1933 Act File No. 33-43017
1940 Act File No. 811-6418
SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 [X]
And
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT [X]
OF 1940
AMENDMENT No. 13 [X]
LORD ABBETT TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter
767 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10153
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)
X immediately on filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (i) of Rule 485
on (date)pursuant to paragraph (a) (i)of Rule 485
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (ii) of Rule 485
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) (ii) 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.
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LORD ABBETT TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
FORM N-1A
Cross Reference Sheet
Post-Effective Amendment No. 14
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 Financial Highlights; Performance
4 (a) (i) Cover Page, Our Management
4 (a) (ii) Investment Objectives; How We Invest
4 (b) (c) How We Invest
5 (a) (b) (c) Our Management; Back Cover Page
5 (d) N/A
5 (e) Back Cover Page
5 (f) 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
7 (a) Back Cover Page
7(b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Purchases
8 (a) (b) (c) (d) Redemptions and Repurchases
9 N/A
10 Cover Page
11 Cover Page -- Table of Contents
12 N/A
13 (a) (b) (c) (d) Investment Objectives and Policies
14 Trustees and Officers
15 (a) (b) (c) Trustees and Officers
16 (a) (i) Investment Advisory and Other Services
16 (a) (ii) Trustees 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, Repurchases
and Shareholder Services
16 (h) Investment Advisory and Other Services
16 (i) N/A
17 (a) Portfolio Transactions
17 (b) N/A
17 (c) Portfolio Transactions
17 (d) (e) N/A
18 (a) Cover Page
18 (b) N/A
19 (a) (b) Purchases, Redemptions, Repurchases
and Shareholder Services; Notes
to Financial Statements
19 (c) N/A
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Form N-1A Location in Prospectus or
ITEM NO. STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
20 Taxes
21 (a) Purchases, Redemptions, Repurchases
and Shareholder Services;
21 (b) (c) N/A
22 (a) N/A
22 (b) Past Performance
23 Financial Statements
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Except for the Form N-1A Cover Page, Cross Reference Sheet and Part C which are
filed herewith as a substitute for these items previously filed in
post-effective amendment number 13, the contents of post-effective amendment
number 13, including the Registrant's prospectus, statement of additional
information and exhibits filed with that amendment are incorporated by reference
into this post-effective amendment number 14 on Form N-1A for Lord Abbett Tax-
Free Income Trust (1933 Act No. 33-43017 and 1940 Act No. 811-6418).
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PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(a) Financial Statements
Part A - Financial Highlights for years ended Octobe 31,
1994 and 1995 and 1996, the period September 25,
1991 (commencement of operations - Florida Series)
to October 31, 1991, the period February 3, 1992
(commencement of operations - Pennsylvania Series)
to October 31, 1992 and the period December 1, 1992
(commencement of operations - Michigan Series) to
October 31, 1993.
Part B - Statement of Net Assets at October
31, 1996. Statement of Operations for the
year ended October 31, 1996.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets for
the year ended October 31, 1996.
(b)Exhibits -
99.B1 Amendment to Declaration of Trust**
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.
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Item 26. NUMBER OF RECORD HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
(As of January 31, 1997)
Pennsylvania Series 2,559 - (Class A)
Florida Series 2,790 - (Class A); 84 - (Class C)
Michigan Series 1,804 - (Class A)
Georgia 364 - (Class A)
Item 27. INDEMNIFICATION
All Trustees, officers, employees and agents of Registrant are
to be indemnified as set forth in Section 4.3 of Registrant's
Declaration of Trust.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to Trustees, 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 Trustee, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such Trustee,
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 of 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 Trustees' and officers'
errors and omissions liability insurance policy protecting
Trustees and officers against liability for breach of duty,
negligent act, error or omission committed in their capacity
as Trustees 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
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
Trustees, 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 the
capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or Trustee of
any entity except as follows:
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John J. Walsh
Trustee
Brooklyn Hospital
Parkside Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Item 29. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
(a Lord Abbett Affiliated Fund, Inc.
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 U.S. Government Securities Money Market Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Series Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Equity Fund
Lord Abbett Securities Trust
Lord Abbett Investment Trust
Lord Abbett Research Fund, Inc.
INVESTMENT ADVISORS
American Skandia Trust (Lord Abbett Growth and 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
Zane E. Brown Vice President
Daniel E. Carper Vice President
Stephen I. Allen 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
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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
Rule 31a -1(f) and 31a - 2(e) at its main office.
Certain records such as canceled 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
None.
Item 32. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) N/A
(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.
(d) Registrant hereby 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 Trustee or
Trustees and to assist in communications with
other shareholders as required by Section 16(c)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
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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
3rd day of March, 1997
LORD ABBETT TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
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
/s/ Robert S. Dow Trustee 3/3/97
/s/ Keith F. O'Connor Vice President & 3/3/97
Treasurer
E. Thayer Bigelow Trustee 3/3/97
/s/ Stewart S. Dixon Trustee 3/3/97
/s/ John C. Jansing Trustee 3/3/97
/s/ C. Alan MacDonald Trustee 3/3/97
/s/ Hansel B. Millican, Jr. Trustee 3/3/97
Thomas J. Neff Trustee 3/3/97
