purchase or redemption  order,  call
the Fund at 800-821-5129.  This offering may be suspended, changed or withdrawn.
Lord Abbett  Distributor  reserves the right to reject any order.  The net asset
value of our shares is calculated  every business day as of the close of the New
York Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE")  by  dividing  net assets by the number of shares
outstanding. Securities are valued at their market value as more fully described
in the Statement of Additional Information.

Buying Shares Through Your Dealer.  Orders for shares received by the Fund prior
to the  close of the  NYSE,  or  received  by  dealers  prior to such  close and
received by Lord Abbett Distributor prior to the close of its business day, will
be confirmed at the  applicable  public  offering  price  effective at such NYSE
close.  Orders  received by dealers  after the NYSE closes and  received by Lord
Abbett  Distributor  in proper form prior to the close of its next  business day
are executed at the applicable  public  offering price effective as of the close
of the NYSE on that next business day. The dealer is responsible  for the timely
transmission  of orders to Lord Abbett  Distributor.  A business day is a day on
which the NYSE is open for trading.  Lord Abbett  Distributor may, for specified
periods,  allow  dealers  to retain  the full  sales  charge for sales of shares
during such periods,  or pay an additional  concession to a dealer who, during a
specified  period,  sells a minimum dollar amount of our shares and/or shares of
other  Lord   Abbett-sponsored   funds.  In  some  instances,   such  additional
concessions will be offered only to certain dealers expected to sell significant
amounts of shares.  Lord Abbett  Distributor  may, from time to time,  implement
promotions  under which Lord Abbett  Distributor  will pay a fee to dealers with
respect  to  certain  purchases  not  involving  imposition  of a sales  charge.
Additional payments may be paid from Lord Abbett Distributor's own resources and
will be made in the  form of cash  or,  if  permitted,  non-cash  payments.  The
non-cash  payments will include business seminars at resorts or other locations,
including  meals and  entertainment,  or the  receipt of  merchandise.  The cash
payments will include  payment of various  business  expenses of the dealer.  In
selecting dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund's portfolio, if
two or more dealers are considered  capable of obtaining best execution,  we may
prefer  the  dealer  who has  sold  our  shares  and/or  shares  of  other  Lord
Abbett-sponsored funds.

Buying  Class A  Shares.  The  offering  price of Class A shares is based on the
per-share  net asset value next  computed  after your order is  accepted  plus a
sales charge as follows.


                              Sales Charge as a   Dealer's
                              Percentage of:      Concession
                                                  as a           To Compute
                                        Net       Percentage     Offering
                              Offering  Amount    of Offering    Price, Divide
  Size of Investment          Price     Invested   Price         NAV by
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Less than $50,000           5.75%     6.10%       5.00%        .9425
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $50,000 to $99,999          4.75%     4.99%       4.00%        .9525
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $100,000 to $249,999        3.75%     3.90%       3.25%        .9625
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $250,000 to $499,999        2.75%     2.83%       2.25%        .9725
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $500,000 to $999,999        2.00%     2.04%       1.75%        .9800
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $1,000,000 or more         No Sales Charge        1.00%+      1.0000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

+Authorized  institutions  receive concessions on purchases made by a retirement
plan, pursuant to a special retirement wrap program or other qualified purchaser
within a 12-month period  (beginning with the first net asset value purchase) as
follows:  1.00% on purchases of $5 million,  0.55% of the next $5 million, 0.50%
of the next $40 million and 0.25% on purchases  over $50  million.  See "Class A
Rule 12b-1 Plan" below.
   
Class A Share Volume  Discounts.  This section describes several ways to qualify
for a lower  sales  charge  when  purchasing  Class A shares if you inform  Lord
Abbett  Distributor  or the Fund that you are  eligible at the time of purchase.
(1) Any purchaser (as described below) may aggregate a Class A share purchase in
the Fund with any share  purchases of any other  eligible Lord  Abbett-sponsored
fund, together with the current value at maximum offering price of any shares in
the Fund and in any eligible Lord Abbett-sponsored  funds held by the purchaser.
(Holdings  in the  following  funds are not  eligible  for the  above  rights of
accumulation:  Lord  Abbett  Equity  Fund  ("LAEF"),  Lord  Abbett  Series  Fund
("LASF"),  any series of Lord  Abbett  Research  Fund not offered to the general
public  ("LARF") and Lord Abbett U.S.  Government  Securities  Money Market Fund
("GSMMF"),  except for  holdings in GSMMF which are  attributable  to any shares
exchanged  from  a Lord  Abbett-sponsored  fund.)  (2) A  purchaser  may  sign a
non-binding  13-month  statement of  intention to invest  $50,000 or more in any
shares  of the  Fund or in any of the  above  eligible  funds.  If the  intended
purchases  are  completed  during the period,  the total amount of your intended
purchases  of any shares will  determine  the reduced  sales charge rate for the
Class A shares purchased during the period. If not completed, each Class A share
purchase  will be at the sales  charge for the  aggregate  of the  actual  share
purchases. Shares issued upon reinvestment of dividends or distributions are not
included in the statement of  intention.  The term  "purchaser"  includes (i) an
individual,  (ii) an individual and his or her spouse and children under the age
of 21 and (iii) a trustee  or other  fiduciary  purchasing  shares  for a single
trust estate or single fiduciary account  (including a pension,  profit-sharing,
or other  employee  benefit  trust  qualified  under Section 401 of the Internal
Revenue  Code -- more  than one  qualified  employee  benefit  trust of a single
employer,  including its consolidated  subsidiaries,  may be considered a single
trust, as may qualified plans of multiple employers  registered in the name of a
single bank  trustee as one  account),  although  more than one  beneficiary  is
involved.

Class A Share Net Asset Value Purchases.  Our Class A shares may be purchased at
net asset value by our  directors,  employees of Lord  Abbett,  employees of our
shareholder  servicing  agent and  employees of any  securities  dealer having a
sales  agreement with Lord Abbett  Distributor who consents to such purchases or
by the trustee or custodian under any pension or profit-sharing  plan or Payroll
Deduction IRA  established for the benefit of such persons or for the benefit of
any national  securities trade  organization to which Lord Abbett or Lord Abbett
Distributor  belongs or any company with an  account(s) in excess of $10 million
managed by Lord Abbett on a private-advisory-account basis. For purposes of this
paragraph,  the  terms  "directors"  and  "employees"  include a  director's  or
employee's  spouse  (including  the surviving  spouse of a deceased  director or
employee).

<PAGE>


The terms  "directors"  and "employees of Lord Abbett" also include other family
members  and retired  directors  and  employees.  Our Class A shares also may be
purchased at net asset value (a) at $1 million or more,  (b) with  dividends and
distributions on Class A shares of other Lord Abbett-sponsored funds, except for
dividends and distributions on shares of LARF, LAEF and LASF, (c) under the loan
feature of the Lord  Abbett-sponsored  prototype  403(b)  plan for Class A share
purchases  representing the repayment of principal and interest,  (d) by certain
authorized brokers,  dealers,  registered investment advisers or other financial
institutions who have entered into an agreement with Lord Abbett  Distributor in
accordance with certain standards approved by Lord Abbett Distributor, providing
specifically for the use of our Class A shares in particular investment products
made  available  for a fee to  clients  of  such  brokers,  dealers,  registered
investment  advisers and other  financial  institutions  ("mutual  fund wrap fee
programs"),  (e) by employees,  partners and owners of unaffiliated  consultants
and advisers to Lord Abbett,  Lord Abbett  Distributor or Lord  Abbett-sponsored
funds who consent to such  purchase  if such  persons  provide  services to Lord
Abbett,  Lord Abbett  Distributor  or such funds on a  continuing  basis and are
familiar with such fund, (f) through Retirement Plans with at least 100 eligible
employees, (g) subject to appropriate documentation, through a securities dealer
where the amount invested represents  redemption proceeds from shares ("Redeemed
Shares") of a registered open-end management  investment company not distributed
or managed by Lord Abbett  Distributor or Lord Abbett (other than a money market
fund),  if such  redemptions  have  occurred  no more than 60 days  prior to the
purchase of our Class A shares,  the Redeemed  Shares were held for at least six
months prior to  redemption  and the proceeds of redemption  were  maintained in
cash or a money market fund prior to purchase.  Purchasers  should  consider the
impact, if any, of contingent  deferred sales charges in determining  whether to
redeem  shares for  subsequent  investment  in our Class A shares.  Lord  Abbett
Distributor  may suspend or  terminate  the purchase  option  referred to in (g)
above at any time.  (We plan that on June 1, 1997 the net asset  value  transfer
privileges  will be  terminated.)  and (h)  through a "special  retirement  wrap
program"   sponsored  by  an   authorized   institution   showing  one  or  more
characteristics  distinguishing  it, in the opinion of Lord  Abbett  Distributor
from a mutual fund wrap fee program. Such characteristics  include,  among other
things, the fact that an authorized  institution does not charge its clients any
fee of a consulting or advisory  nature that is  economically  equivalent to the
distribution  fee under Class A 12b-1 Plan and the fact that the program relates
to participant-directed Retirement Plans.

Class A Rule 12b-1 Plan. We have adopted a Class A share Rule 12b-1 plan (the "A
Plan") which authorizes the payment of fees to authorized  institutions  (except
as to certain  accounts for which  tracking  data is not  available) in order to
provide additional incentives for them (a) to provide continuing information and
investment  services to their Class A  shareholder  accounts  and  otherwise  to
encourage  those accounts to remain invested in the Fund and (b) to sell Class A
shares  of the  Fund.  Under  the A Plan,  in  order to save on the  expense  of
shareholders' meetings and to provide flexibility to the Board of Directors, the
Board,  including a majority of the outside  directors  who are not  "interested
persons"  of the Fund as  defined  in the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940,  is
authorized to approve  annual fee payments from our Class A assets of up to 0.50
of 1% of the average net of such assets  consisting of distribution  and service
fees,  each at a maximum  annual rate not  exceeding  0.25 of 1% except that the
service fee may not exceed 0.15 of 1% in the case of shares sold or attributable
to shares sold prior to June 1, 1990 (the "Fee Ceiling").

Under the A Plan,  the Board has  approved  payments  by the Fund to Lord Abbett
Distributor  which uses or passes on to  authorized  institutions  (1) an annual
service fee (payable  quarterly) of .25% of the average daily net asset value of
the  Class A shares  serviced  by  authorized  institutions  and (2) a  one-time
distribution fee of up to 1% (reduced according to the following schedule: 1% of
the first $5 million,  .55% of the next $5 million, .50% of the next $40 million
and .25% over $50  million),  payable  at the time of sale on all Class A shares
sold during any  12-month  period  starting  from the day of the first net asset
value sale (i) at the $1 million  level by  authorized  institutions,  including
sales qualifying at such level under the rights of accumulation and statement of
intention  privileges;  (ii) through Retirement Plans with at least 100 eligible
employees or (iii) constituting a new sale pursuant to a special retirement wrap
program and excluding exchanges into the Fund under such a program. In addition,
the Board has  approved  for those  authorized  institutions  which  qualify,  a
supplemental  annual  distribution  fee equal to 0.10% of the average  daily net
asset value of the Class A shares serviced by authorized institutions which have
a satisfactory program for the promotion of such shares comprising a significant
percentage  of the Class A assets,  with a lower than average  redemption  rate.
Institutions  and persons  permitted by law to receive such fees are "authorized
institutions".

Under the A Plan, Lord Abbett  Distributor is permitted to use payments received
to provide continuing  services to Class A shareholder  accounts not serviced by
authorized  institutions and, with Board approval, to finance any activity which
is primarily intended to result in the sale of Class

A shares.  Any such payments are subject to the Fee Ceiling.  Any payments under
that Plan not used by Lord  Abbett  Distributor  in this manner are passed on to
authorized institutions.

Holders of Class A shares on which the 1% sales  distribution  fee has been paid
may be  required to pay to the Fund on behalf of its Class A shares a CDSC of 1%
of the  original  cost or the then net asset value,  whichever  is less,  of all
Class A shares so purchased which are redeemed out of the Lord  Abbett-sponsored
family of funds on or before the end of the twenty-fourth  month after the month
in which the purchase  occurred.  (Exceptions  are made for: (i)  redemptions by
Retirement  Plans  due to any  benefit  payment  such  as Plan  loans,  hardship
withdrawals, death, retirement or

<PAGE>


separation from service with respect to plan participants or the distribution of
any excess  contributions  and (ii) redemptions which continue as investments in
another fund participating in a special retirement wrap program.) If the Class A
shares have been  exchanged  into  another  Lord  Abbett-sponsored  fund and are
thereafter  redeemed out of the Lord Abbett family of funds on or before the end
of such twenty-fourth month, the charge will be collected for the Fund's Class A
shares by the other  fund.  The Fund will  collect  such a charge for other Lord
Abbett-sponsored funds in a similar situation.

Buying  Class B Shares.  Class B shares  are sold at net  asset  value per share
without an initial  sales  charge.  However,  if Class B shares are redeemed for
cash before the sixth anniversary of their purchase, a CDSC may be deducted from
the redemption proceeds. That sales charge will not apply to shares purchased by
the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. The charge will be
assessed  on the  lesser  of the net  asset  value of the  shares at the time of
redemption  or the  original  purchase  price.  The Class B CDSC is paid to Lord
Abbett Distributor to compensate it for its services rendered in connection with
the distribution of Class B shares, including the payment and financing of sales
commissions.  See "Class B Rule 12b-1 Plan" below. To determine whether the CDSC
applies to a redemption,  the Fund redeems  shares in the following  order:  (1)
shares acquired by  reinvestment  of dividends and capital gains  distributions,
(2) shares held until the sixth  anniversary of their purchase or later, and (3)
shares held the longest before the sixth anniversary of their purchase.

The amount of the CDSC will depend on the number of years since you invested and
the dollar amount being redeemed, according to the following schedule.

Anniversary
of the Day on              Contingent Deferred
Which the Purchase         Sales Charge on
Order Was Accepted         Redemptions
                           (As % of Amount
On              Before     Subject to Charge)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                1st              5.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st             2nd              4.0%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd             3rd              3.0%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd             4th              3.0%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4th             5th              2.0%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5th             6th              1.0%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
on or after the                     None
6th anniversary


In the table,  an  "anniversary"  is the 365th day subsequent to a purchase or a
prior  anniversary.  All  purchases  are  considered  to have  been  made on the
business  day the  purchase was made.  See "Buying  Shares  Through Your Dealer"
above.

If  Class  B  shares  are  exchanged   into  the  same  class  of  another  Lord
Abbett-sponsored  fund and the new shares  are  subsequently  redeemed  for cash
before the sixth anniversary of the original purchase,  the CDSC will be payable
on the new shares on the basis of the time elapsed  from the original  purchase.
The Fund will collect such a charge for other Lord  Abbett-sponsored  funds in a
similar situation.

Waiver of Class B Sales Charges.  The Class B CDSC will not be applied to shares
purchased in certain types of transactions  nor will it apply to shares redeemed
in certain circumstances as described below.
The Class B CDSC will be waived for redemptions of shares (i) in connection with
the  Systematic  Withdrawal  Plan and  Div-Move  services,  as described in more
detail under  "Shareholder  Services" below; (ii) by Retirement Plans due to any
benefit payment such as Plan loans, hardship withdrawals,  death,  retirement or
separation from service with respect to plan participants or the distribution of
any excess contributions, (iii) in connection with mandatory distributions under
403(b) plans and  individual  retirement  accounts and (iv) in  connection  with
death of the shareholder.

Class B Rule 12b-1  Plan.  The Fund has  adopted a Class B share Rule 12b-1 plan
(the "B Plan") under which the Fund  periodically  pays Lord Abbett  Distributor
(i) an annual  service fee of 0.25 of 1% of the average daily net asset value of
the  Class B shares  and (ii) an  annual  distribution  fee of 0.75 of 1% of the
average  daily net asset  value of the Class B shares that are  outstanding  for
less than 8 years.  Lord Abbett  Distributor  uses the service fee to compensate
authorized  institutions for providing  personal services for accounts that hold
Class B shares. Those services are primarily similar to those provided under the
A Plan, described above.
Lord Abbett  Distributor  pays an up-front  payment to  authorized  institutions
totalling 4%,  consisting of 0.25% for service and 3.75% for a sales  commission
as described below.

Lord Abbett Distributor pays the 0.25% service fee to authorized institutions in
advance for the first year after Class B shares have been sold by the authorized
institutions.  After  the  shares  have  been  held  for  a  year,  Lord  Abbett
Distributor pays the service fee on a quarterly basis.  Lord Abbett  Distributor
is entitled to retain such service fee payable  under the B Plan with respect to
accounts  for which there is no  authorized  institution  of record or for which
such authorized  institution  did not qualify.  Although not obligated to do so,
Lord Abbett  Distributor  may waive  receipt from the Fund or part of all of the
service fee payments.

The  0.75%  annual  distribution  fee is  paid  to Lord  Abbett  Distributor  to
compensate it for its services  rendered in connection with the  distribution of
Class B shares,  including  the  payment  and  financing  of sales  commissions.
Although Class B shares are sold without a front-end  sales charge,  Lord Abbett
Distributor pays authorized institutions responsible for sales of Class B shares
a sales  commission of 3.75% of the purchase price.  This payment is made at the
time of sale from Lord Abbett Distributor's own resources.  Lord Abbett has made
arrangements to finance these commission  payments,  which arrangements  include
non-recourse  assignments by Lord Abbett  Distributor to the financing  party of
such distribution and CDSC payments which are made to Lord Abbett Distributor by
shareholders who redeem their Class B shares within six years of their purchase.
The  distribution  fee and CDSC payments  described above allow investors to buy
Class B shares  without a front-end  sales  charge  while  allowing  Lord Abbett
Distributor to compensate authorized  institutions that sell Class B shares. The
CDSC is intended to supplement Lord Abbett  Distributor's  reimbursement for the
commission  payments it has made with  respect to Class B shares and its related
distribution  and financing  costs. The distribution fee payments are at a fixed
rate and the CDSC payments are of a nature that,  during any year, both forms of
payment may not be  sufficient  to  reimburse  Lord Abbett  Distributor  for its
actual expenses. The Fund is not liable for any expenses incurred by Lord Abbett
Distributor in excess of (i) the amount of such  distribution fee payments to be
received by Lord Abbett Distributor and (ii) unreimbursed  distribution expenses
of Lord Abbett  Distributor  incurred in a prior plan year, subject to the right
of the Board of Directors or shareholders to terminate the B Plan. Over the long
term, the expenses incurred by Lord Abbett  Distributor are likely to be greater
than such  distribution  fee and CDSC  payments.  Nevertheless,  there  exists a
possibility  that for a short-term  period Lord Abbett  Distributor may not have
sufficient expenses to warrant reimbursement by receipt of such distribution fee
payments. Although Lord Abbett Distributor undertakes not to make a profit under
the B Plan,  the B Plan is considered a  compensation  plan (i.e.,  distribution
fees are paid regardless of expenses incurred) in order to avoid the possibility
of Lord Abbett  Distributor not being able to receive  distribution fees because
of a temporary timing difference  between its incurring  expenses and receipt of
such distribution fees.

Automatic  Conversion  of Class B  Shares.  On the  eighth  anniversary  of your
purchase of Class B shares,  those shares will automatically  convert to Class A
shares.  This  conversion  relieves  Class B  shareholders  of the higher annual
distribution fee that applies to Class B shares under the Class

B Rule 12b-1 Plan.  The  conversion is based on the relative net asset values of
the two classes,  and no sales  charge or other charge is imposed.  When Class B
shares convert,  any other Class B shares that were acquired by the reinvestment
of dividends and distributions will also convert to Class A shares on a pro rata
basis.  The conversion  feature is subject to the continued  availability  of an
opinion of counsel or of a tax ruling  described in "Purchases,  Redemptions and
Shareholder Services" in the Statement of Additional Information.

Buying  Class C Shares.  Class C shares  are sold at net  asset  value per share
without an initial  sales  charge.  However,  if Class C shares are redeemed for
cash  before  the  first  anniversary  of their  purchase,  a CDSC of 1% will be
deducted from the redemption proceeds.  That reimbursement charge will not apply
to  shares   purchased  by  the  reinvestment  of  dividends  or  capital  gains
distributions.  The charge will be assessed on the lesser of the net asset value
of the shares at the time of  redemption  or the original  purchase  price.  The
Class C CDSC is paid to the Fund to reimburse  it, in whole or in part,  for the
service and  distribution  fee payments made by the Fund at the time such shares
were sold, as described below.

To determine  whether the CDSC applies to a redemption,  the Fund redeems shares
in the following  order:  (1) shares  acquired by  reinvestment of dividends and
capital gains distributions, (2) shares held for one year or more and (3) shares
held the longest  before the first  anniversary  of their  purchase.  If Class C
shares are exchanged into the same class of another Lord  Abbett-sponsored  fund
and  subsequently  redeemed  before  the  first  anniversary  of their  original
purchase,  the  charge  will be  collected  by the other  fund on behalf of this
Fund's  Class C  shares.  The Fund will  collect  such a charge  for other  Lord
Abbett-sponsored funds in a similar situation.

Class C Rule 12b-1  Plan.  The Fund has  adopted a Class C share Rule 12b-1 Plan
(the "C Plan") under which  (except as to certain  accounts  for which  tracking
data is not available) the Fund pays authorized institutions through Lord Abbett
Distributor  (1) a service  fee and a  distribution  fee, at the time shares are
sold, not to exceed 0.25 and 0.75 of 1%, respectively, of the net asset value of
such shares and (2) at each quarter-end  after the first anniversary of the sale
of shares, fees for services and distribution at annual rates not to exceed 0.25
and 0.75 of 1%  respectively,  of the  average  annual  net asset  value of such
shares  outstanding  (payments with respect to shares not outstanding during the
full  quarter to be  prorated).  These  service  and  distribution  fees are for
purposes  similar to those mentioned above with respect to the A Plan.  Sales in
clause (1) exclude shares issued for reinvested  dividends and distributions and
shares outstanding in clause (2) include shares issued for reinvested  dividends
and distributions after the first anniversary of their issuance.

6    SHAREHOLDER SERIVCES

We offer the following shareholder services:

Telephone  Exchange  Privilege:  Shares of any class may be exchanged  without a
service   charge:   (a)  for  shares  of  the  same  class  of  any  other  Lord
Abbett-sponsored  fund  except  for (i)  LAEF,  LASF and  LARF and (ii)  certain
tax-free,  single-state series where the exchanging shareholder is a resident of
a state in which such  series is not  offered for sale and (b) for shares of any
authorized  institution's  affiliated  money market fund  satisfying Lord Abbett
Distributor  as  to  certain  omnibus  account  and  other  criteria  (together,
"Eligible Funds").

You or your representative  with proper  identification can instruct the Fund to
exchange  uncertificated  shares  of a class  (held by the  transfer  agent)  by
telephone.  Shareholders  have this privilege  unless they refuse it in writing.
The Fund will not be liable for following instructions communicated by telephone
that it reasonably believes to be genuine and will employ reasonable  procedures
to confirm that instructions  received are genuine,  including requesting proper
identification  and  recording  all telephone  exchanges.  Instructions  must be
received  by the Fund in Kansas  City  (800-821-5129)  prior to the close of the
NYSE to  obtain  each  fund's  net  asset  value  per  class  share on that day.
Expedited  exchanges  by  telephone  may be  difficult  to implement in times of
drastic economic or market change.  The exchange privilege should not be used to
take advantage of short-term  swings in the market.  The Fund reserves the right
to  terminate  or limit the  privilege  of any  shareholder  who makes  frequent
exchanges.  The Fund can revoke the privilege for all shareholders upon 60 days'
prior written  notice.  A prospectus  for the other Lord  Abbett-sponsored  fund
selected by you should be obtained and read before an exchange.  Exercise of the
Exchange  Privilege  will be treated as a sale for federal  income tax  purposes
and, depending on the circumstances, a capital gain or loss may be recognized.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan ("SWP"):  Except for Retirement Plans for which there
is no such minimum,  if the maximum offering price value of your  uncertificated
shares is at least $10,000, you may have periodic cash withdrawals automatically
paid to you in either fixed or variable amounts. With respect to Class B shares,
the CDSC will be waived on  redemptions of up to 12% per year of the current net
asset  value of your  account at the time your SWP is  established.  For Class B
shares (over 12% per year) and C shares,  redemption  proceeds due to a SWP will
be derived from the following  sources in the order listed:  (1) shares acquired
by reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, (2) shares held for six years or
more  (Class B) or one year or more  (Class C); and (3) shares  held the longest
before the sixth  anniversary  of their  purchase  (Class B) or before the first
anniversary of their purchase (Class C). For redemptions  over 12% per year, the
CDSC will apply to the entire redemption. Therefore, please contact the Fund for
assistance  in minimizing  the CDSC in this  situation.  Shareholders  should be
careful in  establishing a SWP,  especially to the extent that such a withdrawal
exceeds the annual total return for a class,  in which case,  the  shareholder's
original principal will be invaded and, over time, may be depleted.

Div-Move:  You can  invest  the  dividends  paid on your  account  ($50  minimum
investment) into an existing account within the same class in any Eligible Fund.
The  account  must be either  your  account,  a joint  account  for you and your
spouse,  a single account for your spouse or a custodial  account for your minor
child under the age of 21. Such  dividends are not subject to a CDSC. You should
read the prospectus of the other fund before investing.

Invest-A-Matic:  You can make fixed,  periodic investments ($250 initial and $50
subsequent  minimum  investment) into the Fund and/or any Eligible Fund by means
of automatic  money transfers from your bank checking  account.  You should read
the prospectus of the other fund before investing.

Retirement  Plans:  Lord Abbett makes  available the  retirement  plan forms and
custodial  agreements for IRAs (Individual  Retirement Accounts including Simple
IRAs  and  Simplified   Employee   Pensions),   403(b)  plans  and  pension  and
profit-sharing plans, including 401(k) plans.

Householding:  A single copy of an annual or semi-annual  report will be sent to
an address to which more than one  registered  shareholder  of the Fund with the
same last name has indicated mail is to be delivered,  unless additional reports
are specifically requested in writing or by telephone.

All correspondence should be directed to Lord Abbett Affiliated Fund, Inc. (P.O.
Box 419100, Kansas City, Missouri 64141; 800-821-5129).

<PAGE>
7    OUR MANAGEMENT

Our business is managed by our officers on a day-to-day  basis under the overall
direction of our Board of Directors. We employ Lord Abbett as investment manager
pursuant to a Management  Agreement.  Lord Abbett has been an investment manager
for over 67 years and currently manages approximately $21 billion in a family of
mutual funds and other advisory accounts.  Under the Management Agreement,  Lord
Abbett provides us with investment  management  services and executive and other
personnel, pays the remuneration of our officers and of our directors affiliated
with Lord  Abbett,  provides  us with  office  space and pays for  ordinary  and
necessary office and clerical  expenses  relating to research,  statistical work
and  supervision of our portfolio and certain other costs.  Lord Abbett provides
similar services to twelve other funds having various investment  objectives and
also advises other investment clients. Mr. W. Thomas Hudson, Jr., Executive Vice
President and portfolio  manager of the Fund, is primarily  responsible  for the
day-to-day  management  of the Fund.  Mr. Hudson has been with Lord Abbett since
1982.

We pay Lord  Abbett a monthly  fee based on  average  daily net  assets for each
month.  For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996,  the fee paid to Lord Abbett
as a percentage of average daily net assets was at the annual rate of .32 of 1%.
In addition, we pay all expenses not expressly assumed by Lord Abbett. Our Class
A, B and C share ratios of  expenses,  including  management  fee  expenses,  to
average net assets for the year ended October 31, 1996 with respect to the Class
A shares,  and for the period  August 1, 1996  through  October 31,  1996,  with
respect to the Class B and C shares was .66, .34 and .33 of 1% respectively.  We
will  not  hold  annual  meetings  of  shareholders  unless  required  to by the
Investment  Company Act of 1940, the Board of Directors or the shareholders with
one-quarter  of the  outstanding  stock  entitled to vote.  See the Statement of
Additional Information for more details.

The Fund.  The Fund is a  diversified  open-end  management  investment  company
incorporated  under  Maryland  law on November  26,  1975.  Its Class A, B and C
shares have equal rights as to voting, dividends,  assets and liquidation except
for differences resulting from certain class-specific expenses.

8    DIVIDENDS CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

Our net investment  income is paid to shareholders in February,  May, August and
November as dividends. Dividends from net investment income may be taken in cash
or reinvested in additional shares at net asset value without a sales charge. If
you elect a cash  payment  (i) a check will be mailed to you as soon as possible
after the quarterly reinvestment date or (ii) if you arrange for direct deposit,
your  payment will be wired  directly to your bank account  within one day after
the payable date.

Supplemental  dividends  also may be paid on or about  December  31. A long-term
capital gains  distribution  is made if we have net profits during the year from
sales of  securities  which we have held more than one year.  If we realize  net
short-term  capital  gains,  they also will be  distributed.  Any capital  gains
distribution  will be made in November and may be taken in cash or reinvested in
more  shares  at  net  asset  value  without  a  sales  charge.   Dividends  and
distributions  declared  in  October,  November  or  December  of  any  year  to
shareholders  of record as of a date in such a month will be treated for federal
income tax purposes as having been received by shareholders in that year if they
are paid before February 1 of the following year.

We intend to continue to meet the  requirements  of Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code. We try to distribute to shareholders all our net investment income
and net realized  capital gains, so as to avoid the necessity of the Fund paying
federal income tax.  Shareholders,  however,  must report  dividends and capital
gains distributions as taxable income.  Distributions derived from net long-term
capital gains which are designated by the Fund as "capital gains dividends" will
be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains,  whether received in cash
or shares,  regardless of how long a taxpayer has held the shares. Under current
law, net long-term  capital gains of individuals and  corporations  are taxed at
the rates  applicable  to ordinary  income,  except  that the  maximum  rate for
long-term  capital gains for  individuals is 28%.  Legislation has been proposed
that would have the effect of reducing  the  federal  income tax rate on capital
gains.

Shareholders may be subject to a $50 penalty under the Internal Revenue Code and
we may be required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a portion (31%) of
any redemption  proceeds  (including the value of shares  exchanged into another
Lord Abbett-sponsored fund), and of any dividend or distribution on any account,
where  the  payee   (shareholder)   failed   to   provide  a  correct   taxpayer
identification number or to make certain required certifications. We will inform
shareholders of the federal tax status of each dividend and  distribution  after
the end of each calendar  year.  Shareholders  should consult their tax advisers
concerning  applicable  state and local taxes as well as the tax consequences of
gains or losses from the redemption or exchange of our shares.

9    REDEMPTIONS

To obtain the proceeds of an  expedited  redemption  of $50,000 or less,  you or
your representative with proper  identification can telephone the Fund. The Fund
will not be liable for following instructions  communicated by telephone that it
reasonably  believes  to be genuine  and will employ  reasonable  procedures  to
confirm that  instructions  received are genuine,  including  requesting  proper
identification,  recording  all telephone  redemptions  and mailing the proceeds
only  to  the  named  shareholder  at  the  address  appearing  on  the  account
registration.

If you do not qualify for the expedited redemption procedures described above to
redeem shares directly,  send your request to Lord Abbett  Affiliated Fund, Inc.
(P.O. Box 419100,  Kansas City,  Missouri 64141) with signature(s) and any legal
capacity of the signer(s)  guaranteed by an eligible  guarantor,  accompanied by
any certificates for shares to be redeemed and other required documentation.  We
will  make  payment  of the net  asset  value of the  shares  as of the date the
redemption order was received in proper form.  Payment will be made within three
days.  The Fund may suspend  the right to redeem  shares for not more than seven
days or longer under unusual  circumstances  as permitted by Federal law. If you
have  purchased  Fund  shares  by check  and  subsequently  submit a  redemption
request, redemption proceeds will be paid upon clearance of your purchase check,
which may take up to 15 days.  To avoid delays you may arrange for the bank upon
which a check was drawn to  communicate  to the Fund that the check has cleared.
Shares  also  may be  redeemed  by the  Fund at net  asset  value  through  your
securities dealer who, as an unaffiliated dealer, may charge you a fee.

If  your  dealer  receives  your  order  prior  to the  close  of the  NYSE  and
communicates  it to Lord  Abbett,  as our  agent,  prior  to the  close  of Lord
Abbett's  business  day, you will receive the net asset value as of the close of
the NYSE on that day. If the dealer does not  communicate  such an order to Lord
Abbett until the next  business  day, you will receive the net asset value as of
the close of the NYSE on that next business day.  Shareholders who have redeemed
their shares have a one-time right to reinvest,  into another account having the
identical registration,  in any of the Eligible Funds at the then applicable net
asset value (i) without  the  payment of a front-end  sales  charge or (ii) with
reimbursement for the payment of any CDSC. Such reinvestment must be made within
60 days of the  redemption  and is  limited  to no more  than the  amount of the
redemption proceeds.

Under certain  circumstances  and subject to 30 days' prior written notice,  our
Board of Directors may authorize  redemption of all of the shares in any account
in which there are fewer than 20 shares.

10   PERFORMANCE

The Fund ended its  fiscal  year on October  31,  1996 with net asset  values of
$13.02  per share for Class A shares,  $13.03  per share for Class B shares  and
$13.02 per share for Class C shares, respectively. Assuming reinvestment of both
the capital gains  distribution and dividends,  the Fund produced a total return
of 23.23%, 10.15% and 10.07% for Class A, B and C shares, respectively.

In the past  year,  stock  market  averages  climbed to new  heights,  against a
background of modest economic growth, low inflation and volatile interest rates.
The strong  performance  of the Fund can be  attributed to several  factors.  We
established an important position in the technology sector early in the year and
used  the  market  correction  in June  and  July to add to  these  holdings  at
attractive  prices.  Additionally,  holdings in consumer  non-durables,  such as
food,  pharmaceutical,  household products and agriculture stocks, were steadily
increased during the year and performed well.

Yield and Total  Return.  Yield and total return data may, from time to time, be
included in  advertisements  about the Fund. Each class of shares calculates its
"yield"  by  dividing  the  annualized  net  investment  income per share on the
portfolio  during a 30-day period by the maximum  offering price on the last day
of the  period.  The yield of each class will  differ  because of the  different
expenses  (including actual 12b-1 fees) of each class of shares.  The yield data
represents  a  hypothetical  investment  return on the  portfolio,  and does not
measure investment return based on dividends  actually paid to shareholders.  To
show that  return,  a dividend  distribution  rate may be  calculated.  Dividend
distribution  rate is  calculated  by dividing the  dividends of a class derived
from net investment  income during a stated period by the maximum offering price
on the last day of the period. Yields and dividend distribution rate for Class A
shares reflect the deduction of the maximum  initial sales charge,  but may also
be shown based on the Fund's net asset  value per share.  Yields for Class B and
Class C shares do not reflect the deduction of the CDSC.

"Total return" for the one-, five- and ten-year  periods  represents the average
annual  compounded  rate of return on an investment of $1,000 in the Fund at the
maximum public offering  price.  When total return is quoted for Class A shares,
it includes the payment of the maximum  initial sales charge.  When total return
is  shown  for  Class B and  Class C  shares,  it  reflects  the  effect  of the
applicable  CDSC.  Total return also may be presented for other periods or based
on investments at reduced sales charge levels or net asset value.  Any quotation
of total return not reflecting the maximum sales charge  (front-end,  level,  or
back-end)  would be reduced if such sales charge were used.  Quotations of yield
or total return for any period when an expense  limitation  is in effect will be
greater than if the limitation had not been in effect. See "Past Performance" in
the Statement of Additional Information for a more detailed description.

See "Performance" in the Statement of Additional Information for a more detailed
discussion concerning the computation of the Fund's total return and yield.
This  Prospectus  does not constitute an offering in any  jurisdiction  in which
such offer is not  authorized  or in which the person  making  such offer is not
qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer.

No person is authorized to give any  information or to make any  representations
not contained in this Prospectus or in supplemental sales material authorized by
the  Fund  and  no  person  is  entitled  to  rely  upon  any   information   or
representation not contained herein or therein.

<PAGE>


Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment,  assuming reinvestment of
all dividends and distributions,  in the Fund and the unmanaged Standard & Poors
500 Index.
               The                   The            
               Fund at             Fund at
               Net Asset      Maximum Offering         S&P 500
Date            Value              Price               Index
10/31/86       $10000              $ 9452             $10000
10/31/87        10284                9753              10640
10/31/88        11538               11002              12225
10/31/89        13619               13593              15437
10/31/90        12588               12882              14287
10/31/91        16112               15716              19067
10/31/92        17781               17663              20962
10/31/93        20940               19997              24063
10/31/94        22335               20808              24991
10/31/95        26906               27405              31591
10/31/96        33154               31258              39174
       
(1) Data  reflects the  deduction of the maximum  initial  sales charge of 5.75%
applicable to Class A shares.

(2)  Performance  numbers for the  unmanaged  Standard & Poor's 500 Index do not
reflect transaction costs or management fees. An investor cannot invest directly
in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

(3) Total return is the percent change in value,  after deduction of the maximum
initial sales charge of 5.75%  applicable to Class A shares,  with all dividends
and distributions reinvested for the periods shown ending October 31, 1996 using
the SEC-required uniform method to compute such return.

(4) The Class B shares were first offered on 8/1/96; performance numbers are not
annualized. Performance reflects the deduction of a 5% CDSC.

(5) The Class C shares were first offered on 8/1/96; performance numbers are not
annualized. Performance reflects the deduction of a 1% CDSC.

<PAGE>


Investment Manager and Underwriter
Lord, Abbett & Co. and Lord Abbett Distributor LLC
The General Motors Building
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153-0203
212-848-1800

Custodian
The Bank of New York
48 Wall Street
New York, New York 10286

Transfer Agent and Dividend
Disbursing Agent
United Missouri Bank of Kansas City, N.A.
Tenth and Grand
Kansas City, Missouri 64141

Shareholder Servicing Agent
DST Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 419100
Kansas City, Missouri 64141
800-821-5129

Auditors
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Counsel

Debevoise & Plimpton Printed in the U.S.A.

<PAGE>

LORD ABBETT

Statement of Additional Information                             March 1, 1997


                        Lord Abbett Affiliated Fund, Inc.



This Statement of Additional  Information is not a Prospectus.  A Prospectus may
be obtained  from your  securities  dealer or from Lord Abbett  Distributor  LLC
("Lord Abbett  Distributor") at The General Motors  Building,  767 Fifth Avenue,
New York, New York 10153-0203.  This Statement relates to, and should be read in
conjunction with, the Prospectus dated March 1, 1997.

Lord Abbett Affiliated Fund, Inc.  (sometimes referred to as "we" or the "Fund")
was organized in 1934 and was  incorporated  under  Maryland law on November 26,
1975. The Fund has 500,000,000  shares of authorized capital stock consisting of
three  classes  (A, B and C),  $0.001 par  value.  The Board of  Directors  will
allocate these authorized shares of capital stock among the classes from time to
time.  All shares have equal  noncumulative  voting rights and equal rights with
respect to dividends, assets and liquidation,  except for certain class-specific
expenses.  They  are  fully  paid  and  nonassessable  when  issued  and have no
preemptive or conversion rights.

Rule 18f-2 under the Act provides that any matter  required to be submitted,  by
the provisions of the Act or applicable  state law or otherwise,  to the holders
of the outstanding  voting securities of an investment  company such as the Fund
shall not be deemed to have been  effectively  acted upon unless approved by the
holders of a majority of the  outstanding  shares of each class affected by such
matter.  Rule 18f-2 further provides that a class shall be deemed to be affected
by a matter unless the  interests of each class in the matter are  substantially
identical or the matter does not affect any interest of such class. However, the
Rule exempts the selection of independent  public  accountants,  the approval of
principal distributing contracts and the election of directors from its separate
voting requirements.

Shareholder  inquiries  should  be made by  writing  directly  to the Fund or by
calling 212-848-1800. In addition, you can make inquiries through your dealer.

                    TABLE OF CONTENTS                                 Page

            1.      Investment Policies                               2

            2.      Directors and Officers                            4

            3.      Investment Advisory and Other Services                    6

            4.      Portfolio Transactions                            7

            5.      Purchases, Redemptions and
                    Shareholder Services                              8
            6.      Past Performance                                  14

            7.      Taxes                                             15

            8.      Information About the Fund                        16

            9.      Financial Statements                              17



<PAGE>



                                                        1.
                                                Investment Policies

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
We are subject to the following investment  restrictions which cannot be changed
without approval of a majority of our outstanding  shares. The Fund may not: (1)
borrow money,  except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks (as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act")) in amounts up to 33 1/3%
of its total assets (including the amount borrowed), (ii) the Fund may borrow up
to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary  purposes,  (iii) the Fund
may obtain such  short-term  credit as may be  necessary  for the  clearance  of
purchases  and  sales of  portfolio  securities  and (iv) the Fund may  purchase
securities on margin to the extent  permitted by applicable  law; (2) pledge its
assets  (other  than to secure  borrowings,  or to the extent  permitted  by the
Fund's investment  policies,  as permitted by applicable law); (3) engage in the
underwriting of securities, except pursuant to a merger or acquisition or to the
extent that, in connection with the disposition of its portfolio securities,  it
may be deemed to be an underwriter under federal securities laws; (4) make loans
to other  persons,  except that the  acquisition  of bonds,  debentures or other
corporate debt securities and investment in government  obligations,  commercial
paper, pass-through  instruments,  certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances,
repurchase  agreements or any similar  instruments  shall not be subject to this
limitation,  and except further that the Fund may lend its portfolio securities,
provided that the lending of portfolio securities may be made only in accordance
with  applicable  law;  (5) buy or sell real  estate  (except  that the Fund may
invest in securities  directly or indirectly secured by real estate or interests
therein or issued by companies which invest in real estate or interests therein)
or commodities or commodity  contracts  (except to the extent the Fund may do so
in accordance  with  applicable law and without  registering as a commodity pool
operator  under  the  Commodity  Exchange  Act as,  for  example,  with  futures
contracts);  (6) with  respect  to 75% of the  gross  assets  of the  Fund,  buy
securities  of one  issuer  representing  more than (i) 5% of the  Fund's  gross
assets,  except  securities  issued or  guaranteed by the U.S.  Government,  its
agencies  or  instrumentalities  or (ii) 10% of the  voting  securities  of such
issuer;  (7) invest more than 25% of its assets,  taken at market value,  in the
securities of issuers in any particular  industry  (excluding  securities of the
U.S.  Government,  its  agencies  and  instrumentalities);  or (8) issue  senior
securities to the extent such issuance would violate applicable law.

With respect to the restrictions mentioned herein, compliance therewith will not
be affected by changes in the market value of portfolio  securities  but will be
determined at the time of purchase or sale of such securities.

NON-FUNDAMENTAL   INVESTMENT   RESTRICTIONS.   In  addition  to  the  investment
restrictions above which cannot be changed without shareholder approval, we also
are subject to the following  non-fundamental  investment  policies which may be
changed by the Board of Directors  without  shareholder  approval.  The Fund may
not:  (1)  borrow in excess  of 5% of its gross  assets  taken at cost or market
value, whichever is lower at the time of borrowing, and then only as a temporary
measure  for  extraordinary  or  emergency  purposes;  (2) make  short  sales of
securities  or  maintain  a short  position  except to the extent  permitted  by
applicable  law;  (3) invest  knowingly  more than 15% of its net assets (at the
time of investment) in illiquid securities, except for securities qualifying for
resale under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, deemed to be liquid by the
Board of Directors;  (4) invest in the securities of other investment  companies
except as  permitted by  applicable  law;  (5) invest in  securities  of issuers
which,  with  their  predecessors,  have a  record  of less  than  three  years'
continuous  operations,  if more than 5% of the  Fund's  total  assets  would be
invested in such securities (this restriction shall not apply to mortgage-backed
securities,  asset-backed  securities or obligations issued or guaranteed by the
U. S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities); (6) hold securities of any
issuer  if more  than  1/2 of 1% of the  securities  of such  issuer  are  owned
beneficially  by one or more officers or directors of the Fund or by one or more
partners or members of the Fund's  underwriter  or  investment  adviser if these
owners in the aggregate own beneficially  more than 5% of the securities of such
issuer;  (7)  invest  in  warrants  if,  at the  time  of the  acquisition,  its
investment in warrants,  valued at the lower of cost or market,  would exceed 5%
of the Fund's total assets (included  within such limitation,  but not to exceed
2% of the Fund's total assets, are warrants which are not listed on the New York
or American  Stock  Exchange or a major  foreign  exchange);  (8) invest in real
estate limited  partnership  interests or interests in oil, gas or other mineral
leases, or exploration or other development  programs,  except that the Fund may
invest  in  securities  issued by  companies  that  engage in oil,  gas or other
mineral exploration or other development activities; (9) write, purchase or sell
puts, calls,  straddles,  spreads or combinations thereof,  except to the extent
permitted in the Fund's prospectus and statement of additional  information,  as
they may be amended from time to time; (10) buy from or sell

                                                         2

<PAGE>



to any of its officers,  directors,  employees, or its investment adviser or any
of its officers,  directors,  partners or employees,  any securities  other than
shares of the Fund's common stock;  or (11) pledge,  mortgage or hypothecate its
assets,  however,  this provision does not apply to the grant of escrow receipts
or the entry into other similar escrow  arrangements  arising out of the writing
of covered call options.

Although it has no current  intention to do so, the Fund may invest in financial
futures and options on financial futures.

For the year ended  October 31, 1996,  the  portfolio  turnover  rate was 47.06%
versus 53.84% for the prior year.

LENDING  PORTFOLIO  SECURITIES.  The  Fund  may  lend  portfolio  securities  to
registered  broker-dealers.  These loans may not exceed 30% of the Fund's  total
assets.  The  Fund's  loans  of  securities  will be  collateralized  by cash or
marketable  securities  issued  or  guaranteed  by the  U.S.  Government  or its
agencies ("U.S.  Government Securities") or other permissible means. The cash or
instruments collateralizing the Fund's loans of securities will be maintained at
all times in an amount at least equal to the current  market value of the loaned
securities. From time to time, the Fund may allow to the borrower and/or a third
party that is not affiliated with the Fund and is acting as a "placing broker" a
part of the interest  received  with  respect to the  investment  of  collateral
received for securities loaned. No fee will be paid to affiliated persons of the
Fund.

By lending portfolio securities,  the Fund can increase its income by continuing
to receive interest on the loaned  securities as well as by either investing the
cash collateral in permissible investments,  such as U.S. Government Securities,
or obtaining  yield in the form of interest  paid by the borrower when such U.S.
Government  Securities  are used as  collateral.  The Fund will  comply with the
following conditions whenever it loans securities:  (i) the Fund must receive at
least 100%  collateral  from the  borrower;  (ii) the borrower must increase the
collateral  whenever the market value of the  securities  loaned rises above the
level of the  collateral;  (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate  the loan at
any time; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable compensation with respect to the
loan, as well as any dividends,  interest or other  distributions  on the loaned
securities;  (v) the Fund may pay only  reasonable  fees in connection  with the
loan and (vi) voting  rights on the loaned  securities  may pass to the borrower
except that,  if a material  event  adversely  affecting  the  investment in the
loaned securities  occurs, the Fund's Board of Directors must terminate the loan
and regain the right to vote the securities.

RULE 144A  SECURITIES.  We may  invest in  securities  qualifying  for resale to
"qualified  institutional buyers" under SEC Rule 144A that are determined by the
Board,  or by Lord  Abbett  pursuant  to the  Board's  delegation,  to be liquid
securities. The Board will review quarterly the liquidity of the investments the
Fund makes in such  securities.  Investments by the Fund in Rule 144A securities
initially determined to be liquid could have the effect of diminishing the level
of the Fund's  liquidity  during  periods of decreased  market  interest in such
securities among qualified institutional buyers.

OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES (WHICH CAN BE CHANGED WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL)

As stated in the Prospectus,  we may write covered call options which are traded
on a national securities exchange with respect to securities in our portfolio in
an attempt to  increase  our income and to provide  greater  flexibility  in the
disposition of our portfolio securities.  A "call option" is a contract sold for
a price (the "premium")  giving its holder the right to buy a specific number of
shares of stock at a specific  price prior to a specified  date. A "covered call
option" is a call option issued on securities already owned by the writer of the
call option for delivery to the holder upon the  exercise of the option.  During
the period of the option,  we forgo the  opportunity to profit from any increase
in the market price of the  underlying  security above the exercise price of the
option (to the extent that the increase  exceeds our net  premium).  We also may
enter into "closing purchase  transactions" in order to terminate our obligation
to deliver the  underlying  security  (this may result in a  short-term  gain or
loss).  A closing  purchase  transaction  is the purchase of a call option (at a
cost  which  may be more or less  than the  premium  received  for  writing  the
original call option) on the same  security,  with the same  exercise  price and
call period as the option previously  written.  If we are unable to enter into a
closing  purchase  transaction,  we may be required  to hold a security  that we
might otherwise have sold to protect against  depreciation.  We do not intend to
write covered call options with respect to securities with an aggregate market

                                                         3

<PAGE>



value of more  than 10% of our gross  assets  at the time an option is  written.
This percentage limitation will not be increased without prior disclosure in our
current Prospectus.

RISK FACTORS. As stated in the Prospectus,  we may invest no more than 5% of our
net assets (at the time of  investment) in  lower-rated,  high-yield  bonds.  In
general,  the market for lower-rated,  high-yield bonds is more limited than the
market for higher-rated  bonds, and because trading in such bonds may be thinner
and less active,  the market  prices of such bonds may  fluctuate  more than the
prices  of  higher-rated  bonds,  particularly  in times of  market  stress.  In
addition, while the market for high-yield, corporate debt securities has been in
existence  for many years,  the market in recent  years  experienced  a dramatic
increase in the  large-scale  use of such  securities  to fund  highly-leveraged
corporate acquisitions and restructurings.  Accordingly, past experience may not
provide an accurate  indication of future  performance  of the  high-yield  bond
market,  especially during periods of economic recession.  Other risks which may
be  associated  with  lower-rated,   high-yield  bonds  include  their  relative
insensitivity to interest-rate  changes; the exercise of any of their redemption
or call provisions in a declining  market which may result in their  replacement
by lower-yielding bonds; and legislation, from time to time, which may adversely
affect  their  market.  Since the risk of default is higher  among  lower-rated,
high-yield   bonds,  Lord  Abbett's  research  and  analyses  are  an  important
ingredient in the selection of such bonds.  Through  portfolio  diversification,
good  credit  analysis  and  attention  to  current  developments  and trends in
interest rates and economic conditions, investment risk can be reduced, although
there is no  assurance  that losses  will not occur.  The Fund does not have any
minimum rating criteria  applicable to the  fixed-income  securities in which it
invests.
                                                        2.
                                              Directors and Officers

The following  director is a partner of Lord, Abbett & Co. ("Lord Abbett"),  The
General Motors Building, 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10153-0203. He has
been  associated with Lord Abbett for over five years and is also officer and/or
director or trustee of the twelve other Lord  Abbett-sponsored  funds.  He is an
"interested  person" as defined in the Act, and as such,  may be  considered  to
have an indirect  financial  interest in the Rule 12b-1 Plans  described  in the
Prospectus.

Robert S. Dow, age 51, Chairman and President

The following  outside  directors  are also  directors or trustees of the twelve
other Lord Abbett-sponsored funds referred to above.

E. Thayer Bigelow
Time Warner Cable
300 First Stamford Place
Stamford, Connecticut

President and Chief  Executive  Officer of Time Warner Cable  Programming,  Inc.
Formerly President and Chief
Operating Officer of Home Box Office, Inc.  Age 55.

Stewart S. Dixon
Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon
225 W. Wacker Drive (Suite 2800)
Chicago, Illinois

Partner in the law firm of Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon. Age 66.

John C. Jansing 162 S. Beach Road Hobe Sound,  Florida Retired.  Former Chairman
of Independent Election Corporation of America, a proxy tabulating firm. Age 71.

                                                         4

<PAGE>



C. Alan MacDonald
The Marketing Partnership, Inc.
27 Signal Road
Stamford, Connecticut

General  Partner,  The  Marketing  Partnership,  Inc., a full service  marketing
consulting  firm.  Formerly  President & CEO of Nestle Foods Corp,  and prior to
that,  President & CEO of Stouffer Foods Corp.,  both subsidiaries of Nestle SA,
Switzerland.  Currently  serves as  Director of Den West  Restaurant  Co., J. B.
Williams, and Fountainhead Water Company. Age 63.

Hansel B. Millican, Jr.
Rochester Button Company
1100 Noblin Avenue
South Boston, Virginia

President and Chief Executive Officer of Rochester Button Company.  Age 68.

Thomas J. Neff
Spencer Stuart & Associates
277 Park Avenue
New York, New York

Chairman of Spencer Stuart U.S., an executive search consulting firm. Age 59.

The second column of the following table sets forth the compensation accrued for
the Fund's outside directors. The third and fourth columns set forth information
with respect to the retirement plan for outside directors maintained by the Lord
Abbett-sponsored  funds.  The fifth  column  sets  forth the total  compensation
payable  by such  funds  to the  outside  directors.  No  director  of the  Fund
associated with Lord Abbett and no officer of the Fund received any compensation
from the Fund for acting as a director or officer.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                            <C>                 <C>                    <C>                          <C>

                                 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1996
         (1)                  (2)                  (3)                    (4)                      (5)
                                               Pension or                Estimated Annual          For Year Ended
                                               Retirement Benefits       Benefits Upon             December 31, 1995
                                               Accrued by the            Retirement Proposed       Total Compensation
                           Aggregate           Fund and                  to be Paid by the         Accrued by the Fund and
                           Compensation        Twelve Other Lord         Fund and Twelve           Twelve Other Lord
                           Accrued by          Abbett-sponsored          Other Lord Abbett-        Abbett-sponsored
NAME OF DIRECTOR           THE FUND1           FUNDS                     SPONSORED FUNDS2          FUNDS3

E. Thayer Bigelow          $17,215             $11,563                      $50,000                $41,700
Stewart S. Dixon           $16,729             $22,283                      $50,000                $42,000
John C. Jansing            $16,908             $28,242                      $50,000                $42,960
C. Alan MacDonald          $17,308             $29,942                      $50,000                $42,750
Hansel B. Millican, Jr.    $17,751             $24,499                      $50,000                $43,000
Thomas J. Neff             $16,817             $15,990                      $50,000                $42,000




                                                     5

<PAGE>
<FN>

1. Outside  directors' fees,  including  attendance fees for board and committee
meetings,  are  allocated  among all Lord  Abbett-sponsored  funds  based on net
assets of each fund.  A portion of the fees  payable by the Fund to its  outside
directors are being deferred under a plan that deems the deferred  amounts to be
invested  in shares of the Fund for later  distribution  to the  directors.  The
amounts of the  aggregate  compensation  payable  by the Fund as of October  31,
1996, deemed invested in Fund shares, including dividends reinvested and changes
in net asset value  applicable to such deemed  investments,  were: Mr.  Bigelow,
$37,681; Mr. Dixon,  $256,216; Mr. Jansing,  $291,129; Mr. MacDonald,  $185,546;
Mr. Millican, $293,179 and Mr. Neff, $290,052.

2. Each Lord  Abbett-sponsored fund has a retirement plan providing that outside
directors may receive annual retirement benefits for life equal to 100% of their
final annual retainers following  retirement at or after age 72 with at least 10
years of  service.  Each plan also  provides  for a reduced  benefit  upon early
retirement  under  certain  circumstances,  a  pre-retirement  death benefit and
actuarially reduced  joint-and-survivor spousal benefits. Such retirement plans,
and the  deferred  compensation  plans  referred to in footnote  one,  have been
amended  recently to, among other things,  enable outside  directors to elect to
convert their  prospective  benefits under the retirement  plans to equity-based
benefits under the deferred  compensation  plans (to be renamed the equity-based
plans).   The   amounts   accrued   in  column  3  were   accrued  by  the  Lord
Abbett-sponsored  funds  during the  fiscal  year ended  October  31,  1996 with
respect to the  retirement  plans.  These  accruals were based on the retirement
plans as in effect  before  the  recent  amendments  and on the fees  payable to
outside  directors  of the Fund during the fiscal year ended  October 31,  1996.
Under the recent  amendments,  the annual  retainer was increased to $50,000 and
the annual  retirement  benefits were increased from 80% to 100% of a director's
final annual retainer.  The amounts stated in column 4 would be payable annually
under the retirement  plans as recently  amended if the directors were to retire
at age 72 and the  annual  retainers  payable by the funds were the same as they
are today.

3.                This column shows aggregate compensation,  including directors
                  fees and attendance fees for board and committee meetings,  of
                  a nature  referred  to in  footnote  one,  accrued by the Lord
                  Abbett-sponsored  funds  during  the year ended  December  31,
                  1995.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Except where indicated,  the following  executive officers of the Fund have been
associated  with Lord  Abbett for over five  years.  Of the  following,  Messrs.
Allen, Brown,  Carper,  Cutler,  Dow, Morris,  Noelke,  Nordberg,  Walsh and Ms.
Foster are partners of Lord Abbett; the others are employees:  W. Thomas Hudson,
age 54, Executive Vice President;  Kenneth B. Cutler, age 64, Vice President and
Secretary;  Stephen I. Allen,  age 43; Zane E. Brown,  age 45; Daniel E. Carper,
age 45; Robert S. Dow, age 51; Daria L. Foster,  age 42;  Robert G. Morris,  age
52; Robert J. Noelke, age 40; E. Wayne Nordberg, age 59; Paul A. Hilstad, age 54
(with Lord  Abbett  since 1995 - formerly  Senior  Vice  President  and  General
Counsel of American Capital Management & Research,  Inc.);  Thomas F. Konop, age
54; Victor W. Pizzolato,  age 64; A. Edward Oberhaus, age 36; John J. Walsh, age
60,  Vice  Presidents;  and  Keith  F.  O'Connor,  age 41,  Vice  President  and
Treasurer.

The Fund's By-Laws provide that the Fund shall not hold an annual meeting of its
stockholders  in any year unless one or more matters are required to be acted on
by  stockholders  under the Act, or unless  called by a majority of the Board of
Directors  or by  stockholders  holding at least one quarter of the stock of the
Fund  outstanding  and  entitled  to vote at the  meeting.  When any such annual
meeting is held, the stockholders  will elect directors and vote on the approval
of the independent auditors of the Fund.

As of February 1, 1997 our officers and directors,  as a group,  owned less than
1% of our outstanding shares.

                                                       3.
                                      Investment Advisory and Other Services

As described under "Our Management" in the Prospectus, Lord Abbett is the Fund's
investment  manager.  The ten general  partners of Lord Abbett,  all of whom are
officers  and/or  directors of the Fund, are:  Stephen I. Allen,  Zane E. Brown,
Daniel E. Carper,  Kenneth B. Cutler,  Robert S. Dow, Daria L. Foster, Robert G.
Morris,  Robert J. Noelke,  E. Wayne Nordberg and John J. Walsh.  The address of
each partner is The General  Motors  Building,  767 Fifth Avenue,  New York, New
York 10153-0203.

The services performed by Lord Abbett are described in the Prospectus under "Our
Management".  Under the Management Agreement,  we pay Lord Abbett a monthly fee,
based on average daily net assets for each month, at the annual rate of .5 of 1%
of the portion of our net assets not in excess of $200,000,000;  .4 of 1% of the
portion in excess of $200,000,000, but not in excess of $500,000,000; .375 of 1%
of the portion in excess of $500,000,000, but not in excess of $700,000,000; .35
of 1%  of  the  portion  in  excess  of  $700,000,000,  but  not  in  excess  of
$900,000,000; and .3 of 1% of the portion in excess of $900,000,000. This fee is
allocated among Class A, B and C based on the classes'  proportionate  shares of
such average daily net assets.

                                                         6

<PAGE>




For the fiscal years ended October 31, 1996,  1995 and 1994, the management fees
paid to Lord  Abbett  by the  Fund  amounted  to  $17,683,694,  $14,431,000  and
$13,311,646, respectively.

We pay all expenses not  expressly  assumed by Lord  Abbett,  including  without
limitation  12b-1 expenses,  outside  directors' fees and expenses,  association
membership  dues,  legal  and  auditing  fees,  taxes,   transfer  and  dividend
disbursing  agent  fees,  shareholder  servicing  costs,  expenses  relating  to
shareholder  meetings,  expenses  of  preparing,   printing  and  mailing  stock
certificates and shareholder  reports,  expenses of registering our shares under
federal and state securities laws,  expenses of preparing,  printing and mailing
prospectuses to existing shareholders,  insurance premiums,  brokerage and other
expenses connected with executing portfolio transactions.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, Two World Financial Center,  New York, New York 10281 are
the  independent  auditors of the Fund and must be approved at least annually by
our Board of Directors to continue in such capacity. They perform audit services
for the Fund including the examination of financial  statements  included in our
annual report to shareholders.

The Bank of New York of New York ("BNY"), 48 Wall Street, New York, New York, is
the Fund's  custodian.  In accordance with the  requirements of Rule 17f-5,  the
Fund's directors have approved arrangements permitting the Fund's foreign assets
not held by BNY or its foreign branches to be held by certain  qualified foreign
banks and depositories.

                                                        4.
                                              Portfolio Transactions

Our policy is to obtain best execution on all our portfolio transactions,  which
means that we seek to have purchases and sales of portfolio  securities executed
at the most favorable prices, considering all costs of the transaction including
brokerage  commissions  and dealer markups and markdowns and taking into account
the full range and quality of the brokers'  services.  Consistent with obtaining
best execution,  we generally pay, as described below, a higher  commission than
some brokers might charge on the same  transactions.  Our policy with respect to
best  execution  governs the  selection  of brokers or dealers and the market in
which the  transaction is executed.  To the extent  permitted by law, we may, if
considered  advantageous,   make  a  purchase  from  or  sale  to  another  Lord
Abbett-sponsored fund without the intervention of any broker-dealer.

Broker-dealers  are selected on the basis of their  professional  capability and
the value and quality of their brokerage and research  services.  Normally,  the
selection is made by traders who are officers of the Fund and also are employees
of Lord  Abbett.  These  traders do the  trading as well for other  accounts  --
investment  companies  (of which they are also  officers)  and other  investment
clients -- managed by Lord  Abbett.  They are  responsible  for  obtaining  best
execution.

We pay a  commission  rate  that we  believe  is  appropriate  to  give  maximum
assurance that our brokers will provide us, on a continuing  basis,  the highest
level of brokerage  services  available.  While we do not always seek the lowest
possible  commissions on particular trades, we believe that our commission rates
are in line with the rates that many other  institutions  pay.  Our  traders are
authorized  to pay brokerage  commissions  in excess of those that other brokers
might  accept  on the  same  transactions  in  recognition  of the  value of the
services  performed  by the  executing  brokers,  viewed in terms of either  the
particular  transaction  or the  overall  responsibilities  of Lord  Abbett with
respect to us and the other accounts they manage.  Such services include showing
us trading  opportunities  including  blocks,  a willingness and ability to take
positions in  securities,  knowledge of a particular  security or market  proven
ability to handle a particular type of trade, confidential treatment, promptness
and reliability.

Some of these brokers also provide research  services at least some of which are
useful to Lord Abbett in their overall  responsibilities  with respect to us and
the other accounts they manage. Research includes the furnishing of analyses and
reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends,
portfolio  strategy and the  performance  of accounts and trading  equipment and
computer software  packages,  acquired from third-party  suppliers,  that enable
Lord Abbett to access various  information  bases.  Such services may be used by
Lord Abbett in servicing all their  accounts,  and not all of such services will
necessarily be used by Lord Abbett in connection with their management of

                                                         7

<PAGE>



the Fund;  conversely,  such services  furnished in connection with brokerage on
other  accounts  managed  by Lord  Abbett may be used in  connection  with their
management of the Fund, and not all of such services will necessarily be used by
Lord Abbett in connection  with their advisory  services to such other accounts.
We have been advised by Lord Abbett that research services received form brokers
cannot be allocated to any  particular  account,  are not a substitute  for Lord
Abbett's  services but are  supplemental  to their own research  effort and when
utilized,  are subject to internal  analysis  before being  incorporated by Lord
Abbett into their investment  process.  As a practical  matter,  it would not be
possible for Lord Abbett to generate all of the information  presently  provided
by brokers.  While  receipt of research  services from  brokerage  firms has not
reduced Lord Abbett's  normal research  activities,  the expenses of Lord Abbett
could be  materially  increased  if it  attempted  to generate  such  additional
information  through its own staff and  purchased  such  equipment  and software
packages directly from the suppliers.

No commitments  are made  regarding the  allocation of brokerage  business to or
among brokers, and trades are executed only when they are dictated by investment
decisions of the Fund to purchase or sell portfolio securities.

If two or more  broker-dealers are considered capable of offering the equivalent
likelihood of best execution,  the  broker-dealer who has sold our shares and/or
shares of other Lord Abbett-sponsored funds may be preferred.

If other  clients of Lord Abbett buy or sell the same  security at the same time
as we do, transactions will, to the extent  practicable,  be allocated among all
participating  accounts  in  proportion  to the amount of each order and will be
executed  daily until filled so that each account  shares the average  price and
commission  cost of each day.  Other  clients  who direct  that their  brokerage
business be placed with  specific  brokers or who invest  through wrap  accounts
introduced to Lord Abbett by certain brokers may not participate  with us in the
buying and selling of the same  securities as described  above. If these clients
wish to buy or sell the same security as we do, they may have their transactions
executed at times different from our  transactions  and thus may not receive the
same price or incur the same commission cost as we do.

We will not seek  "reciprocal"  dealer  business  (for the  purpose of  applying
commissions  in whole or in part for our benefit or  otherwise)  from dealers as
consideration for the direction to them of portfolio business.

For the fiscal  years  ended  October  31,  1996,  1995 and 1994,  we paid total
commissions to independent  dealers of  $5,897,259,  $6,542,354 and  $6,133,695,
respectively.

                                                        5.
                                              Purchases, Redemptions
                                             and Shareholder Services

The Fund values its portfolio  securities at market value as of the close of the
NYSE. Market value will be determined as follows:  securities listed or admitted
to trading  privileges  on the New York or  American  Stock  Exchange  or on the
NASDAQ National  Market System are valued at the last sales price,  or, if there
is no sale on that day, at the mean between the last bid and asked  prices,  or,
in the case of bonds, in the over-the-counter  market if, in the judgment of the
Fund's  officers,  that market more accurately  reflects the market value of the
bonds.  Over-the-counter  securities  not traded on the NASDAQ  National  Market
System are valued at the mean between the last bid and asked prices.  Securities
for which market  quotations  are not  available are valued at fair market value
under procedures approved by the Board of Directors.

Information  concerning  how we value our shares for the purchase and redemption
of  our  shares  is  described  in  the   Prospectus   under   "Purchases"   and
"Redemptions", respectively.

As  disclosed  in the  Prospectus,  we  calculate  our net  asset  value and are
otherwise  open for business on each day that the NYSE is open for trading.  The
NYSE is closed on Saturdays and Sundays and the following  holidays:  New Year's
Day,  Presidents' Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The net  asset  value  per  share  for the  Class B and  Class C shares  will be
determined in the same manner as for the Class

                                                         8

<PAGE>



A shares (net  assets  divided by shares  outstanding).  Our Class B and Class C
shares will be sold at net asset value.

The  maximum  offering  price of our  Class A shares  on  October  31,  1996 was
 computed as follows:

 Net asset value per share (net assets divided by
 shares outstanding)...... . . . . . . . .... . . .  .$13.02

Maximum offering price per share (net asset value
divided by .9425).....................................$13.81

The  maximum  offering  prices of our Class B shares on  October  31,  1996 were
computed as follows:

Net asset value per
share (net assets divided by shares
outstanding ........................................ $13.03

Maximum offering
price per share (net asset value
divided by .9525). . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . ..  $13.68

The  maximum  offering  prices of our Class C shares on  October  31,  1996 were
computed as follows:

Net asset value per
share (net assets divided by shares
outstanding..........................................$13.02

Maximum offering
price per share (net asset value
divided by .9525). . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. .$13.67

The Fund has entered into a distribution  agreement with Lord Abbett Distributor
LLC, a New York  limited  liability  company  ("Lord  Abbett  Distributor")  and
subsidiary of Lord Abbett,  under which Lord Abbett  Distributor is obligated to
use its best efforts to find  purchasers for the shares of the Fund, and to make
reasonable efforts to sell Fund shares so long as, in Lord Abbett  Distributor's
judgment, a substantial distribution can be obtained by reasonable efforts.

For the last three fiscal  years,  Lord Abbett,  as our  principal  underwriter,
received  net  commissions  after  allowance of a portion of the sales charge to
independent dealers with respect to Class A shares as follows:

                                     YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,

                                1996           1995            1994
                                ----           ----            ----

Gross sales charge         $15,464,565     $6,940,216        $5,987,070
Amount allowed
 to dealers                $13,701,148     $6,295,403        $5,165,044
                           -----------     ----------        ----------

Net commissions
received by
Lord Abbett               $1,763,417      $   644,813       $   822,026
                          ==========      ===========       ===========


CONVERSION  OF CLASS B SHARES.  The  conversion  of Class B shares on the eighth
anniversary  of their purchase is subject to the  continuing  availability  of a
private  letter  ruling  from the  Internal  Revenue  Service,  or an opinion of
counsel or

                                                         9

<PAGE>



tax  adviser,  to the  effect  that the  conversion  of Class B shares  does not
constitute a taxable event for the holder under Federal  income tax law. If such
a revenue  ruling or opinion is no longer  available,  the automatic  conversion
feature  may be  suspended,  in which  event no further  conversions  of Class B
shares would occur while such  suspension  remained in effect.  Although Class B
shares could then be  exchanged  for Class A shares on the basis of relative net
asset value of the two classes, without the imposition of a sales charge or fee,
such exchange could constitute a taxable event for the holder.

CLASS A, B AND C RULE 12B-1 PLANS. As described in the Prospectus,  the Fund has
adopted a Distribution Plan and Agreement  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the Act for
each of the three  Fund  Classes:  the "A Plan",  the "B Plan" and the "C Plan",
respectively.  In adopting each Plan and in approving its continuance, the Board
of Directors has concluded that there is a reasonable  likelihood that each Plan
will benefit its  respective  Class and such Class'  shareholders.  The expected
benefits  include  greater sales and lower  redemptions  of Class shares,  which
should allow each Class to maintain a consistent cash flow, and a higher quality
of service to  shareholders by authorized  institutions  than would otherwise be
the case.  During the last fiscal  year,  the Fund  accrued or paid through Lord
Abbett to authorized  institutions  $11,638,558 under the A Plan,  $18,947 under
the B Plan and $8,776  under the C Plan.  Lord Abbett used all amounts  received
under the A Plan for payments to dealers for (i) providing  continuous  services
to  the  Class  A  shareholders,   such  as  answering  shareholder   inquiries,
maintaining   records,   and  assisting   shareholders  in  making  redemptions,
transfers,  additional  purchases  and  exchanges  and (ii) their  assistance in
distributing Class A shares of the Fund.

Each Plan  requires  the  directors  to review,  on a quarterly  basis,  written
reports of all amounts expended  pursuant to the Plan and the purposes for which
such  expenditures  were made.  Each Plan shall  continue  in effect only if its
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by vote of the directors,
including a majority of the directors who are not interested persons of the Fund
and who have no direct or indirect  financial  interest in the  operation of the
Plan or in any  agreements  related to the Plan ("outside  directors"),  cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. No Plan may be
amended to  increase  materially  above the limits set forth  therein the amount
spent for distribution expenses thereunder without approval by a majority of the
outstanding  voting  securities  of the  applicable  class and the approval of a
majority of the directors,  including a majority of the outside directors.  Each
Plan  may be  terminated  at any  time  by  vote of a  majority  of the  outside
directors or by vote of a majority of its Class's outstanding voting securities.

CONTINGENT  DEFERRED SALES CHARGES. A Contingent  Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC")
applies  regardless  of class,  (i) will not apply to  shares  purchased  by the
reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions;  (ii) will be assessed
on the lesser of the net asset value of the shares at the time of  redemption or
the original  purchase price and (iii) will not be imposed on the amount of your
account  value  represented  by the increase in net asset value over the initial
purchase price  (including  increases due to the  reinvestment  of dividends and
capital gains distributions) and upon early redemption of shares.

CLASS A SHARES.  As  stated  in the  Prospectus,  a CDSC of 1% is  imposed  with
respect  to  those   Class  A  shares  (or  Class  A  shares  of  another   Lord
Abbett-sponsored  fund or series  acquired  through  exchange of such shares) on
which the Fund has paid the one-time  distribution  fee of 1% if such shares are
redeemed out of the Lord Abbett-sponsored  family of funds within a period of 24
months from the end of the month in which the original sale occurred.

CLASS B  SHARES.  As  stated in the  Prospectus,  if Class B shares  (or Class B
shares of another Lord Abbett-sponsored fund or series acquired through exchange
of such shares) are redeemed  out of the Lord  Abbett-sponsored  family of funds
for cash before the sixth anniversary of their purchase, a CDSC will be deducted
from  the  redemption  proceeds.  The  Class  B CDSC  is  paid  to  Lord  Abbett
Distributor  to  reimburse  its  expenses,  in whole or in part,  for  providing
distribution-related  service to the Fund in connection with the sale of Class B
shares.

To determine  whether the CDSC applies to a redemption,  the Fund redeems shares
in the following  order:  (1) shares  acquired by  reinvestment of dividends and
capital gains  distributions,  (2) shares held on or after the sixth anniversary
of  their  purchase,   and  (3)  shares  held  the  longest  before  such  sixth
anniversary.

                                                        10

<PAGE>



The amount of the contingent  deferred sales charge will depend on the number of
years since you invested and the dollar amount being redeemed,  according to the
following schedule:

Anniversary of the Day on                      Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
Which the Purchase Order Was Accepted          on Redemptions (As % of Amount
                                                 Subject to Charge)
Before the 1st...............................................5.0%
On the 1st, before the 2nd...................................4.0%
On the 2nd, before the 3rd...................................3.0%
On the 3rd, before the 4th................ ..................3.0%
On the 4th, before the 5th...................................2.0%
On the 5th, before the 6th ..................................1.0%
On or after the 6th anniversary..............................None

In the table, an  "anniversary" is the 365th day subsequent to the acceptance of
a purchase  order or a prior  anniversary.  All purchases are considered to have
been made on the business day on which the purchase order was accepted.

CLASS C SHARES. As stated in the Prospectus,  if Class C shares are redeemed for
cash before the first anniversary of their purchase,  the redeeming  shareholder
will be  required to pay to the Fund on behalf of Class C shares a CDSC of 1% of
the lower of cost or the then net  asset  value of Class C shares  redeemed.  If
such shares are exchanged  into the same class of another Lord  Abbett-sponsored
fund and  subsequently  redeemed before the first  anniversary of their original
purchase,  the  charge  will be  collected  by the other  fund on behalf of this
Fund's Class C shares.

GENERAL.  Each percentage (1% in the case of Class A and C shares and 5% through
1% in the case of Class B shares) used to calculate  CDSCs  described  above for
the Class A, Class B and Class C shares is sometimes  hereinafter referred to as
the "Applicable Percentage".

With respect to Class A and Class B shares, no CDSC is payable on redemptions by
participants or beneficiaries from employer-sponsored retirement plans under the
Internal  Revenue  Code  for  benefit  payments  due  to  plan  loans,  hardship
withdrawals,  death,  retirement or  separation  from service and for returns of
excess contributions to retirement plan sponsors. With respect to Class A shares
purchased pursuant to a special  retirement wrap program,  no CDSC is payable on
redemptions  which continue or investments in another fund  participating in the
program.  In the case of Class A and Class C shares, the CDSC is received by the
Fund and is  intended  to  reimburse  all or a portion of the amount paid by the
Fund if the  shares  are  redeemed  before  the Fund has had an  opportunity  to
realize the anticipated  benefits of having a long-term  shareholder  account in
the Fund.  In the case of Class B shares,  the CDSC is  received  by Lord Abbett
Distributor   and  is  intended  to   reimburse   its   expenses  of   providing
distribution-related service to the Fund (including recoupment of the commission
payments made) in connection  with the sale of Class B shares before Lord Abbett
Distributor has had an opportunity to realize its anticipated  reimbursement  by
having such a long-term  shareholder  account subject to the B Plan distribution
fee.

The other funds and series which participate in the Telephone Exchange Privilege
(except (a) Lord Abbett U.S.  Government  Securities  Money  Market  Fund,  Inc.
("GSMMF"),  (b)  certain  series of Lord  Abbett  Tax-Free  Income Fund and Lord
Abbett  Tax-Free  Income Trust for which a Rule 12b-1 Plan is not yet in effect,
and (c) any authorized  institution's  affiliated  money market fund  satisfying
Lord  Abbett  Distributor  as to certain  omnibus  account  and other  criteria,
hereinafter  referred  to  as  an  "authorized  money  market  fund"  or  "AMMF"
(collectively,  the "Non-12b-1 Funds")) have instituted a CDSC for each class on
the same terms and conditions.  No CDSC will be charged on an exchange of shares
of the same class between Lord Abbett funds or between such funds and AMMF. Upon
redemption of shares out of the Lord Abbett family of funds or out of AMMF,  the
CDSC  will be  charged  on  behalf  of and  paid:  (i) to the fund in which  the
original purchase  (subject to a CDSC) occurred,  in the case of the Class A and
Class C shares and (ii) to Lord Abbett  Distributor if the original purchase was
subject to a CDSC, in the case of the Class B shares.  Thus, if shares of a Lord
Abbett fund are  exchanged for shares of the same class of another such fund and
the shares of the same class  tendered  ("Exchanged  Shares")  are  subject to a
CDSC,  the CDSC will carry over to the shares of the same class being  acquired,
including GSMMF and AMMF ("Acquired Shares"). Any CDSC that is carried over to

                                                        11

<PAGE>



Acquired  Shares is calculated as if the holder of the Acquired  Shares had held
those shares from the date on which he or she became the holder of the Exchanged
Shares.  Although the Non-12b-1  Funds will not pay a distribution  fee on their
own shares, and will, therefore,  not impose their own CDSC, the Non-12b-1 Funds
will collect the CDSC (a) on behalf of other Lord Abbett  funds,  in the case of
the Class A and Class C shares and (b) on behalf of Lord Abbett Distributor,  in
the case of the Class B shares. Acquired Shares held in GSMMF and AMMF which are
subject to a CDSC will be  credited  with the time such shares are held in GSMMF
but will not be credited with the time such shares are held in AMMF.  Therefore,
if your Acquired Shares held in AMMF qualified for no CDSC or a lower Applicable
Percentage at the time of exchange into AMMF,  that  Applicable  Percentage will
apply to  redemptions  for cash from AMMF,  regardless of the time you have held
Acquired Shares in AMMF.

In no event will the amount of the CDSC exceed the Applicable  Percentage of the
lesser of (i) the net asset value of the shares  redeemed  or (ii) the  original
cost of such  shares (or of the  Exchanged  Shares for which  such  shares  were
acquired). No CDSC will be imposed when the investor redeems (i) amounts derived
from  increases in the value of the account above the total cost of shares being
redeemed due to increases in net asset value,  (ii) shares with respect to which
no Lord Abbett  fund paid a 12b-1 fee and,  in the case of Class B shares,  Lord
Abbett  Distributor  paid no sales  charge  or  service  fee  (including  shares
acquired   through   reinvestment   of  dividend   income  and   capital   gains
distributions) or (iii) shares which,  together with Exchanged Shares, have been
held  continuously for 24 months from the end of the month in which the original
sale  occurred  (in the case of Class A  shares);  for six years or more (in the
case  of  Class B  shares)  and for one  year or more  (in the  case of  Class C
shares). In determining whether a CDSC is payable, (a) shares not subject to the
CDSC will be redeemed  before  shares  subject to the CDSC and (b) of the shares
subject to a CDSC, those held the longest will be the first to be redeemed.

EXCHANGES.  The Prospectus briefly describes the Telephone  Exchange  Privilege.
You may  exchange  some or all of your shares of any class for those in the same
class of: (i) Lord Abbett-sponsored funds currently offered to the public with a
sales charge  (front-end,  back-end or level ), (ii) GSMMF or (iii) AMMF, to the
extent  offers  and  sales  may be made in  your  state.  You  should  read  the
prospectus of the other fund before exchanging. In establishing a new account by
exchange, shares of the Fund being exchanged must have a value equal to at least
the  minimum  initial  investment  required  for the other  fund into  which the
exchange is made.

Shareholders in other Lord  Abbett-sponsored  funds and AMMF have the same right
to  exchange  their  shares for the  corresponding  class of the Fund's  shares.
Exchanges  are based on relative  net asset values on the day  instructions  are
received by the Fund in Kansas City if the  instructions  are received  prior to
the close of the NYSE in proper form. No sales charges are imposed except in the
case of  exchanges  out of  GSMMF or AMMF  (unless  a sales  charge  (front-end,
back-end or level) was paid on the initial investment in a Lord Abbett-sponsored
fund).  Exercise of the exchange privilege will be treated as a sale for federal
income tax purposes, and, depending on the circumstances,  a gain or loss may be
recognized. In the case of an exchange of shares that have been held for 90 days
or less where no sales charge is payable on the  exchange,  the  original  sales
charge incurred with respect to the exchanged  shares will be taken into account
in  determining  gain or loss on the  exchange  only to the extent  such  charge
exceeds the sales charge that would have been payable on the acquired shares had
they been acquired for cash rather than by exchange. The portion of the original
sales charge not so taken into  account will  increase the basis of the acquired
shares.

Shareholders have the exchange  privilege unless they refuse it in writing.  You
should  not view the  exchange  privilege  as a means for  taking  advantage  of
short-term swings in the market,  and we reserve the right to terminate or limit
the privilege of any shareholder who makes frequent exchanges.  We can revoke or
modify the privilege for all shareholders upon 60 days' prior notice.  "Eligible
Funds" are AMMF and other Lord Abbett-sponsored funds which are eligible for the
exchange  privilege,  except Lord Abbett Series Fund  ("LASF")  which offers its
shares only in connection with certain variable annuity  contracts,  Lord Abbett
Equity  Fund  ("LAEF")  which is not issuing  shares,  and series of Lord Abbett
Research Fund not offered to the general public ("LARF").

STATEMENT OF INTENTION.  Under the terms of the Statement of Intention to invest
$50,000 or more over a 13-month period as described in the Prospectus, shares of
a Lord  Abbett-sponsored  fund (other than shares of LAEF, LASF, LARF, GSMMF and
AMMF,  unless holdings in GSMMF and AMMF are  attributable  to shares  exchanged
from a Lord

                                                        12

<PAGE>



Abbett-sponsored fund offered with a front-end,  back-end or level sales charge)
currently  owned by you are credited as  purchases  (at their  current  offering
prices  on the date  the  Statement  is  signed)  toward  achieving  the  stated
investment and reduced  initial sales charge for Class A shares.  Class A shares
valued  at 5% of the  amount  of  intended  purchases  are  escrowed  and may be
redeemed to cover the  additional  sales charge  payable if the Statement is not
completed.  The Statement of Intention is neither a binding obligation on you to
buy, nor on the Fund to sell, the full amount indicated.

RIGHTS OF ACCUMULATION.  As stated in the Prospectus,  purchasers (as defined in
the Prospectus) may accumulate their investment in Lord  Abbett-sponsored  funds
(other than LAEF, LARF,  LASF,  GSMMF, and AMMF unless holdings in GSMMF or AMMF
are attributable to shares exchanged from a Lord  Abbett-sponsored  fund offered
with a front-end,  back-end or level sales charge) so that a current investment,
plus the  purchaser's  holdings  valued at the current  maximum  offering price,
reach a level eligible for a discounted sales charge for Class A shares.

NET ASSET VALUE PURCHASES OF CLASS A SHARES.  As stated in the  Prospectus,  our
Class A shares may be purchased at net asset value by our  directors,  employees
of Lord Abbett,  employees of our  shareholder  servicing agent and employees of
any securities  dealer having a sales agreement with Lord Abbett who consents to
such   purchases  or  by  the  director  or  custodian   under  any  pension  or
profit-sharing plan or Payroll Deduction IRA established for the benefit of such
persons  or for the  benefit  of  employees  of any  national  securities  trade
organization  to which Lord Abbett  belongs or any company with an account(s) in
excess of $10  million  managed  by Lord  Abbett  on a  private-advisory-account
basis.  For purposes of this  paragraph,  the terms  "directors" and "employees"
include a director's or employee's  spouse  (including the surviving spouse of a
deceased director or employee). The terms "our directors" and "employees of Lord
Abbett" also include  retired  directors and employees and other family  members
thereof.

Our Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value (a) at $1 million or
more,  (b) with  dividends and  distributions  from Class A shares of other Lord
Abbett-sponsored  funds,  except  for LARF,  LAEF and  LASF,  (c) under the loan
feature of the Lord  Abbett-sponsored  prototype 403(b) plan for share purchases
representing the repayment of principal and interest,  (d) by certain authorized
brokers, dealers, registered investment advisers or other financial institutions
who have entered into an agreement  with Lord Abbett  Distributor  in accordance
with  certain  standards   approved  by  Lord  Abbett   Distributor,   providing
specifically  for the use of our shares in particular  investment  products made
available for a fee to clients of such brokers,  dealers,  registered investment
advisers and other financial institutions, ("mutual fund wrap fee program"), (e)
by employees,  partners and owners of  unaffiliated  consultants and advisors to
Lord Abbett, Lord Abbett Distributor or Lord Abbett-sponsored  funds who consent
to such  purchase if such persons  provide  service to Lord Abbett,  Lord Abbett
Distributor  or such  funds on a  continuing  basis and are  familiar  with such
funds, (f) through  Retirement Plans with at least 100 eligible  employees,  (g)
our  Class A  shares  also may be  purchased  at net  asset  value,  subject  to
appropriate documentation, through a securities dealer where the amount invested
represents  redemption  proceeds from shares ("Redeemed Shares") of a registered
open-end management investment company not distributed or managed by Lord Abbett
(other than a money market fund),  if such  redemption has occurred no more than
60 days prior to the purchase of our shares,  the Redeemed  Shares were held for
at least six months  prior to  redemption  and the proceeds of  redemption  were
maintained in cash or a money market fund prior to purchase.  Purchasers  should
consider the impact, if any, of contingent deferred sales charges in determining
whether to redeem shares for subsequent  investment in our Class A shares.  Lord
Abbett may suspend,  change or terminate this purchase option referred to in (g)
above at any time,  we plan that on June 1,  1997 the net asset  value  transfer
privilege  will be  terminated,  and (h)  through  a  "special  retirement  wrap
program"   sponsored  by  an   authorized   institution   showing  one  or  more
characteristics  distinguishing  it, in the opinion of Lord  Abbett  Distributor
from a mutual  fund wrap  program.  Such  characteristics  include,  among other
things, the fact that an authorized  institution does not charge its clients any
fee of a consulting or advisory  nature that is  economically  equivalent to the
distribution  fee under Class A 12b-1 Plan and the fact that the program relates
to  participant-directed  Retirement Plan. Shares are offered at net asset value
to these  investors  for the purpose of promoting  goodwill  with  employees and
others  with  whom  Lord  Abbett   Distributor  and/or  the  Fund  has  business
relationships.

REDEMPTIONS.  A  redemption  order is in proper form when it contains all of the
information and  documentation  required by the order form or  supplementally by
Lord Abbett Distributor or the Fund to carry out the order. The signature(s) and
any legal capacity of the signer(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor.
See the Prospectus for expedited

                                                        13

<PAGE>



redemption procedures.

The right to redeem and receive payment, as described in the Prospectus,  may be
suspended if the NYSE is closed  (except for  weekends or  customary  holidays),
trading on the NYSE is  restricted  or the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission
deems an emergency to exist.

Our Board of  Directors  may  authorize  redemption  of all of the shares in any
account  in which  there are  fewer  than 25  shares.  Before  authorizing  such
redemption, the Board must determine that it is in our economic best interest or
necessary  to  reduce   disproportionately   burdensome  expenses  in  servicing
shareholder  accounts.  At least 6 months  prior  written  notice  will be given
before any such redemption,  during which time shareholders may avoid redemption
by bringing their accounts up to the minimum set by the Board.

DIV-MOVE. Under the Div-Move service described in the Prospectus, you can invest
the dividends paid on your account of any class into an existing  account of the
same class in any other  Eligible Fund. The account must be either your account,
a joint account for you and your spouse, a single account for your spouse,  or a
custodial  account for your minor child under the age of 21. You should read the
prospectus of the other fund before investing.

INVEST-A-MATIC.  The  Invest-A-Matic  method of investing in the Fund and/or any
other  Eligible Fund is described in the  Prospectus.  To avail yourself of this
method you must complete the application form,  selecting the time and amount of
your bank checking account  withdrawals and the funds for investment,  include a
voided, unsigned check and complete the bank authorization.

SYSTEMATIC  WITHDRAWAL  PLANS.  The Systematic  Withdrawal  Plan ("SWP") also is
described  in the  Prospectus.  You may  establish  a SWP if you own or purchase
uncertificated shares having a current offering price value of at least $10,000.
Lord Abbett prototype  retirement plans have no such minimum.  With respect to a
SWP for Class B shares,  the CDSC will be waived on redemptions of up to 12% per
year of the  current  net asset  value of your  account  at the time your SWP is
established.  For  redemptions  over 12% per year,  the CDSC  will  apply to the
entire  redemption.  Therefore,  please  contact  the  Fund  for  assistance  in
minimizing the CDSC in this situation.  With respect to Class C shares, the CDSC
will be waived on and after the first  anniversary  of their  purchase.  The SWP
involves  the  planned  redemption  of shares on a periodic  basis by  receiving
either  fixed or  variable  amounts at  periodic  intervals.  Since the value of
shares  redeemed  may be more or  less  than  their  cost,  gain or loss  may be
recognized for income tax purposes on each periodic payment.  Normally,  you may
not make  regular  investments  at the same  time you are  receiving  systematic
withdrawal  payments because it is not in your interest to pay a sales charge on
new  investments  when in  effect  a  portion  of that  new  investment  is soon
withdrawn.  The minimum investment accepted while a withdrawal plan is in effect
is  $1,000.  The SWP may be  terminated  by you or by us at any time by  written
notice.

RETIREMENT  PLANS.  The Prospectus  indicates the types of retirement  plans for
which Lord Abbett provides forms and  explanations.  Lord Abbett makes available
the  retirement  plan  forms  and  custodial  agreements  for  IRAs  (Individual
Retirement  Accounts,  including Simple IRAs and Simplified  Employee Pensions),
403(b) plans and qualified pension and  profit-sharing  plans,  including 401(k)
plans. The forms name Investors Fiduciary Trust Company as custodian and contain
specific   information   about  the  plans.   Explanations  of  the  eligibility
requirements,  annual  custodial fees and allowable tax advantages and penalties
are set forth in the  relevant  plan  documents.  Adoption of any of these plans
should be on the advice of your legal counsel or qualified tax adviser.

                                                        6.
                                                 Past Performance

The Fund  computes the average  annual  compounded  rate of total return  during
specified  periods that would equate the initial  amount  invested to the ending
redeemable value of such investment by adding one to the computed average annual
total return, raising the sum to a power equal to the number of years covered by
the  computation  and  multiplying  the result by one  thousand  dollars,  which
represents a hypothetical initial investment.  The calculation assumes deduction
of the maximum sales charge from the initial amount invested and reinvestment of
all income dividends and

                                                        14

<PAGE>



capital gains  distributions on the reinvestment  dates at prices  calculated as
stated in the Prospectus.  The ending redeemable value is determined by assuming
a complete  redemption at the end of the period(s) covered by the average annual
total return computation.

In  calculating  total  returns for Class A shares,  the current  maximum  sales
charge of 5.75% (as a  percentage  of the offering  price) is deducted  from the
initial  investment (unless the return is shown at net asset value). For Class B
shares,  the payment of the applicable CDSC (5.0% prior to the first anniversary
of purchase, 4.0% prior to the second anniversary of purchase, 3.0% prior to the
third and fourth anniversaries of purchase,  2.0% prior to the fifth anniversary
of purchase,  1.0% prior to the sixth anniversary of purchase and no CDSC on and
after the sixth  anniversary  of purchase)  is applied to the Fund's  investment
result for that class for the time  period  shown  (unless  the total  return is
shown at net asset value).  For Class C shares,  the 1.0% CDSC is applied to the
Fund's  investment  result for that class for the time period shown prior to the
first  anniversary  of purchase  (unless the total  return is shown at net asset
value).  Total  returns  also  assume  that  all  dividends  and  capital  gains
distributions during the period are reinvested at net asset value per share, and
that the investment is redeemed at the end of the period.

Using  the  computation  method  described  above,  the  Fund's  average  annual
compounded  rates of total  return for the last one,  five and ten  fiscal-years
ending on October  31, 1996 are as  follows:  16.10%,  14.16% and 12.07% for the
Fund's Class A shares,  respectively.  For the period  August 1, 1996 to October
31, 1996 the average  annual  compounded  rates of total  return for the Class B
shares was 4.70% (not annualized).  For the period August 1, 1996 to October 31,
1996 the average annual  compounded rates of total return for Class C shares was
9.00% (not annualized).

Our  yield  quotation  for each  class is  based on a 30-day  period  ended on a
specified date,  computed by dividing the net investment income per share earned
during the period by the maximum  offering  price per share of such class on the
last day of the period.  This is determined  by finding the following  quotient:
take the dividends  and interest  earned during the period for a class minus its
expenses  accrued  for the period and divide by the  product of (i) the  average
daily number of Class shares outstanding during the period that were entitled to
receive dividends and (ii) the maximum offering price per share of such class on
the last day of the period.  To this quotient add one. This sum is multiplied by
itself  five  times.   Then  one  is   subtracted   from  the  product  of  this
multiplication  and the remainder is  multiplied  by two.  Yield for the Class A
shares reflects the deduction of the maximum initial sales charge,  but may also
be shown based on the Class A net asset value per share.  Yields for Class B and
C shares do not reflect the  deduction of the CDSC.  For the 30-day period ended
October 31, 1996, the yield for the Class A shares of Fund was 1.96%.

These figures represent past  performance,  and an investor should be aware that
the investment return and principal value of a Fund investment will fluctuate so
that an investor's shares,  when redeemed,  may be worth more or less than their
original cost.  Therefore,  there is no assurance that this  performance will be
repeated in the future.

                                                        7.
                                                       Taxes

The value of any shares  redeemed by the Fund or  repurchased  or otherwise sold
may be  more  or less  than  your  tax  basis  in the  shares  at the  time  the
redemption,  repurchase  or sale is made.  Any gain or loss  will  generally  be
taxable  for  federal  income  tax  purposes.  Any loss  realized  on the  sale,
redemption  or  repurchase  of Fund shares which you have held for six months or
less will be treated for tax purposes as a long-term  capital loss to the extent
of any capital  gains  distributions  which you  received  with  respect to such
shares.  Losses on the sale of stock or securities are not deductible if, within
a period  beginning 30 days before the date of the sale and ending 30 days after
the  date of the  sale,  the  taxpayer  acquires  stock or  securities  that are
substantially identical.

The writing of call options and other investment  techniques and practices which
the Fund may  utilize,  as  described  above under  "Investment  Objectives  and
Policies," may create  "straddles" for United States federal income tax purposes
and may affect the character and timing of the  recognition  of gains and losses
by the Fund.  Such  transactions  may increase the amount of short-term  capital
gain realized by the Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to
shareholders.  Limitations  imposed by the  Internal  Revenue  Code on regulated
investment companies may restrict

                                                        15

<PAGE>



the Fund's ability to engage in transactions in options.

As described in the Prospectus  under "How We Invest - Risk  Factors",  the Fund
may be subject to foreign  withholding taxes which would reduce the yield on its
investments.  Tax treaties  between certain  countries and the United States may
reduce or eliminate such taxes.  It is expected that Fund  shareholders  who are
subject to United  States  federal  income tax will not be  entitled  to claim a
federal  income tax credit or  deduction  for foreign  income  taxes paid by the
Fund.

The Fund will be subject to a 4%  non-deductible  excise tax on certain  amounts
not distributed  (and not treated as having been  distributed) on a timely basis
in accordance with a calendar-year distribution requirement. The Fund intends to
distribute to shareholders  each year an amount adequate to avoid the imposition
of  such  excise  tax.   Dividends  paid  by  the  Fund  will  qualify  for  the
dividends-received  deduction  for  corporations  to the extent they are derived
from dividends paid by domestic corporations.

Gains and losses realized by the Fund on certain  transactions,  including sales
of foreign debt securities and certain transactions  involving foreign currency,
will be treated as ordinary  income or loss for federal  income tax  purposes to
the extent,  if any,  that such gains or losses are  attributable  to changes in
exchange rates for foreign  currencies.  Accordingly,  distributions  taxable as
ordinary  income will include the net amount,  if any, of such foreign  exchange
gains and will be reduced by the net amount,  if any, of such  foreign  exchange
losses.

If the Fund purchases  shares in certain  foreign  investment  entities,  called
"passive  foreign  investment  companies"  it may be  subject  to United  States
federal  income tax on a portion of any "excess  distribution"  or gain from the
disposition  of such  shares,  even if such income is  distributed  as a taxable
dividend by the Fund to its  shareholders.  Additional  charges in the nature of
interest  may be imposed on either  the Fund or its  shareholders  in respect of
deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.

If the Fund were to invest in a passive foreign  investment company with respect
to which the Fund elected to make a "qualified electing fund" election,  in lieu
of the foregoing  requirements,  the Fund might be required to include in income
each  year a portion  of the  ordinary  earnings  and net  capital  gains of the
qualified electing fund, even if such amount were not distributed to the Fund.

The  foregoing  discussion  relates  solely to U.S.  federal  income  tax law as
applicable to United States  persons  (United  States  citizens or residents and
United States  domestic  corporations,  partnerships,  trusts and estates.) Each
shareholder  who is not a United States  person  should  consult his tax adviser
regarding  the U.S. and foreign tax  consequences  of the ownership of shares of
the Fund,  including a 30% (or lower treaty rate) United States  withholding tax
on dividends  representing ordinary income and net short-term capital gains, and
the  applicability  of United States gift and estate taxes to non-United  States
persons who own Fund shares.

                                                        8.
                                            Information About the Fund

The  directors,  trustees and officers of Lord  Abbett-sponsored  mutual  funds,
together  with the partners  and  employees  of Lord  Abbett,  are  permitted to
purchase and sell securities for their personal investment accounts. In engaging
in  personal  securities  transactions,  however,  such  persons  are subject to
requirements  and  restrictions  contained  in the Fund's  Code of Ethics  which
complies,  in  substance,  with each of the  recommendations  of the  Investment
Company Institute's  Advisory Group on Personal  Investing.  Among other things,
the Code  requires  that Lord  Abbett  partners  and  employees  obtain  advance
approval before buying or selling securities, submit confirmations and quarterly
transaction  reports,  and obtain  approval  before  becoming a director  of any
company;  and it  prohibits  such  persons  from  investing in a security 7 days
before  or  after  any  Lord  Abbett-sponsored  fund  trades  in such  security,
prohibiting  profiting on trades of the same security within 60 days and trading
on  material  and  non-public  information.  The Code  imposes  certain  similar
requirements and restrictions on the independent  directors and trustees of each
Lord   Abbett-sponsored   mutual  fund  to  the  extent   contemplated   by  the
recommendations of such Advisory Group.


                                                        16

<PAGE>


                                                        9.
                                               Financial Statements

The  financial  statements  for the fiscal  year ended  October 31, 1996 and the
report  of  Deloitte  & Touche  LLP,  independent  public  accountants,  on such
financial statements contained in the 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders of Lord
Abbett  Affiliated  Fund,  Inc.  are  incorporated  herein by  reference to such
financial  statements  and report in reliance  upon the  authority of Deloitte &
Touche LLP as experts in auditing and accounting.


                                                        17

<PAGE>




PART C            OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (a)      Financial Statements
                  Part A- Financial  Highlights  for the ten years ended October
31, 1996.

                  Part      B-  Statement  of Net  Assets at October  31,  1996.
                            Statement of  Operations  for the year ended October
                            31,  1996.  Statements  of Changes in Net Assets for
                            the years ended October 31, 1995 and 1996. Financial
                            Highlights  for the five  years  ended  October  31,
                            1996.

         (b)      Exhibits -

                  99.B1  Articles  of  Amendment  ** 99.B6 Form of  Distribution
                  Agreement***  99.B11  Consent of  Deloitte  & Touche*  99.B15a
                  Forms of Rule 12b-1 Plans for Class A and Class C
                            shares***
                  99.B15b  Form of Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class B shares***  99.B18
                  Form of Plan entered into by Registrant pursuant
                            to Rule 18f-3.****
                  Ex. 16    Computation of Performance and Yield*
                  Ex. 27    Financial Data Schedule*

                  *         Filed herewith.
                  **        Previously Filed
                  ***       The form of this document is incorporated by
                            reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.41 to the
                            Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Lord Abbett
                            Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc. (File No. 811-2145).
                            The Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund document is
                            substantially identical to that form used for the
                            Registrant except for the name of the Registrant
                            and/or its Series and perhaps minor differences.
                  ****      Incorporated by Reference to Post-Effective
                            Amendment No. 40 to the Registration Statement on
                            Form N-1A of Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc.
                               (File No. 811-2145)

Item 25.          PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT

                  None.

Item 26.          NUMBER OF RECORD HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
                  (As of January 31, 1997)
             213,143 - (Class A);   2,644 -  (Class B);    997 -  (Class C)

Item 27.          INDEMNIFICATION

         Registrant is incorporated  under the laws of the State of Maryland and
         is  subject  to  Section  2-418 of the  Corporations  and  Associations
         Article of the Annotated Code of the State of Maryland  controlling the
         indemnification of the directors and officers. Since Registrant has its
         executive  offices  in the State of New  York,  and is  qualified  as a
         foreign  corporation  doing business in such State, the persons covered
         by the  foregoing  statute  may also be  entitled to and subject to the
         limitations of the indemnification provisions of Section 721-726 of the
         New York Business Corporation Law.

         The general effect of these statutes is to protect officers,  directors
         and  employees  of  Registrant  against  legal  liability  and expenses
         incurred by reason of their positions with the Registrant. The statutes
         provide for  indemnification  for liability for proceedings not brought
         on behalf of the corporation and for those brought on

                                                         1

<PAGE>



         behalf of the  corporation,  and in each case  place  conditions  under
         which  indemnification will be permitted,  including  requirements that
         the officer,  director or employee  acted in good faith.  Under certain
         conditions,  payment of expenses in advance of final disposition may be
         permitted. The By-laws of Registrant, without limiting the authority of
         Registrant to indemnify any of its officers, employees or agents to the
         extent consistent with applicable law, make the  indemnification of its
         directors  mandatory  subject only to the  conditions  and  limitations
         imposed by the above-  mentioned  Section  2-418 of Maryland law and by
         the provisions of Section 17(h) of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940
         as interpreted and required to be implemented by SEC Release No.
         IC-11330 of September 4, 1980.

         In referring in its By-laws to, and making indemnification of directors
         subject to the conditions and limitations of, both Section 2-418 of the
         Maryland law and Section 17(h) of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940,
         Registrant intends that conditions and limitations on the extent of the
         indemnification  of  directors  imposed  by the  provisions  of  either
         Section 2-418 or Section  17(h) shall apply and that any  inconsistency
         between the two will be resolved by  applying  the  provisions  of said
         Section 17(h) if the  condition or limitation  imposed by Section 17(h)
         is the more  stringent.  In referring in its By-laws to SEC Release No.
         IC-11330 as the source for  interpretation  and  implementation of said
         Section 17(h),  Registrant  understands that it would be required under
         its By-laws to use  reasonable  and fair means in  determining  whether
         indemnification  of a  director  should be made and  undertakes  to use
         either  (1) a final  decision  on the  merits by a court or other  body
         before  whom  the   proceeding  was  brought  that  the  person  to  be
         indemnified  ("indemnitee")  was not  liable  to  Registrant  or to its
         security  holders by reason of willful  malfeasance,  bad faith,  gross
         negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct
         of his office  ("disabling  conduct")  or (2) in the  absence of such a
         decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts,
         that the indemnitee was not liable by reason of such disabling conduct,
         by (a) the vote of a majority of a quorum of directors  who are neither
         "interested  persons"  (as defined in the 1940 Act) of  Registrant  nor
         parties to the  proceeding,  or (b) an  independent  legal counsel in a
         written opinion. Also, Registrant will make advances of attorneys' fees
         or other  expenses  incurred by a director  in his defense  only if (in
         addition  to  his  undertaking  to  repay  the  advance  if he  is  not
         ultimately entitled to  indemnification)  (1) the indemnitee provides a
         security for his  undertaking,  (2) Registrant shall be insured against
         losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (3) a majority of a
         quorum of the non-interested,  non-party directors of Registrant, or an
         independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine,  based
         on a review of readily available facts, that there is reason to believe
         that   the   indemnitee   ultimately   will  be   found   entitled   to
         indemnification.

         Insofar as  indemnification  for liability arising under the Securities
         Act of 1933 may be permitted  to  directors,  officers and  controlling
         persons of the  Registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions,  or
         otherwise,  the  Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
         Securities  and Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is against
         public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
         In the event that a claim for indemnification  against such liabilities
         (other than the payment by the  Registrant of expense  incurred or paid
         by a director,  officer or controlling  person of the Registrant in the
         successful  defense of any action,  suit or  proceeding) is asserted by
         such  director,  officer or controlling  person in connection  with the
         securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion
         of its counsel the matter has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,
         submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
         indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
         and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

         In addition, Registrant maintains a directors' and officers' errors and
         omissions liability insurance policy protecting  directors and officers
         against liability for breach of duty,  negligent act, error or omission
         committed  in their  capacity  as  directors  or  officers.  The policy
         contains certain exclusions, among which is exclusion from coverage for
         active or  deliberate  dishonest or  fraudulent  acts and exclusion for
         fines or penalties imposed by law or other matters deemed uninsurable.

Item 28.          BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER


                                                         2

<PAGE>



         Lord, Abbett & Co. acts as investment adviser for twelve other open-end
         investment  companies  (of  which  it  is  principal   underwriter  for
         thirteen)  and as  investment  adviser to  approximately  5,700 private
         accounts.  Other than acting as directors  and/or  officers of open-end
         investment  companies  sponsored by Lord,  Abbett & Co.,  none of Lord,
         Abbett & Co.'s  partners has, in the past two fiscal years,  engaged in
         any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial
         nature for his own  account or in the  capacity of  director,  officer,
         employee, or partner of any entity except as follows:

                  John J. Walsh
                  Trustee
                  The Brooklyn Hospital Center
                  100 Parkside Avenue
                  Brooklyn, N.Y.

Item 29.(a)       PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

                  Lord Abbett Mid-Cap Value Fund, Inc.
                  Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc.
                  Lord Abbett Developing Growth Fund, Inc.
                  Lord Abbett Tax-Free Income Fund, Inc.
                  Lord Abbett Global Fund, Inc.
                  Lord Abbett Series Fund, Inc.
                  Lord Abbett U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Inc.
                  Lord Abbett Equity Fund
                  Lord Abbett Tax-Free Income Trust
                  Lord Abbett Securities Trust
                  Lord Abbett Investment Trust
                  Lord Abbett Research Fund, Inc.

                  INVESTMENT ADVISOR
                  American Skandia Trust (Lord Abbett Growth & Income Portfolio)

         (b)      The partners of Lord, Abbett & Co. are:

                  Name and Principal          Positions and Offices
                  BUSINESS ADDRESS (1)         WITH REGISTRANT

                  Robert S. Dow               Chairman and President
                  Kenneth B. Cutler           Vice President & Secretary
                  Stephen I. Allen            Vice President
                  Zane E. Brown               Vice President
                  Daniel E. Carper            Vice President
                  Daria L. Foster             Vice President
                  Robert G. Morris            Vice President
                  Robert J. Noelke            Vice President
                  E. Wayne Nordberg           Vice President
                  John J. Walsh               Vice President

         (1)      Each of the above has a principal business address:
                  767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10153

         (c)      Not applicable


                                                         3

<PAGE>



Item 30.          LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

         Registrant maintains the records, required by Rules 31a - 1(a) and (b),
         and 31a - 2(a) at its main office.

         Lord, Abbett & Co. maintains the records required by Rules 31a - 1(f)
          and 31a - 2(e) at its main office.

         Certain records such as cancelled stock certificates and correspondence
         may be  physically  maintained  at the main office of the  Registrant's
         Transfer Agent, Custodian, or Shareholder Servicing Agent within the
         requirements of Rule 31a-3.

Item 31.          MANAGEMENT SERVICES

         (a)                  None



Item 32.      UNDERTAKINGS

         (c)      The  Registrant  undertakes  to furnish  each person to whom a
                  prospectus is delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest
                  annual  report  to  shareholders,  upon  request  and  without
                  charge.


              The registrant undertakes, if requested to do so by the holders of
              at least 10% of the  registrant's  outstanding  shares,  to call a
              meeting  of  shareholders  for the  purpose  of  voting  upon  the
              question  of removal of a director or  directors  and to assist in
              communications  with other  shareholders  as  required  by Section
              16(c).

                                                         4
<PAGE>

                                 SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940 the Registrant  certifies that it meets all the requirements
for effectiveness of this Registration  Statement  pursuant to Rule 485(b) under
the  Securities  Act of 1933 and has duly  caused  this  Registration  Statement
and/or any  amendment  thereto  to be signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of New York and State of New York on the
1st day of March 1997.

                                  LORD ABBETT AFFILIATED FUND, INC.


                                  By  /S/ ROBERT S. DOW
                                     Robert S. Dow, Chairman

Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,  this  Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following  persons in the  capacities and
on the dates indicated.



 
NAME                         TITLE                               DATE
- -----                        -----                               ----
                            Chairman, President and
/s/ Robert S. Dow           Director                          3/1/97


/s/ Keith F. O'Connor       Vice President &                  3/1/97
                            Treasurer
                       
/s/ E. Thayer Bigelow       Director                          3/1/97


/s/ Thomas S. Henderson     Director                          3/1/97


/s/ Stewart S. Dixon        Director                          3/1/97


/s/ John C. Jansing         Director                          3/1/97


/s/ C. Alan MacDonald       Director                          3/1/97


/s/ Hansel B. Millican, Jr. Director                          3/1/97
 

Thomas J. Neff              Director                          3/1/97

<PAGE>



CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


Lord Abbett Affiliated Fund, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in  Post-Effective  Amendment No.70
to  Registration  Statement  No.  2-10638 of our report  dated  December 4, 1996
appearing in the annual report to shareholders  and to the reference to us under
the caption "Financial Highlights" in the Prospectus and to the references to us
under the captions  "Investment  Advisory  and Other  Services"  and  "Financial
Statements" in the Statement of Additional  Information,  both of which are part
of such Registration Statement.




/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

New York, New York
February 27, 1997



<PAGE>




EXHIBIT 16

AFFILIATED FUND
     Post Effective Amendment No. 70

Results of a $1,000  investment  reflecting  the  maximum  sales  charge and the
reinvestment of all distributions for:

    Periods Ending October 31, 1996

     One                                Five                      Ten
     YEAR                                YEARS                    YEARS

   $1,161 ERV                           $1,939 ERV              $3,125 ERV

SEC Formula for calculating Average
Annual Rate of Total Return:

     P = (1+T)N = ERV,

      WHERE:

      P = $ 1,000                      P = $1,000             P = $ 1,000

      N = 1                            N = 5                  N = 10
      ERV = $1,161                     ERV = $1,939          ERV = $3,125

                              T = Average annual total return

      ONE YEAR                   FIVE YEARS                  TEN YEARS

1000(1+T)1     = $1,161        1000(1+T)5 = $1,939          1000(1+T)10 = $3,125


(1 + T)1       =  1,161        (1+T)5     =(1,939)           (1+T)10   = 3,125
                 ------                    -------                      -----
                  1,000                    (1,000)                      1,000

(1 + T)       =  1,161          (1+T)   =    ( 1,939).20      (1+T)= (3,125).10
                 ------                        ------                -------
                 1,000                        (1,000)               (1,000)

 T         =  1,161-1            T    =    ( 1,939).20-1    T    = ( 3,125).10-1
               -----                         ------                 ------
               1,000                        (1,000)                 (1,000)

 T         =16.10                  T      = 14.16              T     = 12.07


<PAGE>




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000002691
<NAME> AFFILIATED FUND
<SERIES>
            <NUMBER>  001
            <NAME>    CLASS A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       4551753556
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      5947933396
<RECEIVABLES>                                 37647022
<ASSETS-OTHER>                               155404176
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                             63283
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              6141047877
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      31029012
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      9353728
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           40382740
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    4153443776
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        466776581
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        414384777
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                     25367966
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      525668439
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    1396179840
<NET-ASSETS>                                6100665137
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            140001328
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             32583431
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  462943
<EXPENSES-NET>                                35082044
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      137965658
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     525668439
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    525111985
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       1147055616
<EQUALIZATION>                                  233353
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    135003440
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                     493958520
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                       44568823
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   36145893
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                           43968874
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      1136140072
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                       22171059
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    485622077
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                         17674782
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                               35082044
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        5292021917
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.98
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .30
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.23
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .30
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                         1.19
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              13.02
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .66
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000002691
<NAME> AFFILIATED FUND
<SERIES>
            <NUMBER>  002
            <NAME>    CLASS B
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       4551753556
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      5947933396
<RECEIVABLES>                                 37647022
<ASSETS-OTHER>                               155404176
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                             63283
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              6141047877
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      31029012
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      9353728
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           40382740
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    4153443776
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1173194
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                         8899
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      525668439
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    1396179840
<NET-ASSETS>                                6100665137
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                35682
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                10137
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   25752
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          20067
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     525668439
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    525111985
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       1147055616
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        11185
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        1179425
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                       7014
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                783
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      1136140072
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0 
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                             6091
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  25752
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           7517406
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.88
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .06
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           1.14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .05
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              13.03
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .34
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000002691
<NAME> AFFILIATED FUND
<SERIES>
            <NUMBER>  003
            <NAME>    CLASS C
       
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