1933 Act File No. 33-68090
1940 Act File No. 811-7988
SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 [X]
And
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT [X]
OF 1940
Amendment No. 14 [X]
LORD ABBETT INVESTMENT TRUST
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
Thomas F. Konop, Vice President
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) (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) (3) 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 INVESTMENT TRUST
N-1A
Cross Reference Sheet
Post-Effective Amendment No. 15
Pursuant to Rule 481(a)
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 (the "Amendment") to the Registrant's
Registration Statement relates only to the filing of exhibits which accompany
Post-Effective Amendment No. 14.
The other series and classes of shares of the Registrant are listed below and
are offered by the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information in Parts A
and B, respectively, of the Post-Effective Amendment to the Registrant's
Statement as identified. The following are separate series and/or classes of
shares of the Registrant. This Amendment does not relate to, amend or otherwise
affect the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information contained in the
prior Post-Effective Amendments listed below, and pursuant to Rule 485(d) under
the Securities Act of 1933, does not affect the effectiveness of such prior
Post-Effective Amendments.
Stragegic Core Series - Class Y Post-Effective Amendment No. 12
Core Series - Class Y Post-Effective Amendment No. 13
U.S. Government Securities Series; Post-Effective Amendment No. 14
U.S. Government Limited Duration Series;
Balanced Series
Form N-1A Location In Prospectus or
Item No. Statement of Additional Information
1 Cover Page
2 Fee Table
3 N/A
4 (a) (i) Cover Page
4 (a) (ii)I Investment Objectives
4 (b) (c) How We Invest
5 (a) (b) (c) Our Management; Last Page
5 (d) N/A
5 (e) Our Management
5 (f) N/A
5 (g) Purchases
6 (a) Cover Page
6 (b) (c) (d) N/A
6 (e) Cover Page; Purchases
6 (f) (g) Dividends, Capital Gains
Distributions and Taxes
7 (a) Back Cover Page
7 (b) (c) (d) Purchases
8 (a) (b) (c) (d) Redemptions
Purchases, Redemptions and
Shareholder Services
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 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
Form N-1A Location in Prospectus or
Item No. Statement of Additional Information
19 (a) (b) Purchases; Redemptions and
Shareholder Services; Notes to Financial
Statements
19 (c) N/A
20 Taxes
21 (a) Purchases, Redemptions and Shareholder
Services
21 (b) (c) N/A
22 N/A
22 (b) Past Performance
23 Financial Statements; Supplementary
<PAGE>
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(b) Exhibits -
99.B1 Amendment to Declaration of Trust*
99.B11 Consent of Deloitte & Touche*
* Filed herewith.
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant
None.
Item 26. Number of Record Holders of Securities
--------------------------------------
(as of February 27, 1998)
U.S. Government Securities Series 81,086 Class A
527 Class B
4,793 Class C
Limited Duration Government 205 Class A
182 Class C
Balanced 1,181 Class A
457 Class C
Item 27. Indemnification
The Registrant is a Delaware Business Trust established under
Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code. The Registrant's
Declaration and Instrument of Trust at Section 4.3 relating to
indemnification of Trustees, officers, etc. states the
following.
<PAGE>
The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees, officers,
employees and agents (including any individual who serves at
its request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like
of another organization in which it has any interest as a
shareholder, creditor or otherwise) against all liabilities
and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in
satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and
penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by him or her
in connection with the defense or disposition of any action,
suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before
any court or administrative or legislative body in which he or
she may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise
or with which he or she may be or may have been threatened,
while acting as Trustee or as an officer, employee or agent of
the Trust or the Trustees, as the case may be, or thereafter,
by reason of his or her being or having been such a Trustee,
officer, employee or agent, except with respect to any matter
as to which he or she shall have been adjudicated not to have
acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her
action was in the best interests of the Trust or any Series
thereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if
any matter which is the subject of indemnification hereunder
relates only to one Series (or to more than one but not all of
the Series of the Trust), then the indemnity shall be paid
only out of the assets of the affected Series. No individual
shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to the
Trust or any Series thereof or the Shareholders by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her
office. In addition, no such indemnity shall be provided with
respect to any matter disposed of by settlement or a
compromise payment by such Trustee, officer, employee or
agent, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, either for
said payment or for any other expenses unless there has been a
determination that such compromise is in the best interests of
the Trust or, if appropriate, of any affected Series thereof
and that such Person appears to have acted in good faith in
the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best
interests of the Trust or, if appropriate, of any affected
Series thereof, and did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his or her office. All
determinations that the applicable standards of conduct have
been met for indemnification hereunder shall be made by (a) a
majority vote of a quorum consisting of disinterested Trustees
who are not parties to the proceeding relating to
indemnification, or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable or,
even if obtainable, if a majority vote of such quorum so
directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or
(c) a vote of Shareholders (excluding Shares owned of record
or beneficially by such individual). In addition, unless a
matter is disposed of with a court determination (i) on the
merits that such Trustee, officer, employee or agent was not
liable or (ii) that such Person was not guilty of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office, no
indemnification shall be provided hereunder unless there has
been a determination by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion that such Person did not engage in willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
<PAGE>
The Trustees may make advance payments out of the assets of
the Trust or, if appropriate, of the affected Series in
connection with the expense of defending any action with
respect to which indemnification might be sought under this
Section 4.3. The indemnified Trustee, officer, employee or
agent shall give a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust
or the Series in the event it is subsequently determined that
he or she is not entitled to such indemnification and (a) the
indemnified Trustee, officer, employee or agent shall provide
security for his or her undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be
insured against losses arising by reason of lawful advances,
or (c) a majority of a quorum of disinterested Trustees or an
independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall
determine, based on a review of readily available facts (as
opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to
believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled
to indemnification. The rights accruing to any Trustee,
officer, employee or agent under these provisions shall not
exclude any other right to which he or she may be lawfully
entitled and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
executors, administrators or other legal representatives.
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 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.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
Lord, Abbett & Co. acts as investment manager and/or principal
underwriter for twelve other Lord Abbett open-end investment
companies (of which it is principal underwriter for thirteen),
and as investment adviser to approximately 6,220 private
accounts. Other than acting as Trustees (directors) and/or
officers of open-end investment companies managed 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, partner or trustee of any entity except as follows:
<PAGE>
John J. Walsh
Trustee
Brooklyn Hospital
Parkside Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Item 29. Principal Underwriter
(a) Lord Abbett Affiliated Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett U. S. Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Mid-Cap Value Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Developing Growth Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Tax-Free Income Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Government Securities Money Market
Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Tax-Free Income Trust
Lord Abbett Global Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Equity Fund
Lord Abbett Series Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Research Fund, Inc.
Lord Abbett Investment Trust
Investment Adviser
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
Paul A. Hilstad Vice President & Secretary
Stephen I. Allen Vice President
Zane E. Brown Vice President
Daniel E. Carper Vice President
Daria L. Foster Vice President
W. Thomas Hudson Vice President
Michael B. McLaughlin 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 at 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
10153
(c) Not applicable
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 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.
<PAGE>
Item 31. Management Services
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.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940 the Registrant 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
14th day of April, 1998
LORD ABBETT INVESTMENT TRUST
By /s/ Robert S. Dow
------------------------------
Robert S. Dow
Chairman of the Board
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.
Chairman, President
/s/ Robert S. Dow and Trustee 4/14/98
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------- -----------
Robert S. Dow (Title) (Date)
Vice President and
/s/ Keith F. O'Connor Chief Financial Officer 4/14/98
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------- -----------
Keith F. O'Connor (Title) (Date)
/s/ E. Wayne Nordberg Trustee 4/14/98
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------- -----------
E. Wayne Nordberg (Title) (Date)
/s/ Stewart S. Dixon Trustee 4/14/98
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------- -----------
Stewart S. Dixon (Title) (Date)
/s/ John C. Jansing Trustee 4/14/98
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------- -----------
John C. Jansing (Title) (Date)
/s/ C. Alan MacDonald Trustee 4/14/98
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------- -----------
C. Alan MacDonald (Title) (Date)
/s/ Hansel B. Millican, Jr. Trustee 4/14/98
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------- -----------
Hansel B. Millican, Jr. (Title) (Date)
/s/ Thomas J. Neff Trustee 4/14/98
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------- -----------
Thomas J. Neff (Title) (Date)
/s/ E. Thayer Bigelow Trustee 4/14/98
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------- -----------
E. Thayer Bigelow (Title) (Date)
LORD ABBETT INVESTMENT TRUST
AMENDMENT TO
DECLARATION OF TRUST
The undersigned being at least a majority of the Trustees of Lord
Abbett Investment Trust, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), organized
pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated August 16, 1993 (the "Declaration"), do
hereby establish, pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Declaration, a new class of
shares for the Balanced Series of the Trust, to be designated Class B shares of
such Series. Any variations between the new class and such other classes of the
Trust as to purchase price, determination of net asset value, the price, terms
and manner of redemption, special and relative rights as to dividends and on
liquidation, and conditions under which such classes shall have separate voting
rights, shall be as set forth in the Declaration or as elsewhere determined by
the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
This instrument shall constitute an amendment to the Declaration.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this instrument this
12th day of March, 1998.
/s/ Robert S. Dow /s/ C. Alan MacDonald
Robert S. Dow C. Alan MacDonald
/s/ E. Thayer Bigelow /s/ Hansel B. Millican, Jr.
E. Thayer Bigelow Hansel B. Millican, Jr.
/s/ Stewart S. Dixon /s/ Thomas J. Neff
Stewart S. Dixon Thomas J. Neff
/s/ John C. Jansing /s/ E. Wayne Nordberg
John C. Jansing E. Wayne Nordberg
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Lord Abbett Investment Trust - Balanced Series:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Post-Effective Amendment No. 14
to Registration Statement No. 33-68090 our report dated January 5, 1998
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.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
March 27, 1998
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Lord Abbett Investment Trust - US Government Securities Series and Limited
Duration US Government Securities Series:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Post-Effective Amendment No. 14
to Registration Statement No. 33-68090 our report dated January 5, 1998
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.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
March 27, 1998
