<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 12/31/1999
000 C000000 0000060365
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 6.1
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 LORD ABBETT BOND-DEBENTURE FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-2145
001 C000000 2013952000
002 A000000 90 HUDSON STREET
002 B000000 JERSEY CITY
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 07302
002 D020000 3973
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 LORD, ABBETT & CO.
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-6997
008 D010001 JERSEY CITY
008 D020001 NJ
008 D030001 07302
008 D040001 3973
011 A000001 LORD ABBETT DISTRIBUTOR LLC
011 B000001 8-216
011 C010001 JERSEY CITY
011 C020001 NJ
011 C030001 07302
011 C040001 3973
012 A000001 DST SYSTEMS, INC.
012 B000001 84-448
012 C010001 KANSAS CITY
012 C020001 MO
012 C030001 64141
<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 A000001 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B010001 NEW YORK
013 B020001 NY
013 B030001 10048
015 A000001 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 NEW YORK
015 C020001 NY
015 C030001 10015
015 E010001 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 41
019 C000000 LORDABBETT
020 A000001 LEHMAN BROTHERS
020 B000001 13-2518466
020 C000001 19
020 A000002 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.
020 B000002 13-2655998
020 C000002 10
020 A000003 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
020 B000003 13-5108880
020 C000003 9
020 A000004 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
020 B000004 13-5674085
020 C000004 9
020 A000005 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES, INC.
020 B000005 22-2347336
020 C000005 8
020 A000006 MORGAN KEEGAN & CO., INC.
020 B000006 64-0474907
020 C000006 2
020 A000007 BEAR STEARNS & CO.
020 B000007 13-3299429
020 C000007 1
020 A000008 ABN AMRO CHICAGO CORP.
020 B000008 13-3227945
020 C000008 1
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 58
022 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
022 B000001 13-5674085
022 C000001 2748688
022 D000001 47938
022 A000002 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000002 22-2347336
022 C000002 2476377
022 D000002 2798
022 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.
022 B000003 13-2655998
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 C000003 1632298
022 D000003 62493
022 A000004 AMERICAN MINICIPAL SECURITIES
022 B000004 59-2023127
022 C000004 1365271
022 D000004 0
022 A000005 ASIEL & CO.
022 B000005 13-4933080
022 C000005 892424
022 D000005 0
022 A000006 FUJI SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000006 36-2880742
022 C000006 432677
022 D000006 0
022 A000007 GREENWICH CAPITAL SERVICES
022 B000007 0000000000
022 C000007 242533
022 D000007 232505
022 A000008 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
022 B000008 13-5108880
022 C000008 202176
022 D000008 58301
022 A000009 SALOMON BROTHERS INC.
022 B000009 13-3082694
022 C000009 166092
022 D000009 153330
022 A000010 MORGAN (JP) SECURITIES
022 B000010 13-3224016
022 C000010 142671
022 D000010 14190
023 C000000 12011959
023 D000000 1965500
024 000000 N
025 D000001 0
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 75646
<PAGE> PAGE 4
028 A020000 16608
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 58467
028 B010000 73556
028 B020000 16741
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 61457
028 C010000 60769
028 C020000 16920
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 62236
028 D010000 54332
028 D020000 16999
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 64009
028 E010000 51289
028 E020000 17090
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 67636
028 F010000 45720
028 F020000 17079
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 95080
028 G010000 361312
028 G020000 101437
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 408885
028 H000000 161158
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 13010
030 B000000 4.75
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 1866
031 B000000 0
032 000000 11144
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 2558
036 A000000 Y
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 N
040 000000 Y
041 000000 Y
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 0
042 D000000 100
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 20967
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 500000
048 A020000 0.500
048 B010000 0
048 B020000 0.000
048 C010000 0
048 C020000 0.000
048 D010000 0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000 0
048 E020000 0.000
048 F010000 0
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000 0
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 500000
048 K020000 0.450
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 Y
054 H000000 Y
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 N
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 N
055 A000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 6
055 B000000 N
056 000000 Y
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 1000
062 A000000 Y
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 0.0
062 J000000 0.1
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 4.1
062 N000000 2.6
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 86.3
062 Q000000 6.7
062 R000000 0.0
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 6.3
064 A000000 N
064 B000000 Y
065 000000 N
066 A000000 N
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 Y
070 B010000 N
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 N
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 N
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 N
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 N
070 L020000 N
070 M010000 N
070 M020000 N
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 Y
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 N
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 2541017
071 B000000 2527461
071 C000000 3720694
071 D000000 68
072 A000000 12
072 B000000 326461
072 C000000 13128
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 17076
072 G000000 0
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 3905
072 J000000 0
072 K000000 0
072 L000000 408
072 M000000 92
072 N000000 291
072 O000000 4
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 125
072 S000000 33
072 T000000 20967
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 213
072 X000000 43114
072 Y000000 0
072 Z000000 296475
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072AA000000 0
072BB000000 88204
072CC010000 0
072CC020000 75599
072DD010000 192354
072DD020000 58055
072EE000000 0
073 A010000 0.7500
073 A020000 0.6900
073 B000000 0.0000
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 2882
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 4485
074 D000000 3548369
074 E000000 215250
074 F000000 5105
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 2590
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 67339
074 M000000 127
074 N000000 3846147
074 O000000 57263
074 P000000 0
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 11261
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 3777623
074 U010000 257415
074 U020000 92903
074 V010000 9.05
074 V020000 9.05
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 93165
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 3739195
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A000000 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE INC.
080 C000000 25000
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 40
<PAGE> PAGE 9
082 A000000 N
082 B000000 0
083 A000000 N
083 B000000 0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000 0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
SIGNATURE DONNA M. MCMANUS
TITLE TREASURER
<PAGE>
Independent Auditors' Report
The Board of Directors and Shareholders,
Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets of Lord Abbett
Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc. as of December 31, 1999, the related statements of
operations for the year then ended and of changes in net assets for each of the
years in the two-year period then ended and the financial highlights for each of
the periods presented. These financial statements and the financial highlights
are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements and the financial highlights
based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial
highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned at December
31, 1999 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit also
includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements and financial highlights present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Lord Abbett
Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc. at December 31, 1999, the results of its operations,
the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the periods
presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
February 25, 2000
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000060365
<NAME> LORD ABBETT BOND DEBENTURE FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,929,200,315
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,773,209,197
<RECEIVABLES> 69,928,583
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,009,508
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,846,147,288
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 57,262,500
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 11,262,184
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 68,524,684
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,023,738,447
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 257,415,187
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 245,646,010
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 7,139,745
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (97,391,784)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (155,863,804)
<NET-ASSETS> 2,328,530,790
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 13,128,217
<INTEREST-INCOME> 326,461,019
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 43,114,012
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 296,475,224
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (88,204,475)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (75,599,179)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 132,671,570
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (192,354,033)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 46,204,380
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (48,782,581)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 14,347,378
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 237,498,848
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5,601,096
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (9,187,309)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 17,075,989
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 43,416,179
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,360,449,325
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.45
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.75
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.40)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.75)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.05
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.92
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000060365
<NAME> LORD ABBETT BOND DEBENTURE FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,929,200,315
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,773,209,197
<RECEIVABLES> 69,928,583
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,009,508
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,846,147,288
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 57,262,500
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 11,262,184
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 68,524,684
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,023,738,447
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 92,902,767
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 71,056,722
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 7,139,745
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (97,391,784)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (155,863,804)
<NET-ASSETS> 840,533,157
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 13,128,217
<INTEREST-INCOME> 326,461,019
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 43,114,012
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 296,475,224
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (88,204,475)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (75,599,179)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 132,671,570
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (58,055,378)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 32,292,536
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (14,195,926)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,749,435
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 237,498,848
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5,601,096
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (9,187,309)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 17,075,989
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 43,416,179
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 784,010,204
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.44
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.69
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.39)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.69)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.05
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.60
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000060365
<NAME> LORD ABBETT BOND DEBENTURE FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,929,200,315
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,773,209,197
<RECEIVABLES> 69,928,583
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,009,508
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,846,147,288
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 57,262,500
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 11,262,184
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 68,524,684
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,023,738,447
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 61,508,277
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 55,110,236
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 7,139,745
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (97,391,784)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (155,863,804)
<NET-ASSETS> 557,148,772
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 13,128,217
<INTEREST-INCOME> 326,461,019
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 43,114,012
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 296,475,224
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (88,204,475)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (75,599,179)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 132,671,570
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (41,241,035)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 22,171,975
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (18,654,738)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2,880,804
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 237,498,848
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5,601,096
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (9,187,309)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 17,075,989
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 43,416,179
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 555,429,162
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.46
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.69
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.40)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.69)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.06
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.60
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000060365
<NAME> LORD ABBETT BOND DEBENTURE FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> CLASS P
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,929,200,315
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,773,209,197
<RECEIVABLES> 69,928,583
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,009,508
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,846,147,288
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 57,262,500
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 11,262,184
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 68,524,684
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,023,738,447
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 25,328
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 7,139,745
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (97,391,784)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (155,863,804)
<NET-ASSETS> 229,333
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 13,128,217
<INTEREST-INCOME> 326,461,019
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 43,114,012
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 296,475,224
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (88,204,475)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (75,599,179)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 132,671,570
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (7,532)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 25,320
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (642)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 636
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 237,498,848
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5,601,096
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (9,187,309)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 17,075,989
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 43,416,179
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 100,614
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.45
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.73
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.39)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.74)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.05
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.05
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000060365
<NAME> LORD ABBETT BOND DEBENTURE FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 005
<NAME> CLASS Y
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,929,200,315
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,773,209,197
<RECEIVABLES> 69,928,583
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,009,508
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,846,147,288
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 57,262,500
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 11,262,184
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 68,524,684
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4,023,738,447
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5,664,667
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,946,199
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 7,139,745
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (97,391,784)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (155,863,804)
<NET-ASSETS> 51,180,552
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 13,128,217
<INTEREST-INCOME> 326,461,019
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 43,114,012
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 296,475,224
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (88,204,475)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (75,599,179)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 132,671,570
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (3,278,597)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,382,642
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (23,664)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 359,490
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 237,498,848
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5,601,096
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (9,187,309)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 17,075,989
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 43,416,179
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 39,206,041
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.44
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.78
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.40)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.78)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.04
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.60
</TABLE>
