Neuberger Berman Income Funds

 

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional
Class
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund   NCRAX   NCRCX   NCRLX
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund   NERAX   NERCX   NERIX
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund   NFIAX   NFICX   NFIIX
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund   NHIAX   NHICX   NHILX
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund   NMHAX   NMHCX   NMHIX
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund   NIMAX   NIMCX   NMIIX
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund   NMNAX   NMNCX   NMNLX
Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund   NSHAX   NSHCX   NSHLX
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund   NSTAX   NSTCX   NSTLX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prospectus February 28, 2023

 

These securities, like the securities of all mutual funds, have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has not determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

Contents

NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS

Fund Summaries
Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund   2
Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund   13
Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund   25
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund   34
Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund   44
Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund   55
Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund   66
Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund   75
Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund   86
Descriptions of Certain Practices and Security Types   99
Additional Information about Principal Investment Risks   100
Information about Additional Risks and Other Practices   116
Descriptions of Indices   117
Management of the Funds   118
Financial Highlights   123
YOUR INVESTMENT
Choosing a Share Class   150
Maintaining Your Account   151
Share Prices   156
Privileges and Services   158
Sales Charges   158
Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers   160
Distributions and Taxes   163
Direct Investors   165
Buying Shares — Direct Investors   167
Selling Shares — Direct Investors   168
Market Timing Policy   168
Portfolio Holdings Policy   169
Fund Structure   169
Appendix A   A-1

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Fund Summaries

Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund

Class A Shares (NCRAX), Class C Shares (NCRCX), Institutional Class Shares (NCRLX)

 

GOAL

The Fund seeks to maximize total return consistent with capital preservation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 160 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)            
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price)   4.25   None   None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of lower of original purchase price or current market value)1   None   1.00   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)            
Management fees   0.45   0.45   0.33
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees   0.25   1.00   None
Other expenses   0.10   0.13   0.10
Total annual operating expenses   0.80   1.58   0.43
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement   0.02   0.04   0.05
Total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2   0.78   1.54   0.38

 

1 For Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. For Class C shares, the CDSC is eliminated one year after purchase.
2 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) has contractually undertaken to waive and/or reimburse certain fees and expenses of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, and extraordinary expenses, if any) (“annual operating expenses”) of each class are limited to 0.78%, 1.53% and 0.38% of average net assets, respectively. Each of these undertakings lasts until 10/31/2026 and may not be terminated during its term without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Fund has agreed that each of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class will repay the Manager for fees and expenses waived or reimbursed for the class provided that repayment does not cause annual operating expenses to exceed 0.78%, 1.53% and 0.38% of the class’ average net assets, respectively. Any such repayment must be made within three years after the year in which the Manager incurred the expense.

 

Expense Example

The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.

 

    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
Class A   $501   $664   $844   $1,367
Class C (assuming redemption)   $257   $486   $848   $1,868
Class C (assuming no redemption)   $157   $486   $848   $1,868
Institutional Class   $39   $122   $225   $527

 

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Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 164% of the average value of its portfolio. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate including to-be-announced (“TBA”) roll transactions was 226%.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests in a diversified mix of debt securities, which primarily include government bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities.

 

The Fund may invest in a broad array of securities, including: securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; municipal securities; foreign securities, including emerging markets; securities issued by supranational entities (e.g., World Bank, IMF); corporate bonds; mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities; inflation-linked debt securities; and commercial paper. Securities in which the Fund may invest may be issued by domestic and foreign governments, corporate entities and trusts and may be structured as fixed rate debt, floating rate debt, and debt that may not pay interest from the time of issuance. The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities), which involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase securities that will be issued or settled at a later date. The Fund may enter into a TBA agreement and “roll over” such agreement prior to the settlement date by selling the obligation to purchase the securities set forth in the agreement and entering into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage-backed securities.

 

The debt securities in which the Fund invests primarily are investment grade. The Fund considers debt securities to be investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated within the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality.

 

The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies, interest rates, inflation, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.

 

The Fund normally will not invest more than 15% of its total assets in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities and, through hedging strategies, will attempt to limit its exposure to currencies other than the U.S. dollar to 5% of its total assets.

 

Additionally, the Fund may invest in preferred securities. The Fund may also invest a significant amount of its assets in U.S. Treasury securities or other money market instruments depending on market conditions.

 

The Fund normally seeks to maintain its target average duration within one year of the average duration of the bonds in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and, depending on market conditions, at times, the Fund may generally seek to maintain its target average duration within a maximum of two years of the average duration of the bonds in the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.

 

In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in bonds and other debt securities and other investment companies that provide investment exposure to such debt securities. The Fund will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.

 

Investment Philosophy and Process

The Portfolio Management Team’s investment philosophy is rooted in the belief that positive results can be achieved through a consistently applied, risk-managed approach to portfolio management that leverages the strengths of its proprietary fundamental research capabilities, decision-making frameworks, and quantitative risk management tools. The Portfolio Management Team employs an integrated investment process in managing the Fund.

 

Portfolio Strategy: The Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, which it monitors on an ongoing basis, including exposures to sectors (such as government, structured debt, credit, etc.) and duration/yield curve positioning, utilizing internally generated data that are produced by specialty sector investment teams in conjunction with asset allocation tools.

 

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Strategy Implementation: Once the Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, the specialty sector investment teams and the Portfolio Management Team determine industry/sub-sector weightings and make securities selections within the types of securities that the Fund can purchase, such as investment grade securities and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.

 

When assessing the value of a particular security, the teams utilize internally generated research and proprietary quantitatively driven tools and frameworks (including an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning) to a) establish an internal outlook, b) evaluate the market’s outlook as it is reflected in asset prices, and c) contrast the two. As part of their fundamental investment analysis, the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.

 

The teams will generally purchase securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is undervalued by the market and sell securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is overvalued by the market. The goal is to identify and evaluate investment opportunities that others may have missed.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund’s investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market’s behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.

 

The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.

 

The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.

 

Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield and may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates.

 

Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer. Issuers generally do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. While some unregistered commercial paper normally is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

 

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Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

 

Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

 

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

 

Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.

 

Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

 

Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

 

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

 

Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is

 

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traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.

 

Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.

 

Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.

 

High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.

 

The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of

 

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securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.

 

Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.

 

Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.

 

Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.

 

Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its debt securities. For this reason, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities

 

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to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility or reduce liquidity across various markets.

 

Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the U.S. dollar may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and could continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and

 

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substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

LIBOR Transition. Certain financial contracts around the world specify rates that are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is produced daily by averaging the rates for inter-bank lending reported by a number of banks. As previously announced by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, most maturities and currencies of LIBOR were phased out at the end of 2021, with the remaining ones to be phased out on June 30, 2023. There are risks that the financial services industry will not have a suitable substitute in place by that time and that there will not be time to perform the substantial work necessary to revise the many existing contracts that rely on LIBOR. The transition process, or a failure of the industry to transition properly, might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR. It also could lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based instruments. New York and federal legislation has been enacted to ease the transition from LIBOR, but there is no assurance whether such legislation will adequately address all issues or be subject to litigation.

 

Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

 

Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.

 

The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.

 

Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and

 

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floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities.

 

When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.

 

A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:

 

Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.

 

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

PERFORMANCE

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad-based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

 

Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.

 

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Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.

 

YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR

 

 

Years

Best quarter:     Q2 ’20, 5.64%

Worst quarter:   Q1 ’22, -5.74%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL % RETURNS AS OF 12/31/22

 

Core Bond Fund   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes   -13.61   0.25   1.12
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions   -14.79   -1.05   -0.12
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares   -8.03   -0.33   0.32
Class A Return Before Taxes   -17.61   -1.01   0.28
Class C Return Before Taxes   -15.39   -0.88   -0.03
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   -13.01   0.02   1.06
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Fund is managed by Thanos Bardas (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), David M. Brown, CFA (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), Nathan Kush (Managing Director of the Manager), Olumide Owolabi (Managing Director of the Manager), and Brad Tank (Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Fixed Income of the Manager). Messrs. Bardas and Brown have managed the Fund since February 2008, Mr. Tank has managed the Fund since April 2009, Mr. Kush has managed the Fund since December 2017, and Olumide Owolabi has managed the Fund since February 2023.

 

BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund’s net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace

 

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retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.

 

For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.

 

The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum may be waived in certain cases.

 

TAX INFORMATION

Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.

 

PAYMENTS TO INVESTMENT PROVIDERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.

 

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Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Class A Shares (NERAX), Class C Shares (NERCX), Institutional Class Shares (NERIX)

 

GOAL

The Fund seeks high total return consisting of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 160 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)            
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price)   4.25   None   None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of lower of original purchase price or current market value)1   None   1.00   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)            
Management fees   0.82   0.82   0.70
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees   0.25   1.00   None
Other expenses   0.48   0.37   0.31
Total annual operating expenses   1.55   2.19   1.01
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement   0.39   0.28   0.22
Total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2   1.16   1.91   0.79

 

1 For Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. For Class C shares, the CDSC is eliminated one year after purchase.
2 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) has contractually undertaken to waive and/or reimburse certain fees and expenses of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, and extraordinary expenses, if any) (“annual operating expenses”) of each class are limited to 1.15%, 1.90% and 0.78% of average net assets, respectively. Each of these undertakings lasts until 10/31/2026 and may not be terminated during its term without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Fund has agreed that each of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class will repay the Manager for fees and expenses waived or reimbursed for the class provided that repayment does not cause annual operating expenses to exceed 1.15%, 1.90% and 0.78% of the class’ average net assets, respectively. Any such repayment must be made within three years after the year in which the Manager incurred the expense.

 

Expense Example

The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.

 

    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
Class A   $538   $778   $1,122   $2,091
Class C (assuming redemption)   $294   $600   $1,093   $2,454
Class C (assuming no redemption)   $194   $600   $1,093   $2,454
Institutional Class   $81   $252   $490   $1,173

 

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Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in debt and other instruments of issuers that are tied economically to emerging market countries and other investments that provide investment exposure to such debt instruments. These include debt instruments of issuers that are based in emerging markets or that receive the majority of revenue from emerging markets, in debt or derivative instruments where the underlying risk or ultimate risk is on such an emerging market issuer, or in debt or derivative instruments where the currency of risk is an emerging market currency. In determining where an issuer of a security is based, the Portfolio Managers may consider such factors as where the company is legally organized, maintains its principal corporate offices and/or conducts its principal operations. The Fund considers emerging market countries to be countries included in the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index - Global Diversified, the JPMorgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index - Diversified, the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Index or the JPMorgan Government Bond Index - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, as well as those countries which are not defined as High Income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries by the World Bank.

 

The Fund may invest in sovereign, supranational, quasi-sovereign (i.e., securities of issuers that are directly or indirectly wholly-owned by the government or that are explicitly guaranteed by the government) and corporate issuers. These investments may be of any maturity, duration and credit rating (including, without limit, investments in below investment grade securities commonly known as “junk bonds”) and may be denominated in any currency including the local currency of the issuer. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default or that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, depending on the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of the investment opportunity. The Fund also may invest a large percentage of its net assets in issuers in a single country or geographic region.

 

The Portfolio Managers implement a systematic and disciplined framework for analyzing sovereign and corporate debt securities denominated in either local currency or globally traded currencies of industrialized countries. The investment decisions made by the Portfolio Managers rely on fundamental analysis and total return expectations in an effort to identify undervalued and overvalued securities and exploit investment opportunities.

 

The Portfolio Managers seek to anticipate yield, spread and currency movements in response to changes in:

 

Economic conditions;

 

Region, country and sector fundamentals;

 

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors; and

 

Issuer specific financial performance and other issuer specific factors.

 

The Portfolio Managers seek to identify investment opportunities in emerging market countries by comparing their analysis of each country’s macroeconomic data and qualitative fundamentals (such as political stability) against market expectations for that country measured by credit spreads, local interest rate levels and exchange rate valuations. The Portfolio Managers invest in individual issuers based on their relative financial performance and other issuer-specific factors as well as the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of inefficiencies in the markets where the issuer is located that the Portfolio Managers believe result in attractive valuations. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.

 

In an effort to manage risk, the Portfolio Managers periodically review the allocation of the Fund’s investments among the different asset classes, countries or regions. They may determine to reallocate the Fund’s investments based on a top-down analysis

 

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of the global market environment, the economic environment of emerging markets, and their evaluation of the attractiveness of an asset class. This evaluation includes an analysis of the relative attractiveness of the sub-asset classes of emerging markets sovereign credit, corporate credit, currency exchange and local rates. The Portfolio Managers also monitor the Fund’s performance relative to the indices listed above and the total exposure to individual countries, issuers, and currencies.

 

The Fund may invest in debt instruments of all types. These may include, without limitation, bonds, debentures, notes, convertible securities, loans and related assignments and participations, restricted securities, and money market instruments, including money market funds denominated in U.S. dollars or other currencies. The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.

 

The Fund may utilize derivatives of all types, without limitation, including futures and forward contracts (including contracts related to currencies), swap agreements (including total return, interest rate, and credit default swaps), options, and other related or synthetic instruments with respect to individual bonds and other instruments, indices and baskets of securities, interest rates and currencies, and structured notes as part of its principal investment strategies. The Fund may use derivatives for hedging or efficient portfolio management purposes, as well as to increase the Fund’s investment exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing directly in more conventional securities, a practice that may introduce leverage into the Fund. The Portfolio Managers may choose not to hedge the Fund’s positions. The Fund may also invest directly in foreign currencies for hedging risk and/or investment purposes.

 

In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in debt and other instruments of issuers that are tied economically to emerging market countries and other investments that provide investment exposure to such debt instruments. The Fund will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the international debt and currency markets and the markets for the debt of any particular countries in which the Fund may be concentrated, the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund’s investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The markets’ behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.

 

The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.

 

The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.

 

Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield and may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates.

 

Risks of Investments in China through Bond Connect Programs. There are significant risks inherent in investing through China’s Bond Connect Programs (“Bond Connect”), which allow eligible foreign investors to purchase certain China onshore debt securities available from China’s interbank bond market. The Chinese investment and banking systems are materially

 

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different in nature from many developed markets, which exposes investors to risks that are different from those in the U.S. Bond Connect uses the market infrastructure of both Hong Kong and mainland China. If either one or both markets involved are closed on a day the Fund is open, the Fund may not be able to add to or exit a position on such a day, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Securities offered through Bond Connect may lose their eligibility for trading through Bond Connect at any time, and if such an event occurs, the Fund could sell, but could no longer purchase, such securities through Bond Connect. Investing through Bond Connect also includes the risk that the Fund may have a limited ability to enforce rights as a bondholder as well as the risks of settlement delays and counterparty default related to the sub-custodian. Securities purchased through Bond Connect generally may not be sold, purchased, or otherwise transferred other than through Bond Connect in accordance with applicable rules.

 

Further regulations, restrictions, interpretation or guidance, such as limitations on redemptions and availability of securities, may adversely impact Bond Connect. There can be no assurance that Bond Connect will not be restricted, suspended, or abolished.

 

With respect to tax treatment, investments via Bond Connect could result in unexpected tax liabilities for a Fund, and there is also some uncertainty around the tax treatment of payments such as interest payable to U.S. investors. Although the Chinese government announced that interest income received by eligible foreign investors in the Chinese financial instruments held by them through Bond Connect would be exempt from enterprise income tax and value-added tax until December 31, 2025, it is currently unknown if the Chinese government will extend the exemption beyond December 31, 2025. Although it is currently anticipated that such an extension is likely to occur, if an extension did not occur, it could result in tax liabilities for a Fund.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole and there may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

 

Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund is exposed directly or indirectly to foreign currencies, including through its investments, or invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

 

Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is

 

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generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

 

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

 

Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.

 

Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

 

Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.

 

Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

 

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

 

Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.

 

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Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.

 

Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.

 

From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in one country or geographic region. If the Fund does so, there is a greater risk that economic, political, regulatory, diplomatic, social and environmental conditions in that particular country or geographic region may have a significant impact on the Fund’s performance and that the Fund’s performance will be more volatile than the performance of more geographically diversified funds.

 

High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet

 

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redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid. Loan interests may be difficult to value and may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.

 

The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

 

Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.

 

Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.

 

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An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio and may not be liquid. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.

 

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility or reduce liquidity across various markets.

 

Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the U.S. dollar may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and could continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

 

Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.

 

The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.

 

Structured Note Risk. Structured notes are notes where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, financial instrument, market or interest rate. Generally, investments in such notes are used as a substitute for positions in underlying indicators and involve many of the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying indicator the notes seek to replicate. Structured notes may be exchange traded or traded over-the-counter and privately negotiated. Structured notes can have risks of both fixed income securities and derivatives transactions, including leverage risk. The interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured note may vary widely, depending on a variety of factors, including changes in the value of one or more specified reference instruments. The performance of structured notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the underlying indicator that the notes seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Structured notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the structured note will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Investments in structured notes, including credit-linked notes, involve risks including interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk. Structured notes may be illiquid and may have a limited trading market, making it difficult to value them or sell them at an acceptable price.

 

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Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities.

 

A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:

 

Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.

 

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

PERFORMANCE

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of one or more broad-based market indices. The indices, which are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

 

Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.

 

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Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.

 

YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR

 

 

Years

Best quarter:     Q2 ’20, 13.22%

Worst quarter:   Q1 ’20, -16.21%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL % RETURNS AS OF 12/31/22

 

            Since Inception
Emerging Markets Debt Fund   1 Year   5 Years   (9/27/2013)
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes   -13.42   -1.81   0.57
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions   -14.45   -2.98   -0.71
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares   -7.20   -1.36   0.37
Class A Return Before Taxes   -17.40   -3.06   -0.28
Class C Return Before Taxes   -15.11   -2.90   -0.55
50% J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index (GBI) — Emerging Markets Global Diversified, 25% J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI) — Global Diversified, and 25% J.P. Morgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index (CEMBI) — Diversified (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   -13.51   -1.29   0.78
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager. Neuberger Berman Europe Limited (“NBEL”) is the Fund’s sub-adviser.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Fund is managed by Rob Drijkoningen (Managing Director of NBEL), Gorky Urquieta (Managing Director of the Manager), Bart Van der Made, CFA (Managing Director of NBEL), Raoul Luttik (Managing Director of NBEL), Jennifer Gorgoll, CFA (Managing Director of the Manager), Vera Kartseva, CFA (Senior Vice President of NBEL) and Nish Popat (Managing Director of NBEL). Mr. Drijkoningen, Mr. Urquieta, Mr. Van der Made, Mr. Luttik, Ms. Gorgoll, Ms. Kartseva and Mr. Popat have co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2013.

 

BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund’s net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares

 

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of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.

 

For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.

 

The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum may be waived in certain cases.

 

TAX INFORMATION

Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.

 

PAYMENTS TO INVESTMENT PROVIDERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.

 

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Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund

Class A Shares (NFIAX), Class C Shares (NFICX), Institutional Class Shares (NFIIX)

 

GOAL

The Fund seeks high current income.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 160 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)            
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price)   4.25   None   None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of lower of original purchase price or current market value)1   None   1.00   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)            
Management fees2   0.67   0.67   0.55
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees   0.25   1.00   None
Other expenses   0.19   0.18   0.17
Total annual operating expenses   1.11   1.85   0.72
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement3   0.13   0.12   0.11
Total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement4   0.98   1.73   0.61

 

1 For Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. For Class C shares, the CDSC is eliminated one year after purchase.
2 “Management fees” have been restated to reflect current advisory fees, which are lower than prior advisory expenses.
3 “Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement” has been restated to reflect the contractual expense limit for each Class as disclosed in note 4.
4 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) has contractually undertaken to waive and/or reimburse certain fees and expenses of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, and extraordinary expenses, if any) (“annual operating expenses”) of each class are limited to 0.97%, 1.72% and 0.60% of average net assets, respectively. Each of these undertakings lasts until 10/31/2026 and may not be terminated during its term without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Fund has agreed that each of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class will repay the Manager for fees and expenses waived or reimbursed for the class provided that repayment does not cause annual operating expenses to exceed 0.97%, 1.72% and 0.60% of the class’ average net assets, respectively. Any such repayment must be made within three years after the year in which the Manager incurred the expense.

 

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Expense Example

The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.

 

    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
Class A   $521   $724   $972   $1,684
Class C (assuming redemption)   $276   $545   $965   $2,138
Class C (assuming no redemption)   $176   $545   $965   $2,138
Institutional Class   $62   $195   $366   $862

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 46% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

To pursue its goal, the Fund invests mainly in floating rate senior secured loans issued in U.S. dollars by U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships and other business entities (borrowers). These loans are often at the time of investment below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk” or “junk bonds”). The Fund considers debt securities to be below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. Floating interest rates vary with and adjust to reflect changes in a generally recognized base interest rate or the prime rate. The Fund generally seeks to focus on loans of companies that the Portfolio Managers believe have the ability to generate cash flow through a full business cycle, maintain adequate liquidity and have access to both debt and equity capital, but may invest in loans of distressed companies.

 

The Fund may also purchase fixed-rate loans, second lien loans, unsecured loans, investment grade and below investment grade fixed income securities, including investment grade short term debt obligations, convertible securities, money market instruments, repurchase agreements, and restricted securities.

 

The Portfolio Managers will seek positive returns through in-depth credit research utilizing proprietary analytics processes to assess the strength of a company’s credit profile, examples of which include but are not limited to: their ability to pay principal and interest, their cash flow and balance sheet composition, and their market position relative to competitors. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. As part of this analysis, the Portfolio Managers also regularly engage with the management teams of issuers on issues that the Portfolio Managers believe are material to the credit risk of an issuer. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, to the extent applicable, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.

 

In addition, the Portfolio Managers adjust weightings based on their analysis of general and sector-specific economic and market conditions, while seeking to diversify across industries, companies and investment size.

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in floating rate securities (including loans) and other investment companies that provide investment exposure to such floating rate securities. The Fund will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the markets for loan and fixed income instruments, the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund’s investment strategies. The markets’ behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.

 

The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.

 

The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole and there may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

 

Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default, including the loss of the entire investment, or may be in default. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.

 

Foreign Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals, significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets, or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. markets. The effect of economic instability on specific foreign markets or issuers may be difficult to predict or evaluate. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.

 

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Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid. Loan interests may be difficult to value and may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.

 

The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the

 

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Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk” or “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

 

Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.

 

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility or reduce liquidity across various markets.

 

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Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the U.S. dollar may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and could continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

LIBOR Transition. Certain financial contracts around the world specify rates that are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is produced daily by averaging the rates for inter-bank lending reported by a number of banks. As previously announced by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, most maturities and currencies of LIBOR were phased out at the end of 2021, with the remaining ones to be phased out on June 30, 2023. There are risks that the financial services industry will not have a suitable substitute in place by that time and that there will not be time to perform the substantial work necessary to revise the many existing contracts that rely on LIBOR. The transition process, or a failure of the industry to transition properly, might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR. It also could lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based instruments. New York and federal legislation has been enacted to ease the transition from LIBOR, but there is no assurance whether such legislation will adequately address all issues or be subject to litigation.

 

Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

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Repurchase Agreement Risk. Repurchase agreements generally are for a short period of time and involve the risk that the counterparty may default on its obligation to repurchase the underlying instruments collateralizing the repurchase agreement, which may result in costs, delays, and/or losses to the Fund.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

 

Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities.

 

A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:

 

Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.

 

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

PERFORMANCE

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad-based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

 

Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.

 

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Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.

 

YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR

 

 

Years

Best quarter:     Q2 ’20, 11.81%

Worst quarter:    Q1 ’20, -13.89%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL % RETURNS AS OF 12/31/22

 

Floating Rate Income Fund   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes   -1.56   2.93   3.12
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions   -3.80   1.00   1.29
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares   -0.94   1.41   1.56
Class A Return Before Taxes   -6.07   1.66   2.29
Class C Return Before Taxes   -3.72   1.78   1.96
Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   -0.60   3.31   3.67
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Fund is managed by Joseph P. Lynch (Managing Director of the Manager) and Stephen J. Casey (Managing Director of the Manager). Mr. Lynch has managed the Fund since 2009 and Mr. Casey has managed the Fund since 2010.

 

BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund’s net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.

 

For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax,

 

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telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.

 

The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum may be waived in certain cases.

 

TAX INFORMATION

Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.

 

PAYMENTS TO INVESTMENT PROVIDERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.

 

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Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund

Class A Shares (NHIAX), Class C Shares (NHICX), Institutional Class Shares (NHILX)

 

GOAL

The Fund seeks high total return consistent with capital preservation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 160 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)            
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price)   4.25   None   None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of lower of original purchase price or current market value)1   None   1.00   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)            
Management fees   0.75   0.75   0.63
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees   0.25   1.00   None
Other expenses2   0.13   0.11   0.08
Total annual operating expenses   1.13   1.86   0.71

 

1 For Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. For Class C shares, the CDSC is eliminated one year after purchase.
2 The Fund has agreed that Class A will repay Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (the “Manager”) for fees and expenses waived or reimbursed for the class provided that repayment does not cause annual operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, and extraordinary expenses, if any) to exceed 1.12% of its average net assets, respectively. Any such repayment must be made within three years after the year in which the Manager incurred the expense. “Other expenses” shown above include a repayment of 0.02% for Class A.

 

Expense Example

The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.

 

    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
Class A   $535   $769   $1,021   $1,741
Class C (assuming redemption)   $289   $585   $1,006   $2,180
Class C (assuming no redemption)   $189   $585   $1,006   $2,180
Institutional Class   $73   $227   $395   $883

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 72% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests mainly in a diversified portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated, High-Yield Bonds (as defined below), with an emphasis on debt securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “junk bonds”). For purposes of this Fund, High-Yield Bonds are generally defined as those debt securities that, at the time of investment, are rated in the lowest investment grade category (BBB by S&P Global Ratings, Baa by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or comparably rated by at least one independent credit rating agency) or lower or, if unrated, determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in floating rate senior secured loans issued in U.S. dollars by U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. The Fund considers floating rate senior secured loans to be High-Yield Bonds. The Fund may invest a significant amount of its assets in loans, including in participation interests in loans.

 

The Fund normally expects to have a weighted averaged maturity between five and ten years. The Fund endeavors to manage credit risk through disciplined credit analysis and diversification of credit quality. The Fund intends to opportunistically rotate quality and sector exposures throughout the credit cycle, maintaining a higher quality bias in High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic downturn is underway and increasing lower quality holdings of High-Yield Bonds when the Portfolio Managers believe an economic expansion is underway. With regard to interest rate risk, the Portfolio Managers are sensitive to the overall duration of the portfolio in relation to its benchmark and evaluate the duration of potential new portfolio acquisitions in conjunction with their credit analysis. The Fund invests its assets in a broad range of issuers and industries.

 

The Portfolio Managers will seek positive returns through in-depth credit research utilizing proprietary analytics processes to assess the strength of a company’s credit profile, examples of which include but are not limited to: their ability to pay principal and interest, their cash flow and balance sheet composition, and their market position relative to competitors. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. As part of this analysis, the Portfolio Managers also regularly engage with the management teams of issuers on issues that the Portfolio Managers believe are material to the credit risk of an issuer. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.

 

In addition, the Portfolio Managers analyze and adjust weightings based on general and sector-specific economic and market conditions, while diversifying across industries, companies and investment size.

 

The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies, interest rates, inflation, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps.

 

The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.

 

The Fund does not normally invest in or continue to hold securities that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, but may do so depending on market or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments. The Fund may also invest in restricted securities.

 

In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading. The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including obligations of issuers in emerging market countries, denominated in any currency, but the Fund normally will not invest more than 20% of its net assets at the time of investment in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.

 

The Fund is suitable for investors who seek a total return in excess of the return typically offered by U.S. Treasury securities and who are comfortable with the risks associated with investing in a portfolio made up mainly of intermediate-term, U.S. dollar-denominated, High-Yield Bonds.

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in High-Yield Bonds (as defined above) and other investment companies that provide investment exposure to such bonds. The Fund will

 

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not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for high-yield debt and loan instruments, the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund’s investment strategies. The market’s behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.

 

The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.

 

The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.

 

Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield and may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

 

Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

 

Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives.

 

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The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

 

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

 

Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.

 

Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

 

Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

 

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

 

Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default, including the loss of the entire investment, or may be in default. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.

 

Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.

 

Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.

 

Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the

 

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securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.

 

High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid. Loan interests may be difficult to value and may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.

 

The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the

 

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portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

 

Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.

 

Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.

 

An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio and may not be liquid. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.

 

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might

 

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adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility or reduce liquidity across various markets.

 

Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the U.S. dollar may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and could continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

LIBOR Transition. Certain financial contracts around the world specify rates that are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is produced daily by averaging the rates for inter-bank lending reported by a number of banks. As previously announced by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, most maturities and currencies of LIBOR were phased out at the end of 2021, with the remaining ones to be phased out on June 30, 2023. There are risks that the financial services industry will not have a suitable substitute in place by that time and that there will not be time to perform the substantial work necessary to revise the many existing contracts that rely on LIBOR. The transition process, or a failure of the industry to transition properly, might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR. It also could lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based instruments. New York and federal legislation has been enacted to ease the transition from LIBOR, but there is no assurance whether such legislation will adequately address all issues or be subject to litigation.

 

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Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

 

Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities.

 

A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:

 

Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.

 

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

PERFORMANCE

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad-based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

 

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Returns would have been lower/higher if Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.

 

Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.

 

YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR

 

 

Years

Best quarter:     Q2 ’20, 9.94%

Worst quarter:     Q1 ’20, -13.37%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL % RETURNS AS OF 12/31/22

 

High Income Bond Fund   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes   -11.72   1.78   3.18
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions   -13.75   -0.41   0.74
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares   -6.91   0.47   1.31
Class A Return Before Taxes   -15.78   0.45   2.31
Class C Return Before Taxes   -13.45   0.64   2.04
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   -11.21   2.10   3.94
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Fund is managed by Joseph Lind (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield of the Manager), and Christopher Kocinski (Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. High Yield of the Manager). Mr. Lind has co-managed the Fund since July 2018, and Mr. Kocinski has co-managed the Fund since May 2019.

 

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BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund’s net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.

 

For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.

 

The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum may be waived in certain cases.

 

TAX INFORMATION

Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.

 

PAYMENTS TO INVESTMENT PROVIDERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.

 

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Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund

Class A Shares (NMHAX), Class C Shares (NMHCX), Institutional Class Shares (NMHIX)

 

GOAL

The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income tax.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 160 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)            
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price)   4.25   None   None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of lower of original purchase price or current market value)1   None   1.00   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)            
Management fees   0.67   0.67   0.55
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees   0.25   1.00   None
Other expenses   0.55   2.12   0.29
Total annual operating expenses   1.47   3.79   0.84
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement   0.56   2.14   0.31
Total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2   0.91   1.65   0.53

 

1 For Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. For Class C shares, the CDSC is eliminated one year after purchase.
2 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) has contractually undertaken to waive and/or reimburse certain fees and expenses of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, and extraordinary expenses, if any) (“annual operating expenses”) of each class are limited to 0.87%, 1.62% and 0.50% of average net assets, respectively. Each of these undertakings lasts until 10/31/2026 and may not be terminated during its term without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Fund has agreed that each of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class will repay the Manager for fees and expenses waived or reimbursed for the class provided that repayment does not cause annual operating expenses to exceed 0.87%, 1.62% and 0.50% of the class’ average net assets, respectively. Any such repayment must be made within three years after the year in which the Manager incurred the expense.

 

Expense Example

The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.

 

    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
Class A   $514   $703   $1,032   $1,961
Class C (assuming redemption)   $268   $520   $1,367   $3,576
Class C (assuming no redemption)   $168   $520   $1,367   $3,576
Institutional Class   $54   $170   $370   $946

 

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Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 79% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

To pursue its goal, the Fund normally invests primarily in high-yielding municipal securities, which may include securities of any credit quality that the Portfolio Managers believe have the potential for high yield. The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of municipal issuers that provide interest income that is exempt from federal income tax and other investments that provide investment exposure to such securities; however, the Fund may invest without limit in municipal securities the interest on which may be an item of tax preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“Tax Preference Item”). The Fund’s dividends are generally exempt from federal income tax, although shareholders may have to pay an alternative minimum tax on income deemed to be a Tax Preference Item. A portion of the dividends you receive may also be exempt from state and local income taxes, depending on where you live.

 

Municipal securities include securities issued by U.S. states, any of their political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or by U.S. territories and possessions, such as Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, and their political subdivisions and public corporations.

 

The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity or duration and does not have a target maturity or duration. The Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including investment grade securities, below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), and unrated securities, and has no limit on the percentage of its assets that it may invest in securities of a particular credit quality. The Fund considers debt securities to be below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default or that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, depending on the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of the investment opportunity.

 

The Fund seeks to reduce its exposure to credit risk by diversifying its assets among many municipal issuers and among the different types and maturities of municipal securities available. The Portfolio Managers monitor national trends in the municipal securities market, as well as a range of economic, financial and political factors. As part of the investment process, the Portfolio Managers analyze individual issues and look for securities that they believe offer compelling risk-adjusted return potential (based on some or all of the following, among other things, an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning), with a secondary emphasis on duration control (i.e., monitoring and managing interest rate risk) and yield curve positioning (i.e., seeking attractive maturities on the yield curve). As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.

 

The Fund may sell securities if the Portfolio Managers find an opportunity they believe is more compelling or if the Portfolio Managers’ outlook on the investment or the market changes.

 

Additionally, the Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters created as part of tender option bond transactions), zero coupon municipal securities, inflation-linked debt securities, restricted securities, mortgage-related securities (e.g., single and multi-family housing bonds), and fixed, variable, and floating rate municipal securities. The Fund may also invest in other investment companies, including funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family and unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”, and collectively, “Underlying Funds”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.

 

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The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to interest rates, sectors and individual issuers and increasing the Fund’s investment exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing directly in more conventional securities. These derivative instruments may include options, futures (including Treasury futures), inverse floating rate securities and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps. The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling transactions, which involve buying or selling securities with payment and delivery taking place at a future date. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of municipal issuers that provide interest income that is exempt from federal income tax and other investments that provide investment exposure to such securities; however, the Fund may invest without limit in municipal securities the interest on which may be a Tax Preference Item. The Fund may not change this fundamental policy without shareholder approval. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets or market values will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.

 

The Fund is not an appropriate investment for tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts, or for investors subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, and may not be beneficial for investors in low tax brackets.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for municipal debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund’s investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market’s behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.

 

The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.

 

The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.

 

Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield and may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates. In addition, the Fund may also realize a taxable gain or loss on such securities.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

 

Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the

 

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derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

 

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

 

Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

 

Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.

 

Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

 

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

 

Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default, including the loss of the entire investment, or may be in default. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.

 

High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

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Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.

 

The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

 

Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

 

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Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.

 

Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.

 

Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility. To the extent that the Fund earns interest income on private activity bonds, a part of its dividends will be a Tax Preference Item.

 

Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.

 

Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.

 

An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio and may not be liquid. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.

 

The Fund is also exposed to the affiliated Underlying Funds’ expenses, which could result in the duplication of certain fees, including the administration fees that are paid to Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”). NBIA is the investment manager for both the Fund and the affiliated Underlying Funds and may be deemed to have a conflict of interest in determining the allocation of the Fund to the affiliated Underlying Funds. This conflict of interest is reduced, however, because the Manager has undertaken to waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee equal to the advisory fee it receives from affiliated Underlying Funds on the Fund’s assets invested in those affiliated Underlying Funds.

 

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Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility or reduce liquidity across various markets.

 

Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the U.S. dollar may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and could continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty.

 

An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing, and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs and services.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and

 

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substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

 

Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund’s use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.

 

Tobacco Related Bonds Risk. In 1998, the largest U.S. tobacco manufacturers reached an agreement, known as the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”), to settle claims against them by 46 states and six other U.S. jurisdictions. The tobacco manufacturers agreed to make annual payments to the government entities in exchange for the release of all litigation claims. A number of the states have sold bonds that are backed by those future payments. The payments are based on factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, cigarette consumption, inflation and the financial capability of participating tobacco companies. Payments could be reduced if consumption decreases, if market share is lost to non-MSA manufacturers, or if there is a negative outcome in litigation regarding the MSA, including challenges by participating tobacco manufacturers regarding the amount of annual payments owed under the MSA.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.

 

Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities.

 

When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued

 

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or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.

 

Zero Coupon Bond Risk. Zero coupon bonds do not make periodic interest payments. Instead, they are sold at a discount from their face value and can be redeemed at face value when they mature. The market value of zero coupon bonds may respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree (i.e., they are generally more volatile) than other fixed income securities with similar maturities and credit quality.

 

A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:

 

Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.

 

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

PERFORMANCE

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of one or more broad-based market indices. The indices, which are described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, have characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

 

Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.

 

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Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.

 

YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR

 

 

Years

Best quarter:     Q4 ’20, 4.27%

Worst quarter:   Q1 ’22, -7.26%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL % RETURNS AS OF 12/31/22

 

            Since Inception
Municipal High Income Fund   1 Year   5 Years   (6/22/2015)
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes   -13.59   0.84   2.20
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions   -13.60   0.84   2.15
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares   -6.94   1.43   2.44
Class A Return Before Taxes   -17.63   -0.40   1.23
Class C Return Before Taxes   -15.47   -0.28   1.07
65% Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index and 35% Bloomberg Municipal High Yield Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   -10.14   1.76   2.54
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Fund is managed by James L. Iselin (Managing Director of the Manager), S. Blake Miller, CFA (Managing Director of the Manager), and Eric J. Pelio (Senior Vice President of the Manager). Messrs. Iselin, Miller and Pelio have managed the Fund since its inception in June 2015.

 

BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund’s net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.

 

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For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.

 

The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum may be waived in certain cases.

 

TAX INFORMATION

The part of the Fund’s dividends that it reports as “exempt-interest dividends” will be excludable from your gross income for federal income tax purposes. (Accordingly, investment in the Fund’s shares is not appropriate for tax-exempt investors, including retirement plans and accounts, which will not benefit from that exclusion.) Distributions of the Fund’s taxable net investment income and net capital gains, if any, will be taxable to you. Exempt-interest dividends the Fund pays may be subject to state and local income taxes. In addition, a portion of those dividends is expected to be attributable to interest on private activity bonds that you must treat as a Tax Preference Item for purposes of calculating your liability, if any, for the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

PAYMENTS TO INVESTMENT PROVIDERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.

 

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Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund

Class A Shares (NIMAX), Class C Shares (NIMCX), Institutional Class Shares (NMIIX)

 

GOAL

 

The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income tax by investing in municipal securities that fund projects that support positive social and environmental outcomes with a bias to underserved communities; total return is a secondary goal.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 160 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)            
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price)   4.25   None   None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of lower of original purchase price or current market value)1   None   1.00   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)            
Management fees   0.52   0.52   0.40
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees   0.25   1.00   None
Other expenses   2.29   5.19   0.41
Total annual operating expenses   3.06   6.71   0.81
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement   2.26   5.16   0.38
Total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2   0.80   1.55   0.43

 

1 For Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. For Class C shares, the CDSC is eliminated one year after purchase.
2 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) has contractually undertaken to waive and/or reimburse certain fees and expenses of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, and extraordinary expenses, if any) (“annual operating expenses”) of each class are limited to 0.80%, 1.55% and 0.43% of average net assets, respectively. Each of these undertakings lasts until 10/31/2026 and may not be terminated during its term without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Fund has agreed that each of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class will repay the Manager for fees and expenses waived or reimbursed for the class provided that repayment does not cause annual operating expenses to exceed 0.80%, 1.55% and 0.43% of the class’ average net assets, respectively. Any such repayment must be made within three years after the year in which the Manager incurred the expense.

 

Expense Example

The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.

 

    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
Class A   $503   $670   $1,346   $3,153
Class C (assuming redemption)   $258   $490   $1,950   $5,388
Class C (assuming no redemption)   $158   $490   $1,950   $5,388
Institutional Class   $44   $138   $331   $889

 

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Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

To pursue its goals, the Fund mainly invests in municipal debt securities across the credit spectrum that finance projects that support beneficial environmental and social outcomes in U.S. communities, targeting positive impact alongside a financial return. The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of municipal issuers that provide interest income that is exempt from federal income tax and other investments that provide investment exposure to such securities; however, the Fund may invest without limit in municipal securities the interest on which may be an item of tax preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“Tax Preference Item”). The Fund’s dividends are generally exempt from federal income tax, although shareholders may have to pay alternative minimum tax on income deemed to be a Tax Preference Item. A portion of the dividends you receive may also be exempt from state and local income taxes, depending on where you live.

 

Municipal securities include securities issued by U.S. states, any of their political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or by U.S. territories and possessions, such as Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, and their political subdivisions and public corporations.

 

The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity or duration and does not have a target maturity or duration. The Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including investment grade securities, below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), and unrated securities, and has no limit on the percentage of its assets that it may invest in securities of a particular credit quality. The Fund considers debt securities to be below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default or that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, depending on the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of the investment opportunity.

 

The Fund seeks to reduce its exposure to credit risk by diversifying its assets among many municipal issuers and among the different types and maturities of municipal securities available.

 

The Portfolio Managers employ a research driven investment approach that proactively targets municipal securities that they believe fund projects that support positive social and environmental outcomes (“Impact”) in line with one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”), which are a collection of goals set by the UN Development Program that calls for integration of economic development, social equity, and environmental protection (e.g., poverty eradication, food security, health, education, gender equality, access to water, sanitation, clean energy, decent jobs, key infrastructure, strong institutions, inequality reduction, sustainable urbanization, responsible production and consumption patterns, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and ecosystem conservation). The Portfolio Manager’s impact investing framework, as described in the previous sentence, is part of the credit analysis and bond selection process. As part of this process, the Portfolio Managers analyze individual issues and look for securities that they believe offer compelling risk-adjusted return potential (based on some or all of the following, among other things, an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning), with a secondary emphasis on duration control (i.e., monitoring and managing interest rate risk) and yield curve positioning (i.e., seeking attractive maturities on the yield curve).

 

As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by both internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information including proactive engagement on ESG issues, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve security selection and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents.

 

The Fund may sell securities if the Portfolio Managers find an opportunity they believe is more compelling or if the Portfolio Managers’ outlook on the investment, including the compatibility of the investment with the Fund’s impact objectives or the market, changes.

 

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In pursuing its goal, the Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters created as part of tender option bond transactions), zero coupon municipal securities, inflation-linked debt securities, restricted securities (e.g., Rule 144A securities), mortgage-related securities (e.g., single and multi-family housing bonds) and other asset-backed securities, and fixed, variable, and floating rate municipal securities. The Fund may also invest in other investment companies, including funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family and unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”, and collectively, “Underlying Funds”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.

 

The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to interest rates, sectors and individual issuers and increasing the Fund’s investment exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing directly in more conventional securities. These derivative instruments may include options, futures (including Treasury futures), inverse floating rate securities and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps. The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling transactions, which involve buying or selling securities with payment and delivery taking place at a future date. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of municipal issuers that provide interest income that is exempt from federal income tax and other investments that provide investment exposure to such securities; however, the Fund may invest without limit in municipal securities the interest on which may be a Tax Preference Item. The Fund may not change this fundamental policy without shareholder approval. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets or market values will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.

 

The Fund is not an appropriate investment for tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts, or for investors subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, and may not be beneficial for investors in low tax brackets.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for municipal debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund’s investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market’s behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.

 

The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.

 

The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.

 

Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield and may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates. In addition, the Fund may also realize a taxable gain or loss on such securities.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

 

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Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

 

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

 

Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

 

Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.

 

Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

 

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

 

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High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

Impact and ESG Criteria Risk. Investing on the basis of the Fund’s impact investing framework is qualitative and subjective by nature, and there is no assurance that the impact investing framework used by the Portfolio Managers or any judgement by the Portfolio Managers will reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. While the Fund will seek to invest in issuers that are consistent with the Fund’s impact investing framework, it is not required to invest in every issuer that meets this criteria. The Fund’s application of impact and ESG criteria could cause it to sell or avoid instruments that in hindsight could have performed well or enhanced the Fund’s risk profile. As with the use of any investment criteria in selecting the Fund’s investments, there is no guarantee that the criteria used by the Fund will result in the selection of issuers that will outperform other issuers, or help reduce risk in the Fund. The Fund may underperform funds that do not follow Impact and ESG criteria. Changes in the priorities or policies of the federal government may cause it to reduce or suspend its support for certain types of projects in which the Fund has invested or change laws or regulations from which the projects might benefit, causing such projects to be less viable financially or lessening their positive social or environmental impact.

 

Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.

 

The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

 

Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives, short positions, and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

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Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

 

Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.

 

Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.

 

Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility. To the extent that the Fund earns interest income on private activity bonds, a part of its dividends will be a Tax Preference Item.

 

Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.

 

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Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.

 

An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio and may not be liquid. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.

 

The Fund is also exposed to the affiliated Underlying Funds’ expenses, which could result in the duplication of certain fees, including the administration fees that are paid to Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”). NBIA is the investment manager for both the Fund and the affiliated Underlying Funds and may be deemed to have a conflict of interest in determining the allocation of the Fund to the affiliated Underlying Funds. This conflict of interest is reduced, however, because the Manager has undertaken to waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee equal to the advisory fee it receives from affiliated Underlying Funds on the Fund’s assets invested in those affiliated Underlying Funds.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility or reduce liquidity across various markets.

 

Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the U.S. dollar may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted.

 

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Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and could continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty.

 

An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing, and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs and services.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

 

Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund’s use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.

 

Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and

 

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floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities.

 

When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.

 

Zero Coupon Bond Risk. Zero coupon bonds do not make periodic interest payments. Instead, they are sold at a discount from their face value and can be redeemed at face value when they mature. The market value of zero coupon bonds may respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree (i.e., they are generally more volatile) than other fixed income securities with similar maturities and credit quality.

 

A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:

 

Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.

 

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

PERFORMANCE

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad-based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

 

Prior to June 16, 2018, the Fund had a different goal and principal investment strategies, which included a policy to invest 80% of its net assets in securities of municipal issuers that provide interest income that is exempt from New York State and New York

 

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City personal income taxes and invest in only investment grade securities. Its performance prior to that date might have been different if the current goal and principal investment strategies had been in effect.

 

For Class A and Class C, the performance prior to June 16, 2018, is that of the Fund’s Institutional Class. Because Institutional Class has lower expenses than Class A and Class C, its performance typically would have been better than that of Class A and Class C.

 

Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.

 

Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.

 

YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR

 

 

Years

Best quarter:     Q4 ’22, 3.37%

Worst quarter:    Q1 ’22, -5.83%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL % RETURNS AS OF 12/31/22

 

            Since Inception
Municipal Impact Fund   1 Year   5 Years   (3/11/2013*)
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes   -7.99   0.81   1.49
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions   -7.99   0.74   1.40
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares   -4.07   1.02   1.55
Class A Return Before Taxes   -12.22   -0.39   0.87
Class C Return Before Taxes   -9.92   -0.21   0.96
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   -8.53   1.25   2.16
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

* This date reflects when the Manager first became the investment manager to the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Fund is managed by James L. Iselin (Managing Director of the Manager), S. Blake Miller, CFA (Managing Director of the Manager), and Jeffrey Hunn (Senior Vice President of the Manager). Mr. Iselin and Mr. Miller have managed the Fund since March 2013. Mr. Hunn has managed the Fund since June 2018.

 

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BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund’s net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.

 

For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.

 

The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum may be waived in certain cases.

 

TAX INFORMATION

The part of the Fund’s dividends that it reports as “exempt-interest dividends” will be excludable from your gross income for federal income tax purposes. (Accordingly, investment in the Fund’s shares is not appropriate for tax-exempt investors, including retirement plans and accounts, which will not benefit from that exclusion.) Distributions of the Fund’s taxable net investment income and net capital gains, if any, will be taxable to you. Exempt-interest dividends the Fund pays may be subject to state and local income taxes. In addition, a portion of those dividends is expected to be attributable to interest on private activity bonds that you must treat as a Tax Preference Item for purposes of calculating your liability, if any, for the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

PAYMENTS TO INVESTMENT PROVIDERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.

 

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Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund

Class A Shares (NMNAX), Class C Shares (NMNCX), Institutional Class Shares (NMNLX)

 

GOAL

 

The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income tax that is consistent with low risk to principal and liquidity; total return is a secondary goal.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 160 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)            
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price)   4.25   None   None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of lower of original purchase price or current market value)1   None   1.00   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)            
Management fees   0.41   0.41   0.29
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees   0.25   1.00   None
Other expenses   0.30   0.38   0.17
Total annual operating expenses   0.96   1.79   0.46
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement   0.29   0.37   0.16
Total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2   0.67   1.42   0.30

 

1 For Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. For Class C shares, the CDSC is eliminated one year after purchase.
2 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) has contractually undertaken to waive and/or reimburse certain fees and expenses of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, and extraordinary expenses, if any) (“annual operating expenses”) of each class are limited to 0.67%, 1.42% and 0.30% of average net assets, respectively. Each of these undertakings lasts until 10/31/2026 and may not be terminated during its term without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Fund has agreed that each of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class will repay the Manager for fees and expenses waived or reimbursed for the class provided that repayment does not cause annual operating expenses to exceed 0.67%, 1.42% and 0.30% of the class’ average net assets, respectively. Any such repayment must be made within three years after the year in which the Manager incurred the expense.

 

Expense Example

The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.

 

    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
Class A   $491   $630   $847   $1,472
Class C (assuming redemption)   $245   $449   $860   $2,008
Class C (assuming no redemption)   $145   $449   $860   $2,008
Institutional Class   $31   $97   $207   $530

 

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Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 49% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

To pursue its goals, the Fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities of municipal issuers within the U.S. and its territories; however, the Fund may invest without limit in municipal securities the interest on which may be an item of tax preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“Tax Preference Item”). The Fund’s dividends are generally exempt from federal income tax, although shareholders may have to pay an alternative minimum tax on income deemed to be a Tax Preference Item. A portion of the dividends you receive may also be exempt from state and local income taxes, depending on where you live.

 

Municipal securities include securities issued by U.S. states, any of their political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or by U.S. territories and possessions, such as Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, and their political subdivisions and public corporations.

 

The Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including investment grade securities, below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), and unrated securities. The Fund normally will not invest more than 15% of its total assets in below investment grade securities. The Fund considers debt securities to be below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default or that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, depending on the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of the investment opportunity.

 

The Fund seeks to minimize its exposure to credit risk by diversifying its assets among many municipal issuers and among the different types and maturities of municipal securities available. The Portfolio Managers monitor national trends in the municipal securities market, as well as a range of economic, financial and political factors. As part of the investment process, the Portfolio Managers analyze individual issues and look for securities that they believe offer compelling risk-adjusted return potential (based on some or all of the following, among other things, an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning), with a secondary emphasis on duration control (i.e., monitoring and managing interest rate risk) and yield curve positioning (i.e., seeking attractive maturities on the yield curve). As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.

 

The Fund may sell securities if the Portfolio Managers find an opportunity they believe is more compelling or if the Portfolio Managers’ outlook on the investment or the market changes.

 

The Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters created as part of tender option bond transactions). The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to interest rates, sectors and individual issuers and increasing the Fund’s investment exposure beyond that which it could achieve by investing directly in more conventional securities. These derivative instruments may include options, futures (including Treasury futures), inverse floating rate securities and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.

 

Although it may invest in securities of any maturity, the Fund normally seeks to maintain an average weighted portfolio duration of between three and seven years.

 

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The Fund may not change its fundamental policy of normally investing at least 80% of its total assets in securities of municipal issuers without shareholder approval. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets or market values will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.

 

The Fund is not an appropriate investment for tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts or for investors subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, and may not be beneficial for investors in low tax brackets.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for municipal debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund’s investment strategies. The market’s behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.

 

The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.

 

The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.

 

Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield and may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates. In addition, the Fund may also realize a taxable gain or loss on such securities.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

 

Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative

 

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instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

 

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

 

Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

 

Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.

 

Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

 

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

 

Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default, including the loss of the entire investment, or may be in default. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position.

 

High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

 

Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.

 

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Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

 

Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.

 

Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.

 

Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility. To the extent that the Fund earns interest income on private activity bonds, a part of its dividends will be a Tax Preference Item.

 

Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including

 

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those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility or reduce liquidity across various markets.

 

Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the U.S. dollar may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and could continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty.

 

An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing, and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs and services.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

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Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

 

Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund’s use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.

 

A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:

 

Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.

 

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

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PERFORMANCE

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad-based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

 

Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.

 

Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.

 

YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR

 

 

Years

Best quarter:     Q4 ’22, 2.90%

Worst quarter:    Q1 ’22, -6.30%

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL % RETURNS AS OF 12/31/22

 

Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes   -9.27   0.67   1.48
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions   -9.27   0.56   1.38
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares   -4.66   0.93   1.55
Class A Return Before Taxes   -13.49   -0.57   0.66
Class C Return Before Taxes   -11.18   -0.44   0.35
Bloomberg 7-Year G.O. Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   -5.67   1.56   1.91
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Fund is managed by James L. Iselin (Managing Director of the Manager) and S. Blake Miller, CFA (Managing Director of the Manager). Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since 2007, and Mr. Miller has managed the Fund since 2010.

 

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BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund’s net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.

 

For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.

 

The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum may be waived in certain cases.

 

TAX INFORMATION

The part of the Fund’s dividends that it reports as “exempt-interest dividends” will be excludable from your gross income for federal income tax purposes. (Accordingly, investment in the Fund’s shares is not appropriate for tax-exempt investors, including retirement plans and accounts, which will not benefit from that exclusion.) Distributions of the Fund’s taxable net investment income and net capital gains, if any, will be taxable to you. Exempt-interest dividends the Fund pays may be subject to state and local income taxes. In addition, a portion of those dividends is expected to be attributable to interest on private activity bonds that you must treat as a Tax Preference Item for purposes of calculating your liability, if any, for the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

PAYMENTS TO INVESTMENT PROVIDERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.

 

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Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund

Class A Shares (NSHAX), Class C Shares (NSHCX), Institutional Class Shares (NSHLX)

 

GOAL

 

The Fund seeks the highest available current income consistent with liquidity and low risk to principal; total return is a secondary goal.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 160 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)            
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price)   2.50   None   None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of lower of original purchase price or current market value)1   None   1.00   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)            
Management fees   0.44   0.44   0.32
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees   0.25   1.00   None
Other expenses   0.30   0.30   0.28
Total annual operating expenses   0.99   1.74   0.60
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement   0.27   0.27   0.25
Total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2   0.72   1.47   0.35

 

1 For Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. For Class C shares, the CDSC is eliminated one year after purchase.
2 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) has contractually undertaken to waive and/or reimburse certain fees and expenses of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, and extraordinary expenses, if any) (“annual operating expenses”) of each class are limited to 0.71%, 1.46% and 0.34% of average net assets, respectively. Each of these undertakings lasts until 10/31/2026 and may not be terminated during its term without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Fund has agreed that each of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class will repay the Manager for fees and expenses waived or reimbursed for the class provided that repayment does not cause annual operating expenses to exceed 0.71%, 1.46% and 0.34% of the class’ average net assets, respectively. Any such repayment must be made within three years after the year in which the Manager incurred the expense.

 

Expense Example

The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.

 

    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
Class A   $322   $474   $702   $1,357
Class C (assuming redemption)   $250   $465   $864   $1,980
Class C (assuming no redemption)   $150   $465   $864   $1,980
Institutional Class   $36   $113   $256   $674

 

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Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 76% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

To pursue its goals, the Fund invests mainly in fixed and floating rate investment-grade bonds and other debt securities issued by domestic and foreign governments, corporate entities, and trusts. These may include mortgage- and asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), including collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), and credit risk transfer securities. The Fund considers debt securities to be investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated within the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality.

 

The Portfolio Managers monitor trends in the corporate and government securities markets, as well as a range of economic and financial factors utilizing internally generated data that are produced by specialty sector investment teams in conjunction with asset allocation tools. If particular sectors of the bond market appear relatively inexpensive, the Portfolio Managers may increase the Fund’s exposure in those sectors and decrease exposure in other sectors. The Portfolio Managers look for securities that appear under-priced compared to securities of similar structure and credit quality. The Fund may sell securities if the Portfolio Managers find an opportunity they believe is more compelling or if the Portfolio Managers’ outlook on the investment or the market changes.

 

To enhance yield and add diversification, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that are below investment grade (commonly known as “junk bonds”). In choosing lower-rated securities, the Portfolio Managers generally look for bonds from issuers whose financial health appears comparatively strong, and that may have their credit ratings raised. The Fund does not normally invest in or continue to hold securities that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, but may do so depending on market or other conditions.

 

The Fund may invest in foreign securities, including obligations of issuers in emerging market countries, denominated in any currency, but the Fund normally will not invest more than 20% of its total assets at the time of investment in non-US dollar denominated securities. The Fund considers emerging market countries to be countries included in the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index - Global Diversified, the JPMorgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index - Diversified, the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Index or the JPMorgan Government Bond Index - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, as well as those countries which are not defined as High Income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries by the World Bank.

 

The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to interest rates, currencies, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forward foreign currency contracts, and swaps.

 

The Fund may also invest a significant amount of its assets in U.S. Treasury securities or other money market instruments depending on market conditions. Additionally, the Fund may invest in restricted securities. The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities), which involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase securities that will be issued or settled at a later date.

 

The Fund seeks to reduce credit risk by diversifying among many issuers and different types of securities. As part of the investment process, the Portfolio Managers analyze individual issues (including an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning). As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.

 

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Although it may invest in securities of any maturity, the Fund normally seeks to maintain an average portfolio duration of three years or less.

 

The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest directly.

 

In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in frequent and active trading.

 

The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in bonds and other debt securities and other investment companies that provide investment exposure to such debt securities. The Fund will not alter this policy without providing shareholders at least 60 days’ notice. This test is applied at the time the Fund invests; later percentage changes caused by a change in Fund assets, market values or company circumstances will not require the Fund to dispose of a holding.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund’s investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market’s behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.

 

The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.

 

The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. While this Fund may have a shorter duration than many other income funds, this Fund is not intended to operate like a money market fund.

 

Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.

 

Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield and may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates.

 

Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk. CDOs, which include collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), issue classes or “tranches” of securities that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due to interest rate fluctuations, actual defaults, collateral defaults, disappearance of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to CDO securities as a class. The risks of investing in CDOs depend largely on the quality and type of the underlying debt, which may include loans, bonds and mortgages, and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. In addition, CDOs that obtain their exposure through derivative instruments entail the additional risks associated with such instruments. CDOs can be difficult to value, may at times be illiquid, may be highly leveraged (which could make them highly volatile), and may produce unexpected investment results due to their complex structure. In addition, CDOs involve many of the same risks of investing in debt securities and asset-backed securities including, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

 

Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest

 

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rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

 

Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

 

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

 

Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.

 

Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

 

Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

 

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

 

Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.

 

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Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.

 

Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.

 

High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These

 

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securities also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

 

Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.

 

Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.

 

An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio and may not be liquid. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.

 

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

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Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility or reduce liquidity across various markets.

 

Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the U.S. dollar may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and could continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

LIBOR Transition. Certain financial contracts around the world specify rates that are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is produced daily by averaging the rates for inter-bank lending reported by a number of banks. As previously announced by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, most maturities and currencies of LIBOR were phased out at the end of 2021, with the remaining ones to be phased out on June 30, 2023. There are risks that the financial services industry will not have a suitable substitute in place by that time and that there will not be time to perform the substantial work necessary to revise the many existing contracts that rely on LIBOR. The transition process, or a failure of the industry to transition properly, might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR. It also could lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based instruments. New York and federal legislation has been enacted to ease the transition from LIBOR, but there is no assurance whether such legislation will adequately address all issues or be subject to litigation.

 

Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value.

 

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Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

 

Sovereign Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.

 

Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities.

 

When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.

 

A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:

 

Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

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Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.

 

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

PERFORMANCE

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad-based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

 

Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.

 

Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.

 

YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR

 

 

Years

Best quarter:      Q2 ’20, 6.60%

Worst quarter:     Q1 ’20, -5.88%

 

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AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL % RETURNS AS OF 12/31/22

 

Short Duration Bond Fund   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes   -4.83   1.08   0.93
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions   -6.15   -0.13   0.00
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares   -2.78   0.34   0.32
Class A Return Before Taxes   -7.58   0.19   0.29
Class C Return Before Taxes   -6.80   -0.05   -0.20
Bloomberg 1-3 Year U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   -3.69   0.92   0.88
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Fund is managed by Michael Foster (Managing Director of the Manager), Matthew McGinnis (Senior Vice President of the Manager), Ashok Bhatia, CFA (Managing Director and Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income of the Manager) and David M. Brown, CFA (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income of the Manager). Mr. Foster has managed the Fund since 2008. Mr. McGinnis has managed the Fund since February 2017. Mr. Brown has managed the Fund since May 2021. Mr. Bhatia has managed the Fund since July 2022.

 

BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund’s net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.

 

For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.

 

The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum may be waived in certain cases.

 

TAX INFORMATION

Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.

 

PAYMENTS TO INVESTMENT PROVIDERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These

 

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payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.

 

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Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund

Class A Shares (NSTAX), Class C Shares (NSTCX), Institutional Class Shares (NSTLX)

 

GOAL

 

The Fund seeks high current income with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold or sell shares of the Fund. Under the Fund’s policies, you may qualify for initial sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Neuberger Berman funds. Certain financial intermediaries have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those described below. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page 160 in the Fund’s prospectus, and in Appendix A to the Fund’s prospectus. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

 

    Class A   Class C   Institutional Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)            
Maximum initial sales charge on purchases (as a % of offering price)   4.25   None   None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of lower of original purchase price or current market value)1   None   1.00   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)            
Management fees   0.67   0.67   0.55
Distribution and/or shareholder service (12b-1) fees   0.25   1.00   None
Other expenses   0.08   0.06   0.06
Total annual operating expenses   1.00   1.73   0.61
Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursement   0.00   0.03   0.01
Total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2   1.00   1.70   0.60

 

1 For Class A shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge. For Class C shares, the CDSC is eliminated one year after purchase.
2 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) has contractually undertaken to waive and/or reimburse certain fees and expenses of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class so that the total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes including any expenses relating to tax reclaims, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, and extraordinary expenses, if any) (“annual operating expenses”) of each class are limited to 0.99%, 1.69% and 0.59% of average net assets, respectively. Each of these undertakings lasts until 10/31/2026 and may not be terminated during its term without the consent of the Board of Trustees. The Fund has agreed that each of Class A, Class C and Institutional Class will repay the Manager for fees and expenses waived or reimbursed for the class provided that repayment does not cause annual operating expenses to exceed 0.99%, 1.69% and 0.59% of the class’ average net assets, respectively. Any such repayment must be made within three years after the year in which the Manager incurred the expense. “Other expenses” shown above include a repayment of less than 0.01% for Class A.

 

Expense Example

The expense example can help you compare costs among mutual funds. The example assumes that you invested $10,000 for the periods shown, that you redeemed all of your shares at the end of those periods, that the Fund earned a hypothetical 5% total return each year, and that the Fund’s expenses were those in the table. For Class A and Institutional Class shares, your costs would be the same whether you sold your shares or continued to hold them at the end of each period. Actual performance and expenses may be higher or lower.

 

    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   10 Years
Class A   $523   $730   $954   $1,598
Class C (assuming redemption)   $273   $536   $930   $2,033
Class C (assuming no redemption)   $173   $536   $930   $2,033
Institutional Class   $61   $192   $337   $759

 

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Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 162% of the average value of its portfolio. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate including to-be-announced (“TBA”) roll transactions was 308%.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

To pursue its goal, the Fund invests primarily in a diversified mix of debt securities. The Fund may invest in a broad array of securities, including: securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; inflation-linked debt securities; municipal securities; foreign securities, including emerging markets; corporate bonds; commercial paper; mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities; and loans. Securities in which the Fund may invest may be issued by domestic and foreign governments, supranational entities (e.g. World Bank, IMF), corporate entities and trusts and may be structured as fixed rate debt; floating rate debt; and debt that may not pay interest from the time of issuance.

 

While the Fund may invest in debt securities across the credit spectrum, including investment grade securities, below investment grade securities and unrated securities, and may invest without limit in below investment grade securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), under normal market conditions, the Portfolio Managers anticipate that the Fund’s average credit quality will be investment grade. The Fund considers debt securities to be below investment grade if, at the time of investment, they are rated below the four highest categories by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, are determined by the Portfolio Managers to be of comparable quality. The Fund does not normally invest in or continue to hold securities that are in default or have defaulted with respect to the payment of interest or repayment of principal, but may do so depending on market or other conditions. The Fund may invest in or continue to hold securities that the Portfolio Managers believe have ratings or other factors that imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments.

 

The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments as a means of hedging risk and/or for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes, which may include altering the Fund’s exposure to currencies, interest rates, inflation, sectors and individual issuers. These derivative instruments may include futures, forwards, including forward foreign currency contracts, and swaps, such as total return swaps, credit default swaps and interest rate swaps, options on futures and options on interest rate swaps, otherwise known as swaptions.

 

The Fund may also invest without limit in foreign securities, which may be denominated in any currency including the local currency of the issuer, but normally will not invest more than 50% of its total assets at the time of investment in obligations of issuers in emerging market countries. The Fund considers emerging market countries to be countries included in the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index - Global Diversified, the JPMorgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index - Diversified, the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Index or the JPMorgan Government Bond Index - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, as well as those countries which are not defined as a High Income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member country by the World Bank.

 

Additionally, the Fund may invest in tender option bonds (which include inverse floaters created as part of tender option bond transactions), convertible securities, restricted securities and preferred securities. The Fund may also engage in when-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities), which involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase securities that will be issued or settled at a later date. The Fund may enter into a TBA agreement and “roll over” such agreement prior to the settlement date by selling the obligation to purchase the securities set forth in the agreement and entering into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may also hold cash and short-term securities, including cash equivalents and other debt obligations.

 

The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity and while the Fund does not have a target average duration, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio Managers anticipate that the Fund’s average duration will be between two and eight years. In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.

 

Investment Philosophy and Process

The Portfolio Management Team’s investment philosophy is rooted in the belief that positive results can be achieved through a consistently applied, risk-managed approach to portfolio management that leverages the strengths of its proprietary fundamental research capabilities, decision-making frameworks, and quantitative risk management tools. The Portfolio Management Team employs an integrated investment process in managing the Fund.

 

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Portfolio Strategy: The Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, which it monitors on an ongoing basis, including exposures to sectors (such as government, structured debt, credit, etc.) and duration/yield curve positioning, utilizing internally generated data that are produced by specialty sector investment teams in conjunction with asset allocation tools.

 

Strategy Implementation: Once the Portfolio Management Team establishes the investment profile for the Fund, the specialty sector investment teams and the Portfolio Management Team determine industry/sub-sector weightings and make securities selections within the types of securities that the Fund can purchase, such as investment grade securities, below investment grade securities, emerging market securities and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.

 

When assessing the worth of a particular security, the teams utilize internally generated research and proprietary quantitatively driven tools and frameworks (including an analysis of cash flows, ability to pay principal and interest, balance sheet composition, and market positioning) to a) establish an internal outlook, b) evaluate the market’s outlook as it is reflected in asset prices, and c) contrast the two. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Portfolio Managers consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data and other information, the Portfolio Managers believe that the consideration of financially material ESG factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. The specific ESG factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment and/or investment type. The consideration of ESG factors does not apply to certain instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash equivalents. The consideration of ESG factors as part of the investment process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific “impact” or “sustainable” investment strategy.

 

The teams will generally purchase securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is undervalued by the market and sell securities if their internal outlook suggests a security is overvalued by the market. The goal is to identify and evaluate investment opportunities that others may have missed.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

Most of the Fund’s performance depends on what happens in the market for debt instruments, the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of those developments, and the success of the Portfolio Managers in implementing the Fund’s investment strategies. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments will result in leverage, which amplifies the risks that are associated with these markets. The market’s behavior can be difficult to predict, particularly in the short term. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Fund may take temporary defensive and cash management positions; to the extent it does, it will not be pursuing its principal investment strategies.

 

The actual risk exposure taken by the Fund in its investment program will vary over time, depending on various factors including the Portfolio Managers’ evaluation of issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. There can be no guarantee that the Portfolio Managers will be successful in their attempts to manage the risk exposure of the Fund or will appropriately evaluate or weigh the multiple factors involved in investment decisions, including issuer, market and/or instrument-specific analysis, valuation and environmental, social and governance factors.

 

The Fund is a mutual fund, not a bank deposit, and is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The value of your investment may fall, sometimes sharply, and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations.

 

Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield and may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates.

 

Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer. Issuers generally do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. While some unregistered commercial paper normally is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses.

 

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Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole and there may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.

 

Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

 

Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

 

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

 

Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.

 

Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

 

Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that

 

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the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

 

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

 

Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.

 

Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.

 

Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.

 

High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation measure used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.

 

The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.

 

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Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s yield and share price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

 

Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise. An investment in an inverse floater may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid. Loan interests may be difficult to value and may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.

 

The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held

 

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by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

 

Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.

 

Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality or other issuer, or an insurer of municipal securities, may make it difficult for it to pay interest and principal when due and may affect the overall municipal securities market. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings.

 

Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility.

 

Municipal bonds may be bought or sold at a market discount (i.e., a price less than the bond’s principal amount or, in the case of a bond issued with original issue discount (“OID”), a price less than the amount of the issue price plus accrued OID). If the market discount is more than a de minimis amount, and if the bond has a maturity date of more than one year from the date it was issued, then any market discount that accrues annually, or any gains earned on the disposition of the bond, generally will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary (taxable) income rather than as capital gains. Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be

 

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difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.

 

Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its debt securities. For this reason, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines.

 

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these could cause an increase in market volatility or reduce liquidity across various markets.

 

Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the U.S. dollar may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or industries.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of

 

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regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and could continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

LIBOR Transition. Certain financial contracts around the world specify rates that are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is produced daily by averaging the rates for inter-bank lending reported by a number of banks. As previously announced by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, most maturities and currencies of LIBOR were phased out at the end of 2021, with the remaining ones to be phased out on June 30, 2023. There are risks that the financial services industry will not have a suitable substitute in place by that time and that there will not be time to perform the substantial work necessary to revise the many existing contracts that rely on LIBOR. The transition process, or a failure of the industry to transition properly, might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR. It also could lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based instruments. New York and federal legislation has been enacted to ease the transition from LIBOR, but there is no assurance whether such legislation will adequately address all issues or be subject to litigation.

 

Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund and the risk is heightened during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs, and create adverse tax consequences. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

 

Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting

 

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sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers.

 

The Fund may also invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. Supranational entities have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. If one or more members of a supranational entity fails to make necessary contributions, such entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.

 

Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund’s use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of floating rate certificates receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. Holders of residual income certificates (“inverse floaters”) receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. A trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments or the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least some risk of non-payment or default.

 

Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities.

 

When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price; may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations; and are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security, in which case the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and any gain in the security’s price.

 

A summary of the Fund’s additional principal investment risks is as follows:

 

Risk of Increase in Expenses. A decline in the Fund’s average net assets during the current fiscal year due to market volatility or other factors could cause the Fund’s expenses for the current fiscal year to be higher than the expense information presented in “Fees and Expenses.”

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.

 

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Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

PERFORMANCE

The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, as represented by the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect any applicable sales charges. If sales charges were reflected, returns would be lower than those shown. The table below the bar chart shows what the returns would equal if you averaged out actual performance over various lengths of time and compares the returns with the returns of a broad-based market index. The index, which is described in “Descriptions of Indices” in the prospectus, has characteristics relevant to the Fund’s investment strategy. Unlike the returns in the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

 

Returns would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fees during certain of the periods shown.

 

Past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Visit www.nb.com or call 800-366-6264 for updated performance information.

 

YEAR-BY-YEAR % RETURNS AS OF 12/31 EACH YEAR

 

 

Years

Best quarter:     Q2 ’20, 11.07%

Worst quarter:   Q1 ’20, -10.62%

 

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AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL % RETURNS AS OF 12/31/22

 

Strategic Income Fund   1 Year   5 Years   10 Years
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes   -10.58   1.37   2.32
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions   -11.81   -0.36   0.64
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares   -5.62   0.39   1.06
Class A Return Before Taxes   -14.68   0.09   1.47
Class C Return Before Taxes   -12.41   0.26   1.20
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)   -13.01   0.02   1.06
After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and after-tax returns for other classes may vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be higher than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss upon the sale of Fund shares.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”) is the Fund’s investment manager.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Fund is managed by Thanos Bardas (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), Ashok Bhatia, CFA (Managing Director and Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income of the Manager), David M. Brown, CFA (Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income of the Manager), and Brad Tank (Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Fixed Income of the Manager). Mr. Tank has managed the Fund since February 2008, Messrs. Bardas and Brown have managed the Fund since April 2009, and Mr. Bhatia has managed the Fund since December 2017.

 

BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

You may purchase, redeem (sell) or exchange shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, at the Fund’s net asset value per share next determined after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge. Shares of the Fund generally are available only through certain investment providers, such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers. Contact any investment provider authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Maintaining Your Account” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for purchases of Institutional Class shares.

 

For certain investors, certain shares of the Fund may be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC by regular, first class mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, P.O. Box 219189, Kansas City, MO 64121-9189), by express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail (Neuberger Berman Funds, 430 West 7th Street, Suite 219189, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407), or by wire, fax, telephone, exchange, or systematic investment or withdrawal (call 800-877-9700 for instructions). See “Maintaining Your Account” and “Direct Investors” in the prospectus for eligibility requirements for direct purchases of shares and for instructions on buying and redeeming (selling) shares directly.

 

The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments can be as little as $100. These minimums may be waived in certain cases.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. This minimum may be waived in certain cases.

 

TAX INFORMATION

Unless you invest in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement plan or account or are a tax-exempt investor, you will be subject to tax on Fund distributions to you of ordinary income and/or net capital gains. Those distributions generally are not taxable to such a plan or account or a tax-exempt investor, although withdrawals from certain retirement plans and accounts generally are subject to federal income tax.

 

PAYMENTS TO INVESTMENT PROVIDERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, such as a bank, brokerage firm, workplace retirement program, or financial adviser (who may be affiliated with Neuberger Berman), the Fund and/or Neuberger Berman BD LLC and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These

 

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payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the investment provider or other financial intermediary and its employees to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your investment provider or visit its website for more information.

 

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Descriptions of Certain Practices and Security Types

 

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks and other securities that pay interest or dividends and are convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks. Convertible securities generally have some features of common stocks and some features of debt securities. In general, a convertible security performs more like a stock when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price (because it is assumed that it will be converted into the stock) and performs more like a debt security when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price (because it is assumed that it will mature without being converted). Convertible securities typically pay an income yield that is higher than the dividend yield of the issuer’s common stock, but lower than the yield of the issuer’s debt securities.

 

Derivatives. A derivative is generally a financial contract the value of which depends on, or is derived from, changes in the value of one or more “reference instruments,” such as underlying assets (including securities), reference rates, indices or events. Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, credit, interest rates, commodities, currencies or currency exchange rates, or related indices. A derivative may also contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the reference instrument. Derivatives may be traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations, or in private transactions with other parties in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market with a single dealer or a prime broker acting as an intermediary with respect to an executing dealer. Derivatives may be used for hedging purposes and non-hedging (or speculative) purposes. Some derivatives require one or more parties to post “margin,” which means that a party must deposit assets with, or for the benefit of, a third party, such as a futures commission merchant, in order to initiate and maintain the derivatives position. Margin is typically adjusted daily, and adverse market movements may require a party to post additional margin.

 

Call Options. A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy an underlying asset or other reference instrument at a specified price, regardless of the instrument’s market price at the time. Writing (selling) a call option obligates the writer (seller) to sell the underlying asset or other reference instrument to the purchaser at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. A call option is “covered” if the writer (seller) simultaneously holds an equivalent position in the security underlying the option. The writer (seller) receives a premium when it writes a call option. Purchasing a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the underlying asset or other reference instrument from the writer (seller) at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The purchaser pays a premium when it purchases a call option.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts (“Forward Contracts”). A forward contract is a contract for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a future date at a fixed price. Forward contracts are not required to be traded on organized exchanges or cleared through regulated clearing organizations.

 

Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an underlying asset at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment based on the value of a securities index or other reference instrument at a future date.

 

Put Options. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell an underlying asset or other reference instrument at a specified price, regardless of the instrument’s market price at the time. Writing (selling) a put option obligates the writer (seller) to buy the underlying asset or other reference instrument from the purchaser at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The writer (seller) receives a premium when it writes a put option. Purchasing a put option gives the purchaser the right to sell the underlying asset or other reference instrument to the writer (seller) at a specified price if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The purchaser pays a premium when it purchases a put option.

 

Swaps. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange one or more payments based, for example, on the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined reference instruments. Swap transactions generally may be used to obtain exposure to a reference instrument without owning or taking physical custody of the reference instrument and generally do not involve delivery of the notional amount of the agreement. Swaps have historically been OTC instruments; however, recent legislation requires many swaps to be executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization.

 

There are various types of swaps including, but not limited to, the following: interest rate swaps (exchanging a floating interest rate for a fixed interest rate); total return swaps (exchanging a floating interest rate for the total return of a reference instrument); credit default swaps (buying or selling protection against certain designated credit events); and options on swaps (“swaptions”) (options to enter into a swap agreement).

 

Emerging Market Countries. Emerging market countries are generally considered to be those countries whose economies are less developed than the economies of countries such as the United States or most nations in Western Europe.

 

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Fixed Income Securities. Debt securities may consist of fixed and floating rate obligations of various credit quality and duration and may be issued by: corporate entities; trusts; domestic issuers, including securities issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; foreign issuers, including in emerging markets, and including foreign governments and supranational entities; and municipal issuers, including within the U.S. and its territories. Such obligations may include: bonds, loans, inflation-linked debt securities, when-issued and forward-settling securities, commercial paper, mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities, and hybrid securities (including convertible securities).

 

Foreign Markets. There are many promising opportunities for investment outside the United States. Foreign markets can respond to different factors and therefore may follow cycles that are different from each other. For this reason, many investors put a portion of their portfolios in foreign investments as a way of gaining further diversification.

 

Inflation-Linked Debt Securities. Inflation-linked debt securities are debt securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-linked debt securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced.

 

Loans. Loans are a type of debt security that may be made in connection with, among other things, recapitalizations, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, dividend issuances and refinancings. The loans in which a Fund typically invests are structured and administered by a third party that acts as agent for a group of lenders that make or hold interests in the loan. A Fund may acquire interests in such loans by taking an assignment of all or a portion of a direct interest in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a participation in an interest in a loan that continues to be held by another institution.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk” or “junk bonds”) typically offer investors higher yields than other fixed income securities. The higher yields are usually justified by the weaker credit profiles of these issuers as compared to investment grade issuers. Lower-rated debt securities may include debt obligations of all types issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporate and governmental entities, including bonds, debentures and notes, loan interests and preferred stocks that have priority over any other class of stock of the entity as to the distribution of assets or the payment of dividends.

 

Municipal Securities. Municipal securities include, among other types of instruments, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, private activity bonds, anticipation notes and tax-exempt commercial paper. General obligation bonds are backed by the full taxing power of the issuing governmental entity. Revenue bonds are backed only by the income from a specific project, facility, or tax. Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various privately operated facilities, and are generally supported only by revenue from those facilities, if any. They are not backed by the credit of any governmental or public authority. Anticipation notes are issued by municipalities in expectation of future proceeds from the issuance of bonds or from taxes or other revenues and are payable from those bond proceeds, taxes, or revenues. Tax-exempt commercial paper is issued by municipalities to help finance short-term capital or operating requirements.

 

Additional Information about Principal Investment Risks

 

This section provides additional information about a Fund’s principal investment risks described in its Fund Summary section. The following risks are described in alphabetical order and not in order of any presumed importance or potential exposure.

 

Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or other less favorable characteristics. This may reduce the amount of the Fund’s distributions. In addition, the Fund may not benefit from any increase in value in the securities that might otherwise result from declining interest rates. The likelihood of a call also may impact the price of a security.

 

Risks of Investments in China through Bond Connect Programs. There are significant risks inherent in investing through China’s Bond Connect Programs (“Bond Connect”), which allow eligible foreign investors to purchase certain China onshore debt securities available from China’s interbank bond market. The Chinese investment and banking systems are materially different in nature from many developed markets, which exposes investors to risks that are different from those in the U.S. Bond Connect uses the market infrastructure of both Hong Kong and mainland China. If either one or both markets involved are closed on a day the Fund is open, the Fund may not be able to add to or exit a position on such a day, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Securities offered through Bond Connect may lose their eligibility for trading through Bond Connect at any time, and if such an event occurs, the Fund could sell, but could no longer purchase, such securities through Bond Connect. Securities purchased through Bond Connect generally may not be sold, purchased, or otherwise transferred other than through Bond Connect in accordance with applicable rules.

 

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The Hong Kong investor compensation funds, which are set up to protect against defaults related to trades of exchange-traded products in Hong Kong, do not apply to trades made through the Bond Connect programs. The Fund may not be able to participate in corporate actions for securities purchased through Bond Connect as a result of time zone differences and operational constraints, which could cause delays in the Fund’s receipt of distribution payments. Bond Connect trades are settled in onshore Renminbi (“CNY”) although it is possible to engage certain eligible banks to use other currencies to convert currency into offshore Renminbi for settlement. The Fund must therefore have timely access to a supply of offshore Renminbi in Hong Kong, which cannot be guaranteed, or opt for settlement in other currencies followed by conversion into CNY, which may require additional time. The unavailability of a ready supply of accepted settlement currencies could subject the Fund to losses. Further, the foreign exchange conversion and hedging transactions must comply with certain requirements that may result in additional risks along with additional costs.

 

Bond Connect is in its relatively early stages, and the actual effect on the market for trading fixed-income investments available from China’s interbank bond market with the introduction of large numbers of foreign investors is unknown. In the event of systems malfunctions, trading via Bond Connect could be disrupted. In particular, since aspects of the settlement process for one of the principal Chinese bond clearinghouses, China Central Depository & Clearing Co, Ltd. (“CDCC”), are not automated, there may be an increased risk of settlement delays, errors and counterparty default. Investments made through Bond Connect are subject to order, clearance and settlement procedures that are new and untested. Further, securities purchased via Bond Connect will be held by the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on behalf of ultimate investors via a book entry omnibus account in the books of a China-based custodian (typically, either the CDCC or the Shanghai Clearing House (“SCH”)). The Fund’s interest in securities purchased through Bond Connect will not be reflected directly in a book entry with CDCC or SCH and will instead only be reflected on the books of its Hong Kong sub-custodian, and the Fund will be a beneficial owner, a concept that is relatively undeveloped in Chinese law. This recordkeeping system subjects the Fund to various additional risks, including the risk that the Fund may have a limited ability to enforce its rights as a bondholder as well as the risks of settlement delays and counterparty default related to the sub-custodian.

 

Further regulations, restrictions, interpretation or guidance, such as limitations on redemptions and availability of securities, may adversely impact Bond Connect. There can be no assurance that Bond Connect will not be restricted, suspended, or abolished. There can be no assurance that further regulations will not affect the availability of securities in the program, the frequency of redemptions or other limitations. In addition, the application and interpretation of the laws and regulations of Hong Kong and China, and the rules, policies or guidelines published or applied by relevant regulators and exchanges with respect to the Bond Connect program, including tax rules governing investments via Bond Connect, are uncertain or untested, and they may have a detrimental effect on a Fund’s investments and returns. With respect to tax treatment, investments via Bond Connect could result in unexpected tax liabilities for a Fund, and there is also some uncertainty around the tax treatment of payments such as interest payable to U.S. investors. Although the Chinese government announced that interest income received by eligible foreign investors in the Chinese financial instruments held by them through Bond Connect would be exempt from enterprise income tax and value-added tax until December 31, 2025, it is currently unknown if the Chinese government will extend the exemption beyond December 31, 2025. Although it is currently anticipated that such an extension is likely to occur, if an extension did not occur, it could result in tax liabilities for a Fund.

 

Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk. CDOs, which include collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), issue classes or “tranches” of securities that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due to interest rate fluctuations, actual defaults, collateral defaults, disappearance of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor aversion to CDO securities as a class. CDOs carry risks including, but not limited to, (i) the possibility that distributions from the underlying debt securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments, (ii) the quality of the underlying debt securities may decline in value or default, particularly during periods of economic downturn, (iii) the Fund may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes of securities, (iv) the investment return could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models; (v) the risk of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures, (vi) the manager of the CDO may perform poorly, and (vii) the complex structure may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results. The risks of investing in CDOs depend largely on the quality and type of the underlying debt, which may include loans, bonds and mortgages, and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. In addition, CDOs that obtain their exposure through derivative instruments entail the additional risks associated with such instruments. CDOs can be difficult to value, may at times be illiquid, may be highly leveraged (which could make them highly volatile), and may produce unexpected investment results due to their complex structure. In addition, CDOs involve many of the same risks of investing in debt securities and asset-backed securities including, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk.

 

Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper is a short-term debt security issued by a corporation, bank, municipality, or other issuer, usually for purposes such as financing current operations. Issuers generally do not register their commercial paper with the SEC. A Fund may invest in commercial paper that cannot be resold to the public without an effective registration statement under

 

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the 1933 Act. While some unregistered commercial paper normally is deemed illiquid, the Manager may in certain cases determine that such paper is liquid. In some cases, the ratings of commercial paper issuers have been downgraded abruptly, leaving holders with little opportunity to avoid losses.

 

Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks, and its price may be as volatile as that of the underlying stock, when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price, and a convertible security is subject to the market risks of debt securities, and is particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Because their value can be influenced by many different factors, convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than the underlying common stocks. Securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities that are convertible only at the option of the holder.

 

Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities. The credit rating of a company’s convertible securities is generally lower than that of its non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities are normally considered “junior” securities — that is, the company usually must pay interest on its non-convertible debt securities before it can make payments on its convertible securities. If the issuer stops paying interest or principal, convertible securities may become worthless and the Fund could lose its entire investment. To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole. There may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities, which means that buy and sell transactions in those securities could have a larger impact on a security’s price than is the case with large-cap securities.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuer, factors affecting an issuer directly (such as management changes, labor relations, collapse of key suppliers or customers, or material changes in overhead costs), factors affecting the industry in which a particular issuer operates (such as competition or technological advances) and changes in general social, economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default by an issuer, which may affect a security’s credit quality or value. A downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities.

 

Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk. In addition, lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and may negatively affect a security’s liquidity. Ratings represent a rating agency’s opinion regarding the quality of a security and are not a guarantee of quality, and do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. In addition, rating agencies may fail to make timely changes to credit ratings in response to subsequent events and a rating may become stale in that it fails to reflect changes in an issuer’s financial condition. The credit quality of a security or instrument can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly, which may negatively impact its liquidity and value. The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement (for example, guarantees, letters of credit, or bond insurance). Entities providing credit or liquidity support also may be affected by credit risk. Credit enhancement is designed to help assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions.

 

Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund is exposed directly or indirectly to foreign currencies, including through its investments, or invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Domestic issuers that hold substantial foreign assets may be similarly affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to factors external to a country’s economy, which makes the forecasting of currency market movements extremely difficult. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception of a country’s economy and changes in interest rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational entities, such as the International Monetary Fund; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. To the extent the Fund invests or hedges based on the perceived relationship between two currencies, there is a risk that the correlation between those currencies may not behave as anticipated.

 

Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage,

 

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which can magnify the impact of a decline in the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses, for example, where the Fund may be called upon to deliver a security it does not own. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative, and the reference instrument may not perform as anticipated. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives may involve fees, commissions, or other costs that may reduce the Fund’s gains or exacerbate losses from the derivatives. In addition, the Fund’s use of derivatives may have different tax consequences for the Fund than an investment in the reference instruments, and those differences may increase the amount and affect the timing of income recognition and character of taxable distributions payable to shareholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements. Certain aspects of the regulatory treatment of derivative instruments, including federal income tax, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority. In October 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act which regulates the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under the Investment Company Act (“Rule 18f-4”). The Fund has adopted a Rule 18f-4 Policy which provides, among other things, that unless the Fund qualifies as a “limited derivatives user” as defined in Rule 18f-4, the Fund is subject to a comprehensive derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, and to provide additional disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. If a Fund qualifies as a limited derivatives user, Rule 18f-4 requires the Fund to have policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk.

 

Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. Counterparty risk may arise because of market activities and developments, the counterparty’s financial condition (including financial difficulties, bankruptcy, or insolvency), or other reasons. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. Counterparty risk is generally thought to be greater with OTC derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. However, derivatives that are traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations involve the possibility that the futures commission merchant or clearing organization will default in the performance of its obligations.

 

When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Derivatives that have margin requirements involve the risk that if the Fund has insufficient cash or eligible margin securities to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities or other instruments from its portfolio at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The Fund normally will remain obligated to meet margin requirements until a derivatives position is closed.

 

Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

 

Although the Fund may use derivatives to attempt to hedge against certain risks, the hedging instruments may not perform as expected and could produce losses.

 

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

 

Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which the counterparty is prepared to buy and the price at which it is prepared to sell).

 

Futures. There can be no assurance that, at all times, a liquid market will exist for offsetting a futures contract that the Fund has previously bought or sold and this may result in the inability to close a futures position when desired. This could be the case if, for example, a futures price has increased or decreased by the maximum allowable daily limit and

 

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there is no buyer (or seller) willing to purchase (or sell) the futures contract that the Fund needs to sell (or buy) at that limit price. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent a Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

 

Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by the performance of the issuer of the underlying instrument, by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic events. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk, meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific factors.

 

By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.

 

Swaps. Swap transactions generally do not involve delivery of reference instruments or payment of the notional amount of the contract. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

 

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

 

Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities are securities of companies that are in financial distress and that may be in or about to enter bankruptcy or some other legal proceeding. The Fund may not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may incur costs to protect its investment. These securities may present a substantial risk of default, including the loss of the entire investment, or may be in default. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on its portfolio holdings. Distressed securities include loans, bonds and notes, many of which are not publicly traded, and may involve a substantial degree of risk. In certain periods, there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit its position. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such securities may be subject to restrictions on resale. In addition, the prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility. It may be difficult to obtain information regarding the financial condition of a borrower or issuer, and its financial condition may change rapidly. Also, it may be difficult to value such securities and the spread between the bid/ask prices of such securities may be greater than

 

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expected. The Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment in distressed securities or may be required to accept cash, securities or other property with a value less than its original investment.

 

Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities. In addition, key information about the issuer, the markets or the local government or economy may be unavailable, incomplete, or inaccurate. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets, or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries, as well as currency exchange rates. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.

 

Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their legal systems may deal with issuer bankruptcies and defaults differently than U.S. law would. Shareholder claims and legal remedies that are common in the United States may be difficult or impossible to pursue in many emerging market countries. In addition, due to jurisdictional limitations, matters of comity and various other factors, U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons in certain emerging market countries. Most foreign and emerging market companies are not subject to the uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States, which may impact the availability and quality of information about foreign and emerging market issuers. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Additionally, in times of market stress, regulatory authorities of different emerging market countries may apply varying techniques and degrees of intervention, which can have an effect on prices. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.

 

Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.

 

In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. markets. Over a given period of time, foreign securities may underperform U.S. securities — sometimes for years. Further, from time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in one country or geographic region. If the Fund does so, there is a greater risk that economic, political, regulatory, diplomatic, social and environmental conditions in that particular country or geographic region may have a significant impact on the Fund’s performance and that the Fund’s performance will be more volatile than the performance of more geographically diversified funds. The economies and financial markets of certain regions can be highly interdependent and may decline all at the same time. In addition, certain areas are prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, droughts or tsunamis and are economically sensitive to environmental events.

 

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The effect of economic instability on specific foreign markets or issuers may be difficult to predict or evaluate. Some national economies continue to show profound instability, which may in turn affect their international trading and financial partners or other members of their currency bloc.

 

High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

Impact and ESG Criteria Risk. Investing on the basis of the Fund’s impact investing framework is qualitative and subjective by nature, and there is no assurance that the impact investing framework used by the Portfolio Managers or any judgement by the Portfolio Managers will reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. While the Fund will seek to invest in issuers that are consistent with the Fund’s impact investing framework, it is not required to invest in every issuer that meets this criteria. The Fund’s application of Impact and ESG criteria could cause it to sell or avoid instruments that in hindsight could have performed well or enhanced the Fund’s risk profile. As with the use of any investment criteria in selecting the Fund’s investments, there is no guarantee that the criteria used by the Fund will result in the selection of issuers that will outperform other issuers, or help reduce risk in the Fund. The Fund may underperform funds that do not follow Impact and ESG criteria. Investing based on Impact and ESG criteria is qualitative and subjective by nature and there is no guarantee that the criteria used by the Fund will reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor. Changes in the priorities or policies of the federal government may cause it to reduce or suspend its support for certain types of projects in which the Fund has invested or change laws or regulations from which the projects might benefit, causing such projects to be less viable financially or lessening their positive social or environmental impact. The Portfolio Manager’s judgment as to the potential social or environmental impact of a project is based partially on information from external sources; such information, like other information used to identify securities in which to invest, may change or may not be readily available, complete, or accurate, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance.

 

Inflation-Linked Debt Securities Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the principal or the interest income paid on an inflation-linked debt security is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation index used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities may lose value in the event that the actual rate of inflation is different than the rate of the inflation measure. In addition, any inflation measure used could be discontinued, substituted or changed in a manner that could adversely impact such securities.

 

Repayment of the original principal upon maturity (as adjusted upward for inflation, as needed) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed debt securities. For inflation-linked debt securities that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the securities repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal value. The value of inflation-linked debt securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. In general, the price of an inflation-linked debt security falls when real interest rates rise, (i.e., when nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation), and rises when real interest rates fall (i.e., when inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates). Interest payments on inflation-linked debt securities will vary as the principal and/or interest is adjusted for inflation and can be unpredictable. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such investments.

 

Any increase in the principal value of an inflation-linked debt security is taxable in the year the increase occurs, even though the security’s holders do not receive cash representing the increase until the security matures. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements.

 

The principal value of an investment in the Fund is not protected or otherwise guaranteed by virtue of the Fund’s investments in inflation-linked debt securities.

 

Interest Rate Risk. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Interest rates may change in response to the supply and demand for credit, changes to government monetary policy and other initiatives, inflation rates, and other factors. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration (i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, a debt security with a duration of two years will decrease in value by approximately 2%. Thus, the Fund’s sensitivity to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the Fund’s overall duration. Short-term securities tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates, and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates. Short-term and long-term interest rates, and interest rates in different countries, do not

 

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necessarily move in the same direction or by the same amount. The link between interest rates and debt security prices tends to be weaker with lower-rated debt securities than with investment grade debt securities.

 

Inverse Floater Risk. An inverse floater earns interest at rates that vary inversely to changes in short-term interest rates. An inverse floater produces less income (and may produce no income) and may decline in value when market rates rise, and produces more income and may increase in value when market rates fall. Whereas ordinary fixed income securities suffer a decline in value when market rates rise, this phenomenon is exacerbated in the case of inverse floaters, because when market rates rise, the rate paid by the inverse floater declines, producing greater price and income volatility than a conventional fixed-rate bond with comparable credit quality and maturity. An investment in an inverse floater involves the risk of loss of principal and may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate securities in a rising interest rate environment. An inverse floater may involve leverage, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile, increase interest rate risk and can magnify the Fund’s losses. Accordingly, the holder of an inverse floater could lose more than its principal investment.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s securities may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer, or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. Certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, may have a significant adverse effect on the value of an issuer’s securities.

 

Leverage Risk. Leverage amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value and may make the Fund more volatile. Derivatives, short positions, and when-issued and forward-settling securities may create leverage and can result in losses to the Fund that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses. For certain instruments or transactions that create leverage, or have embedded leverage, relatively small market fluctuations may result in large changes in the value of such investments. In addition, the interest and other costs that the Fund pays to engage in these practices are additional costs borne by the Fund and could reduce or eliminate any net investment profits. Unless the profits from engaging in these practices exceed the costs of engaging in these practices, the use of leverage will diminish the investment performance of the Fund compared with what it would have been had the Fund not used leverage. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of any leverage will be successful. The Fund’s investment exposure can exceed its net assets, sometimes by a significant amount. When the Fund uses leverage or utilizes certain of these practices, it may need to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations or to comply with certain asset coverage requirements.

 

Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment or type of investment in which the Fund invests is or may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time. An illiquid investment means any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Judgment plays a greater role in pricing these investments than it does in pricing investments having more active markets, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. The Fund may receive illiquid securities as a result of its investment in securities involved in restructurings. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, particularly during periods of increased market volatility or adverse investor perception. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. Market participants attempting to sell the same or a similar investment at the same time as the Fund could decrease the liquidity of such investments, especially during times of market volatility. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

 

Unexpected episodes of illiquidity, including due to market or political factors, instrument or issuer-specific factors and/or unanticipated outflows, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.

 

Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid. Loan interests may be difficult to value and may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. As a result, during periods of unusually heavy redemptions, the Fund may have to sell other investments or borrow money to meet its obligations. A significant portion of

 

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floating rate loans may be “covenant lite” loans that may contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower, limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions.

 

Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets, although many covenants may be waived or modified with the consent of a certain percentage of the holders of the loans even if the Fund does not consent. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. In the event the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan in which the Fund has an interest. In addition, if a secured loan is foreclosed, the Fund may bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. The collateral may be difficult to sell and the Fund would bear the risk that the collateral may decline in value while the Fund is holding it. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.

 

The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor.

 

When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. As a participant, the Fund also would be subject to the risk that the lending bank or other party selling the participation interest would not remit the Fund’s pro rata share of loan payments to the Fund. It may be difficult for the Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank’s financial condition. It is possible that the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is greater for an assignee than for a participant.

 

The liquidity of floating rate loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary market trading in such loans, may vary, sometimes significantly, over time and among individual floating rate loans and loans may be subject to wide bid/ask spreads. During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult; and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.

 

Courts have held in some situations that loan interests are not “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not have the benefit of the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Also, if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer (which is not uncommon in the loan market), the Fund may, as a result, be unable to sell the issuer’s securities.

 

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk” or “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities may be less liquid and also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, and may carry higher transaction costs. In particular, these securities may be issued by smaller companies or by highly indebted companies, which are generally less able than more financially stable companies to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Such securities are susceptible to such a default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and business developments relating to the issuer, the industry in general, market interest rates and market liquidity. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. Where it deems it appropriate and in the best interests of Fund shareholders, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery on a defaulted security and/or to pursue litigation to protect the Fund’s investment.

 

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The credit rating of a security may not accurately reflect the actual credit risk associated with such a security. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

 

Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of such securities, especially in a thinly traded or illiquid market. To the extent the Fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted lower-rated debt securities or unrated debt securities of comparable quality, these securities may involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities, costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.

 

Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments, including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Changes in the financial condition of a single issuer may impact a market as a whole. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance. Geopolitical risks, including terrorism, tensions or open conflict between nations, or political or economic dysfunction within some nations that are major players on the world stage or major producers of oil, may lead to overall instability in world economies and markets generally and have led, and may in the future lead, to increased market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects. Similarly, environmental and public health risks, such as natural disasters or epidemics, or widespread fear that such events may occur, may impact markets and economies adversely and cause market volatility in both the short- and long-term.

 

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities differ from more traditional debt securities because the principal is paid back over the life of the security rather than at the security’s maturity; however, principal may be repaid early if a decline in interest rates causes many borrowers to refinance (known as prepayment risk), or repaid more slowly if a rise in rates causes refinancings to slow down (known as extension risk). Thus, they tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of debt securities and as a result, these securities may exhibit additional volatility during periods of interest rate turmoil. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities may be subject to call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn, and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value. Further, such securities may have credit support, the utility of which could be negatively affected by such conditions as well.

 

Municipal Securities Risk. The municipal securities market could be significantly affected by adverse political and legislative changes or litigation at the federal or state level, as well as uncertainties related to taxation or the rights of municipal security holders. Changes in the financial health of a municipality may hinder its ability to pay interest and principal. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the municipal securities of a particular state or U.S. territory or possession, there is greater risk that political, regulatory, economic or other developments within that jurisdiction may have a significant impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The amount of public information available about municipal securities is generally less than that available about corporate securities.

 

In the case of insured municipal securities, insurance supports the commitment that interest payments will be made on time and the principal will be repaid at maturity. Insurance does not, however, protect the Fund or its shareholders against losses caused by declines in a municipal security’s market value. The Portfolio Managers generally look to the credit quality of the issuer of a municipal security to determine whether the security meets the Fund’s quality restrictions, even if the security is covered by insurance. However, a downgrade in the claims-paying ability of an insurer of a municipal security could have an adverse effect on the market value of the security.

 

Municipal issuers may be adversely affected by high labor costs and increasing unfunded pension liabilities, and by the phasing out of federal programs providing financial support. In addition, changes in the financial condition of one or more individual municipal issuers or insurers of municipal issuers can affect the overall municipal securities market. At times, the secondary market for municipal securities may not be liquid, which could limit the Fund’s ability to sell securities it is holding. Declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce the tax revenues of state and local governments. Municipal issuers have on occasion defaulted on obligations, been downgraded, or commenced insolvency proceedings. Financial difficulties of municipal issuers may continue or get worse. Further, the application of state law to municipal issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state.

 

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Some municipal securities, including those in the high yield market, may include transfer restrictions similar to restricted securities (e.g., may only be transferred to qualified institutional buyers and purchasers meeting other qualification requirements set by the issuer). As such, it may be difficult to sell municipal securities at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value.

 

Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar types of projects, especially those related to education, health care, housing, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal securities market. Interest on municipal securities paid out of current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific asset (so-called “private activity bonds”) are generally not backed by the creditworthiness or taxing authority of the issuing governmental entity; rather, a particular business or facility may be the only source of revenue supporting payment of interest and principal, and declines in general business activity could affect the economic viability of that business or facility. To the extent that the Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, or Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund invests in private activity bonds, a part of its dividends will be a Tax Preference Item. Consult your tax adviser for more information.

 

Generally, the Fund purchases municipal securities the interest on which, in the opinion of counsel to the issuer, is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. There is no guarantee that such an opinion will be correct, and there is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with such an opinion. Municipal securities generally must meet certain regulatory and statutory requirements to distribute interest that is excludable from gross income for federal income tax. If any municipal security held by Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund, or Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund fails to meet such requirements, the interest received by the Fund from such security and distributed to shareholders would be taxable. Proposals also may be introduced before state legislatures that would affect the state tax treatment of a municipal fund’s distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of municipal securities and the value of a municipal fund’s holdings would be affected.

 

Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other problems, human errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks (e.g., malicious software coding, ransomware, or “hacking”) or unintentional events (e.g., inadvertent release of confidential information). A cybersecurity incident could, among other things, result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, customers or employees being unable to access electronic systems (“denial of services”), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or remediation costs associated with system repairs. A cybersecurity incident may not permit the Fund and its service providers to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading and calculating net asset value. Any cybersecurity incident could have a substantial adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders.

 

The occurrence of any of these problems could result in a loss of information, regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage and other consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund or its shareholders. The Manager, through its monitoring and oversight of Fund service providers, endeavors to determine that service providers take appropriate precautions to avoid and mitigate risks that could lead to such problems. While the Manager has established business continuity plans and risk management systems seeking to address these problems, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, and it is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus, cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant loss of value.

 

Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including affiliated Underlying Funds, money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies and to the allocation of its assets among those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses. If the Fund invests in other investment companies, the Fund may receive distributions of taxable gains from portfolio transactions by that investment company and may recognize taxable gains from transactions in shares of that investment company, which could be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders when distributed to them.

 

An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio and may not be liquid. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the

 

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ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track because of, for example, the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting of securities or the number of stocks held. A passively managed ETF may not be permitted to sell poorly performing stocks that are included in its index.

 

A Fund is also exposed to the affiliated Underlying Funds’ expenses, which could result in the duplication of certain fees, including the administration fees that are paid to Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”). NBIA is the investment manager for both the Fund and the affiliated Underlying Funds and may be deemed to have a conflict of interest in determining the allocation of the Fund to the affiliated Underlying Funds. This conflict of interest is reduced, however, because the Manager has undertaken to waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee equal to the advisory fee it receives from affiliated Underlying Funds on the Fund’s assets invested in those affiliated Underlying Funds.

 

Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its debt securities. For this reason, preferred securities are subject to greater credit, interest, and liquidation risk than debt securities, and the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks, and there is a risk an issuer of preferred securities may call or redeem prior to any stated maturity. Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Preferred shareholders may have certain rights if distributions are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer, may suffer a loss of value if distributions are not paid, and may be required to report the deferred distribution on its tax returns, even though it may not have received any cash. Generally, preferred shareholders have no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless distributions to preferred shareholders have not been paid for a stated period, at which time the preferred shareholders may elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the distributions have been paid to preferred shareholders, the preferred shareholders no longer have voting rights.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment) or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security. Prepayments could also create capital gains tax liability in some instances. Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any resulting price declines. If the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the Fund may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.

 

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. These securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading market. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more volatile and more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. A security that was liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for private placements and other restricted securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for sale and there may be substantial delays in effecting the registration. If, during such a delay, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed at the time it decided to seek registration of the securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security, so it may be less able to anticipate a loss. Also, if Fund management receives material non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may, as a result, be legally prohibited from selling the securities.

 

Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly. National economies are substantially

 

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interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing, which may impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.

 

Although interest rates were unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, recently, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks began to raise interest rates as part of their efforts to address rising inflation. In addition, ongoing inflation pressures from tight labor markets and supply chain disruptions could continue to cause an increase in interest rates and/or negatively impact companies. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which interest rates might increase, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such increases in interest rates. Additionally, various economic and political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular issuers, negatively impact market value, increase market volatility, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce liquidity. Unexpected increases in interest rates could lead to market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market. Also, regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility. Over the longer term, rising interest rates may present a greater risk than has historically been the case due to the prior period of relatively low rates and the effect of government fiscal and monetary policy initiatives and potential market reaction to those initiatives, or their alteration or cessation. Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility, disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses.

 

Some countries, including the U.S., have in recent years adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks associated with ongoing trade negotiations with China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.

 

Regulators in the U.S. have proposed a number of changes to regulations involving the markets and issuers, some of which would apply to the Fund. While it is not currently known whether any of these regulations will be adopted, due to the current scope of regulations being proposed, any changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, which, may in turn, impact performance.

 

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and corresponding events in late February 2022, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Following Russia’s actions, various governments, including the United States, have issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia, including, among other actions, a prohibition on doing business with certain Russian companies, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs; the removal by certain countries and the European Union of selected Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (“SWIFT”), the electronic banking network that connects banks globally; and restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from undermining the impact of the sanctions. The current events, including sanctions and the potential for future sanctions, including any impacting Russia’s energy sector, and other actions, and Russia’s retaliatory responses to those sanctions and actions, may continue to adversely impact the Russian economy and economies of surrounding countries and may result in the further decline of the value and liquidity of Russian securities and securities of surrounding countries, a continued weakening of currencies in the region and continued exchange closures, and may have other adverse consequences on the economies of countries in the region that could impact the value of investments in the region and impair the ability of a Fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver securities of companies in the region or a Fund’s ability to collect interest payments on fixed income securities in the region. Moreover, those events have, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on global markets performance and liquidity, thereby negatively affecting the value of a Fund’s investments beyond any direct exposure to issuers in the region. The duration of ongoing hostilities and the vast array of sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of a Fund and its investments or operations could be negatively impacted.

 

Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely affect the global economy. Outbreaks such as the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, or other similarly infectious diseases may have material adverse impacts on a Fund. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this virus, and other epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future, has negatively affected and may continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. The impact of any outbreak may last for an extended period of time.

 

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An economic slowdown could cause municipal issuers to suffer declines in tax revenue and it may be difficult to evaluate the effect on any single issuer. Some municipal issuers may be prohibited by law from borrowing, and those that can borrow may face higher interest rates. This situation may result in disruption of municipal programs and services.

 

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

 

China’s economy, which has been sustained in recent years largely through a debt-financed housing boom, may be approaching the limits of that strategy and may experience a significant slowdown as a result of debt that cannot be repaid. Due to the size of China’s economy, such a slowdown could impact a number of other countries.

 

There is widespread concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change may negatively impact certain issuers and/or industries.

 

A rise in sea levels, a change in weather patterns, including an increase in powerful storms and large wildfires, and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause properties to lose value or become unmarketable altogether. Unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected zones may not ever recover their value. The U.S. administration appears concerned about the climate change problem and is focusing regulatory and public works projects around those concerns. Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.

 

Losses related to climate change could adversely affect corporate issuers and mortgage lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities that depend on tax or other revenues and tourist dollars generated by affected properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate, municipal or mortgage-backed securities. Since property and security values are driven largely by buyers’ perceptions, it is difficult to know the time period over which these market effects might unfold.

 

LIBOR Transition. Certain financial contracts around the world specify rates that are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is produced daily by averaging the rates for inter-bank lending reported by a number of banks. As previously announced by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, most maturities and currencies of LIBOR were phased out at the end of 2021, with the remaining ones to be phased out on June 30, 2023. There are risks that the financial services industry will not have a suitable substitute in place by that time and that there will not be time to perform the substantial work necessary to revise the many existing contracts that rely on LIBOR. The transition process, or a failure of the industry to transition properly, might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR. It also could lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based instruments. New York and federal legislation has been enacted to ease the transition from LIBOR, but there is no assurance whether such legislation will adequately address all issues or be subject to litigation.

 

Redemption Risk. The Fund may experience periods of large or frequent redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s overall liquidity, or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable cash flow needs. In addition, the risk is heightened if redemption requests are unusually large or frequent or occur during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Large redemptions could hurt the Fund’s performance, increase transaction costs and create adverse tax consequences.

 

A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities; such a move, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.

 

Repurchase Agreement Risk. Repurchase agreements generally are for a short period of time and involve the risk that the counterparty may default on its obligation to repurchase the underlying instruments collateralizing the repurchase agreement, which may result in costs, delays, and/or losses to the Fund. In such a case, the Fund may incur expenses in enforcing its rights under the repurchase agreement. Repurchase agreements also involve the risk that a Fund could lose money if (a) the underlying instruments used as collateral lose their value before they can be sold, (b) a Fund is required to return collateral to a borrower at a time when it may realize a loss on the investment of that collateral, or (c) a Fund is unable to access collateral and unable to enforce its rights.

 

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Risk Management. Management undertakes certain analyses with the intention of identifying particular types of risks and reducing the Fund’s exposure to them. However, risk is an essential part of investing, and the degree of return an investor might expect is often tied to the degree of risk the investor is willing to accept. By its very nature, risk involves exposure to the possibility of adverse events. Accordingly, no risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to such events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund will be affected by adverse events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. While the prospectus describes material risk factors associated with the Fund’s investment program, there is no assurance that as a particular situation unfolds in the markets, management will identify all of the risks that might affect the Fund, rate their probability or potential magnitude correctly, or be able to take appropriate measures to reduce the Fund’s exposure to them. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect. Measures taken with the intention of decreasing exposure to identified risks might have the unintended effect of increasing exposure to other risks.

 

Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events. The Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors, industries, or sub-sectors do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or industries may adversely affect performance. For information about the risks of investing in particular sectors, see the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Sovereign and Supranational Entities Debt Risk. Sovereign debt securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy, its policy toward international lenders or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There may be no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers. Certain emerging market or developing countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis that led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness.

 

The Fund may also invest in obligations issued by supranational entities, such as the World Bank. A supranational entity is financially supported by the governments of one or more countries, has no taxing authority, and is dependent on its members for payments of interest and principal. There is no guarantee that the members will continue to make capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities. Political changes in principal donor nations may unexpectedly disrupt the finances of supranational entities.

 

Structured Note Risk. Structured notes are notes where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, financial instrument, market or interest rate. Generally, investments in such notes are used as a substitute for positions in underlying indicators and involve many of the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying indicator the notes seek to replicate. Structured notes may be exchange traded or traded over-the-counter and privately negotiated. Structured notes can have risks of both fixed income securities and derivatives transactions, including leverage risk. The interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured note may vary widely, depending on a variety of factors, including changes in the value of one or more specified reference instruments. The performance of structured notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the underlying indicator that the notes seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Structured notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the structured note will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Investments in structured notes, including credit-linked notes, involve risks including interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. Structured notes may be leveraged, increasing the volatility of each structured note’s value relative to the change in the reference instrument. Structured notes may also be less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities. The secondary market for structured notes could be illiquid making them difficult to sell when the Fund determines to sell them. The possible lack of a liquid secondary market for structured notes and the resulting inability of the Fund to sell a structured note could expose the Fund to losses.

 

Tender Option Bonds and Related Securities Risk. The Fund’s use of tender option bonds may reduce the Fund’s return and/or increase volatility. Tender option bonds are created when municipal bonds are deposited into a trust or other special purpose vehicle, which issues two classes of certificates with varying economic interests. Holders of the first class of interests, or

 

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floating rate certificates, receive tax-exempt interest based on short-term rates and may tender the certificates to the trust at face value. A remarketing agent for the trust is required to attempt to resell any tendered floating rate certificates and if the remarketing agent is unsuccessful, the trust’s liquidity provider must contribute cash to ensure that the tendering holders receive the purchase price of their securities on the repurchase date. Holders of the second class of interests, or residual income certificates (commonly referred to as “inverse floaters”), receive tax-exempt interest at a rate based on the difference between the interest rate earned on the underlying bonds and the interest paid to floating rate certificate holders, and bear the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value. Investments in tender option bonds expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. An investment in tender option bonds typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including greater risk of loss of principal. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid. In certain instances, a trust may be terminated if, for example, the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest payments, the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the underlying bond is downgraded, or tendered floating rate certificates cannot be resold.

 

Tobacco Related Bonds Risk. In 1998, the largest U.S. tobacco manufacturers reached an out of court agreement, known as the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”), to settle claims against them by 46 states and six other U.S. jurisdictions. The tobacco manufacturers agreed to make annual payments to the government entities in exchange for the release of all litigation claims. A number of the states have sold bonds that are backed by those future payments. The Fund may invest in two types of those bonds: (i) bonds that make payments only from a state’s interest in the MSA and (ii) bonds that make payments from both the MSA revenue and from an “appropriation pledge” by the state. An “appropriation pledge” requires the state to pass a specific periodic appropriation to make the payments and is generally not an unconditional guarantee of payment by a state. The settlement payments are based on factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, cigarette consumption, inflation and the financial capability of participating tobacco companies. Payments could be reduced if consumption decreases, if market share is lost to non-MSA manufacturers, or if there is a negative outcome in litigation regarding the MSA, including challenges by participating tobacco manufacturers regarding the amount of annual payments owed under the MSA.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not guarantee the market prices of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Some are backed by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. These securities carry at least some risk of non-payment or default by the issuer. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. government securities may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

In recent periods, the values of U.S. government securities have been affected substantially by increased demand for them around the world. Increases or decreases in the demand for U.S. government securities may occur at any time and may result in increased volatility in the values of those securities. In recent years, credit rating agencies have shown some concern about whether the U.S. government has the political will necessary to service all of its outstanding and expected future debt, and some have adjusted their ratings or outlook for U.S. government debt accordingly. These developments, and the factors underlying them, could cause an increase in interest rates and borrowing costs, which may negatively impact both the perception of credit risk associated with the debt securities issued by the U.S. and the government’s ability to access the debt markets on favorable terms. In addition, these developments could create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which could increase volatility in both stock and bond markets. These events could result in significant adverse impacts on issuers of securities held by the Fund.

 

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. Investors who purchase or redeem Fund shares on days when the Fund is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher redemption proceeds, than they would have received if the Fund had not held fair-valued securities or had used a different methodology. The value of foreign securities, certain futures, fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded but before the Fund determines its net asset value. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. Different pricing services use different valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same investments. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if a pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, the value of the Fund’s investments could be impacted. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

 

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Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments will not generally rise in value if market interest rates decline. Thus, investing in variable and floating rate instruments generally allows less opportunity for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in instruments with a fixed interest rate. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities.

 

Certain variable and floating rate instruments have an interest rate floor feature, which prevents the interest rate payable by the instrument from dropping below a specified level as compared to a reference interest rate (the “reference rate”), such as SOFR. Such a floor protects the Fund from losses resulting from a decrease in the reference rate below the specified level. However, if the reference rate is below the floor, there will be a lag between a rise in the reference rate and a rise in the interest rate payable by the instrument, and the Fund may not benefit from increasing interest rates for a significant period of time. Rates on certain variable rate instruments typically only reset periodically. As a result, changes in prevailing interest rates, particularly sudden and significant changes, can cause some fluctuations in the Fund’s value to the extent that it invests in variable rate instruments.

 

When-Issued and Forward-Settling Securities Risk. When-issued and forward-settling securities (such as to-be-announced (TBA) mortgage-backed securities) involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or deliver securities at a later date. Because the Fund is committed to buying them at a certain price, any change in the value of these securities, even prior to their issuance, affects the Fund’s share value. Accordingly, the purchase of such securities involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. When-issued and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price. When-issued and forward-settling securities may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations. When-issued and forward-settling securities also are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security. If this occurs, the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and may forgo any gain in the security’s price. The Fund may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In addition, the purchase of mortgage-backed securities on a TBA basis may result in a Fund incurring increased prepayment risks because the underlying mortgages may be less favorable than anticipated by the Fund.

 

Zero Coupon Bond Risk. Zero coupon bonds do not make periodic interest payments. Instead, they are sold at a discount from their face value and can be redeemed at face value when they mature. Even though zero coupon bonds do not pay current interest in cash, the Fund is required to accrue interest income on such investments, which the Fund is required to distribute to shareholders annually. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to generate cash to satisfy its distribution requirements. The market value of zero coupon bonds may respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree (i.e., they are generally more volatile) than other fixed income securities with similar maturities and credit quality.

 

Information about Additional Risks and Other Practices

 

As discussed in the Statement of Additional Information, a Fund may engage in certain practices and invest in certain securities in addition to those described as its “principal investment strategies” in its Fund Summary section. For example, should a Fund engage in borrowing or securities lending, or should a Fund use derivatives or invest in foreign securities, it will be subject to the additional risks associated with these practices and securities.

 

Borrowing money, securities lending, or using derivatives would create investment leverage, meaning that certain gains or losses would be amplified, increasing share price movements. A Fund that does not utilize derivatives as a part of its principal investment strategy may, to a limited extent, use certain derivatives as a means of hedging risk and/or for investment or efficient portfolio management purposes. A derivative instrument, whether used for hedging or for speculation, could fail to perform as expected, causing a loss for the Fund.

 

Foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments, involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities, and can fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries.

 

As part of its liquidity management practices, including for cash management purposes or to facilitate short-term liquidity, a Fund may invest in reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund sells portfolio securities to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price and date, which reflects an interest payment to that party. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party will fail to return the

 

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securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to a Fund. A Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the cash collateral held by the Fund is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to a Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which a Fund is obligated to repurchase them. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing by a Fund. When a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party or the securities in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During the term of the agreement, a Fund may also be obligated to pledge additional cash and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair value of the transferred security. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements.

 

In addition, a Fund may be an investment option for a Neuberger Berman mutual fund that is managed as a “fund of funds.” As a result, from time to time, a Fund may experience relatively large redemptions or investments and could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it is not advantageous to do so.

 

In anticipation of adverse or uncertain market, economic, political, or other temporary conditions, including during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, a Fund may temporarily depart from its goal and use a different investment strategy (including leaving a significant portion of its assets uninvested) for defensive purposes. Doing so could help a Fund avoid losses, but may mean lost opportunities. In addition, in doing so different factors could affect a Fund’s performance and a Fund may not achieve its goal. Furthermore, Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund could earn income that is not exempt from federal income tax. In addition, to the extent a Fund is new or is undergoing a transition (such as a change in strategy, rebalancing, reorganization, liquidation or experiencing large inflows or outflows) or takes a temporary defensive position, it may deviate from its principal investment strategies during such period.

 

A Fund may change its goal without shareholder approval, although none currently intend to do so.

 

Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information.

 

Descriptions of Indices

 

The Bloomberg 1-3 Year U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index is the 1-3 year component of the Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit Index. The Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit Index is the non-securitized component of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and includes Treasuries and government-related (agency, sovereign, supranational, and local authority debt guaranteed by the U.S. Government) and investment grade corporate securities.

 

The Bloomberg 7-Year General Obligation (G.O.) Index is the 7-year (6-8 years to maturity) component of the Bloomberg G.O. Index. The Bloomberg G.O. Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, long-term, tax-exempt state and local general obligation bond market.

 

The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, taxable bond market and includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (MBS) (agency fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) pass-throughs), asset-backed securities (ABS), and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) (agency and nonagency).

 

The 65% Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index and 35% Bloomberg Municipal High Yield Index blended index is composed of 65% Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (described below) and 35% Bloomberg Municipal High Yield Index (described below), and is rebalanced monthly.

 

The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is a rules-based, market-value-weighted index engineered for the long-term tax-exempt bond market. To be included in the index, bonds must be rated investment-grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two of the following ratings agencies: Moody’s, S&P, Fitch. If only two of the three agencies rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the three agencies rates a security, the rating must be investment-grade. They must have an outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate, have a dated-date after December 31, 1990, and must be at least one year from their maturity date. Remarketed issues, taxable municipal bonds, bonds with floating rates, and derivatives, are excluded from the benchmark.

 

The Bloomberg Municipal High Yield Index measures the performance of the high yield municipal bond market. To be included in the index, bonds must be rated non-investment-grade (Ba1/BB+ or lower) by at least two of the following ratings agencies: Moody’s, S&P, Fitch. If only two of the three agencies rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the three agencies rates a security, the rating must be non-investment-grade. They must have an

 

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outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate, have a dated-date after December 31, 1990, and must be at least one year from their maturity date. Remarketed issues, taxable municipal bonds, bonds with floating rates, and derivatives, are excluded from the benchmark.

 

The 50% J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index (GBI) - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, 25% J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI) - Global Diversified, and 25% J.P. Morgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index (CEMBI) - Diversified blended index is composed of 50% J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index (GBI) - Emerging Markets Global Diversified (described below), 25% J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI) - Global Diversified (described below), and 25% J.P. Morgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index (CEMBI) - Diversified (described below), and is rebalanced monthly. Effective March 31, 2022, Russia and Belarus were excluded from the J.P. Morgan fixed income indices. The index market value for all Russian and Belarus debt was set to zero, reflecting a total return loss due to market disruption.

 

The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated below investment grade corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. In addition to meeting other criteria, qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch ratings), and have risk exposure to countries that are members of the FX-G10, Western Europe or territories of the U.S. and Western Europe. Securities in legal default are excluded from the index. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, provided the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. Transaction costs will be incorporated into the calculation of total return for ICE fixed income indices beginning in July 2022.

 

The J.P. Morgan Government Bond Index (GBI) - Emerging Markets Global Diversified tracks the performance of local currency denominated bonds issued by emerging market governments, including emerging market countries from Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East/Africa. The Global version of the index includes only countries that are accessible by most of the international investor base, while countries with explicit capital controls are excluded. The Diversified version of the index is market capitalization-weighted, with a maximum weight to a country capped at 10%. Effective March 31, 2022, Russia and Belarus were excluded from the J.P. Morgan fixed income indices. The index market value for all Russian and Belarus debt was set to zero, reflecting a total return loss due to market disruption.

 

The J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI) - Global Diversified tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued by emerging market sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities (Brady bonds, loans and Eurobonds), including emerging market countries from Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East/Africa. The Global version of the index captures a broad, comprehensive universe of emerging market issues. The Diversified version of the index is market capitalization-weighted and limits the weights of those index countries with larger debt stocks by including only specified portions of those countries’ eligible current face amounts of debt outstanding. Effective March 31, 2022, Russia and Belarus were excluded from the J.P. Morgan fixed income indices. The index market value for all Russian and Belarus debt was set to zero, reflecting a total return loss due to market disruption.

 

The J.P. Morgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index (CEMBI) - Diversified tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated corporate emerging market bonds, including emerging market countries from Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East/Africa. The Diversified version of the index is market capitalization-weighted and limits the weights of those index countries with larger corporate debt stocks by including only specified portions of those countries’ eligible current face amounts of debt outstanding. Effective March 31, 2022, Russia and Belarus were excluded from the J.P. Morgan fixed income indices. The index market value for all Russian and Belarus debt was set to zero, reflecting a total return loss due to market disruption.

 

The Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan Index is a market-value weighted index designed to measure the performance of the US leveraged loan market. The starting universe consists of senior secured, USD denominated syndicated term leveraged loans with a minimum initial term of one year, a minimum initial spread of base rate (LIBOR/SOFR) plus 125 basis points, and a minimum initial issue size of $50 million. The index is rebalanced on a weekly basis every Friday. The index was renamed from S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index to Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan Index effective 8/29/2022.

 

Management of the Funds

 

Investment Manager

 

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Manager”), located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is each Fund’s investment manager and administrator. Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“Distributor”), located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, is each Fund’s distributor. Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement, the Manager is responsible for choosing a Fund’s investments and handling its day-to-day business. The services provided by the Manager as the investment manager and administrator include, among others, overall responsibility for providing all supervisory, management,

 

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and administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Funds, which may include, among others, compliance monitoring, operational and investment risk management, legal and administrative services and portfolio accounting services. The Manager carries out its duties subject to the policies established by the Board of Trustees. The investment advisory agreement establishes the fees a Fund pays to the Manager for its services as the Fund’s investment manager and the expenses paid directly by the Fund. For Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund, the Manager engages Neuberger Berman Europe Limited (“NBEL”), located at Lansdowne House, 57 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6ER, as sub-adviser to choose the Fund’s investments and handle its day-to-day investment business for the portion of the Fund’s assets allocated to it by the Fund’s Manager. As investment manager, the Manager is responsible for overseeing the activities of NBEL. Together, the Neuberger Berman affiliates manage approximately $427 billion in total assets (as of 12/31/2022) and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.

 

NBIA may engage one or more of foreign affiliates that are not registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“participating affiliates”) in accordance with applicable SEC no-action letters. As participating affiliates, whether or not registered with the SEC, the affiliates may provide designated investment personnel to associate with NBIA as “associated persons” of NBIA and perform specific advisory services for NBIA, including services for the Funds, which may involve, among other services, portfolio management and/or placing orders for securities and other instruments. The designated employees of a participating affiliate act for NBIA and are subject to certain NBIA policies and procedures as well as supervision and periodic monitoring by NBIA. The Funds will pay no additional fees and expenses as a result of any such arrangements. NBEL, Neuberger Berman Singapore Pte. Limited and Neuberger Berman Asset Management Ireland Limited are considered participating affiliates of NBIA pursuant to applicable regulatory guidance.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Funds’ investment advisory agreements and, as applicable, sub-advisory agreements is available in the Funds’ annual report for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2022.

 

Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended to give rise to any contract rights or other rights in any shareholder, other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that have not been waived. The Funds enter into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Manager, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third party beneficiaries of, those contractual arrangements. Where shareholders are not third party beneficiaries of contractual arrangements, those contractual arrangements cannot be enforced by shareholders acting on their own behalf.

 

The Manager has obtained “manager of managers” exemptive relief from the SEC that permits the Manager, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser or to change the terms of a subadvisory agreement with an unaffiliated subadviser for Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund without first obtaining shareholder approval. The exemptive order permits a Fund to add or to change unaffiliated subadvisers or to change the fees paid to such subadvisers from time to time without the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the change. Under this order, the Manager has ultimate responsibility (subject to oversight by the Board) to oversee the subadvisers and recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement. It is not expected that the Manager would normally recommend replacement of an affiliated subadviser as part of its oversight responsibilities. A Fund will notify shareholders of any change in the identity of a subadviser or the addition of a subadviser to a Fund.

 

Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2022, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.45%, 0.45% and 0.33%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.

 

Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2022, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.82%, 0.82% and 0.70%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.

 

Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2022, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.67%, 0.67% and 0.55%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.

 

Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2022, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.75%, 0.75% and 0.63%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2022, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.67%, 0.67% and 0.55%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.

 

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Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2022, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.52%, 0.52% and 0.40%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2022, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.41%, 0.41% and 0.29%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.

 

Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2022, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.44%, 0.44% and 0.32%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.

 

Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund: For the 12 months ended 10/31/2022, the management fees (i.e., advisory and administration fees) paid to the Manager by the Fund were 0.67%, 0.67% and 0.55%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about each Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager, and each Portfolio Manager’s ownership of shares in the Fund(s) that he or she manages.

 

Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund

Thanos Bardas is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 1998 and is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. In addition, he is a member of the Asset Allocation Committee. Mr. Bardas has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2008.

 

David M. Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He re-joined the firm in January 2003 and is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. Mr. Brown has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2008.

 

Nathan Kush is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2001. He is a member of the portfolio management team for the firm’s Global Investment Grade strategies. Additionally, he is involved in investment grade credit research and, previously, covered the banking, brokerage, finance, insurance and REIT sectors. Mr. Kush has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2017.

 

Olumide Owolabi is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2003. He is the Head of the U.S. Rates team and has investment and research responsibilities across global interest rate and inflation markets. Mr. Owolabi has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2023.

 

Brad Tank is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2002 and is the Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Fixed Income. He is a member of the firm’s Operating, Investment Risk, Asset Allocation and Fixed Income’s Investment Strategy Committees, and leads the Fixed Income Multi-Sector Group. He joined the firm after 23 years of experience in trading and asset management. Mr. Tank has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since April 2009.

 

Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Rob Drijkoningen is a Managing Director of NBEL. Mr. Drijkoningen joined the firm in 2013 and is a portfolio manager and co-head of the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was at another firm from 1995 to 2013 where he was most recently global co-head of the emerging markets debt team, responsible for emerging markets debt and currency strategies. He has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.

 

Gorky Urquieta is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Urquieta joined the firm in 2013 and is a portfolio manager and co-head of the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was at another firm from 1997 to 2013 where he was most recently global co-head of the emerging markets debt team, responsible for emerging markets debt and currency strategies. He has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.

 

Bart Van der Made, CFA, is a Managing Director of NBEL. Mr. Van der Made joined the firm in 2013 and is a portfolio manager for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was at another firm from 1997 to 2013 where he was most recently a senior portfolio manager, responsible for emerging markets hard currency strategies. He has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.

 

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Raoul Luttik is a Managing Director of NBEL. Mr. Luttik joined the firm in 2013 and is a portfolio manager for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was at another firm from 1998 to 2013 where he was a lead portfolio manager, responsible for emerging markets local currency strategies. He has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.

 

Jennifer Gorgoll, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Ms. Gorgoll joined the firm in 2013 and is a portfolio manager for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, she was at another firm from 2002 to 2013 where she was a lead portfolio manager, responsible for emerging markets corporate debt strategies. She has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.

 

Vera Kartseva, CFA, is a Senior Vice President of NBEL. Ms. Kartseva joined the firm in 2013 and is a portfolio manager and strategist focusing on tactical asset allocation for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, she was at another firm from 2007 to 2013 where she managed a hard and local currency fund and concentrated on emerging markets debt tactical asset allocation. She has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.

 

Nish Popat is a Managing Director of NBEL. Mr. Popat joined the firm in 2013 and is a portfolio manager for the firm’s Emerging Markets Debt team. Prior to joining the firm, he was at another firm from 2008 to 2013 where he was a senior portfolio manager, responsible for emerging corporate debt strategies. He has co-managed the Fund since September 2013.

 

Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund

Joseph P. Lynch is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Lynch is a senior portfolio manager for non-investment grade credit focusing on loan portfolios for the Manager and also serves on the firm’s credit committee for non-investment grade credit and the investment risk committee. He has co-managed the Fund since 2009. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Lynch was responsible for portfolio management, trading and credit research of leveraged assets for another firm from 2002 to 2007.

 

Stephen J. Casey, CFA is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Casey is a senior portfolio manager for non-investment grade credit portfolios for the Manager and also serves on the firm’s investment risk committee for high yield bonds and senior floating rate loans. He has co-managed the Fund since 2010. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Casey was responsible for portfolio management, trading and credit research of leveraged assets for another firm from 2002 to 2007.

 

Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund

Joseph Lind, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He has co-managed the Fund since July 2018 and is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he served as a high yield strategy portfolio manager at another asset manager from 2012 to 2018.

 

Christopher Kocinski, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Kocinski joined the firm in 2006 and is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield. Before being named co-portfolio manager to the Fund in 2019, Mr. Kocinski was co-director of non-investment grade credit research and a senior research analyst for the Manager.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund

James L. Iselin is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since its inception in June 2015. Mr. Iselin joined the firm in 2006. Previously, Mr. Iselin was a portfolio manager for another investment adviser working in its Municipal Fixed Income group since 1993.

 

S. Blake Miller, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Miller has managed the Fund since its inception in June 2015. Mr. Miller joined the firm in 2008. Prior to this, he was the head of Municipal Fixed Income investing at another firm where he worked since 1986.

 

Eric J. Pelio is a Senior Vice President of the Manager. Mr. Pelio has managed the Fund since its inception in June 2015. Mr. Pelio joined the firm in 2008. Prior to this, he was an associate portfolio manager working in Municipal Securities at another firm where he worked since 2004.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund

James L. Iselin is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since March 2013. Mr. Iselin joined the firm in 2006. Previously, Mr. Iselin was a portfolio manager for another investment adviser working in its Municipal Fixed Income group since 1993.

 

S. Blake Miller, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. Mr. Miller has managed the Fund since March 2013. Mr. Miller joined the firm in 2008. Prior to this, he was the head of Municipal Fixed Income investing at another firm where he worked since 1986.

 

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Jeffrey Hunn is a Senior Vice President of the Manager. Mr. Hunn has managed the Fund since June 2018. Mr. Hunn joined the firm in June 2003 and has had various roles throughout the firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund

James L. Iselin and S. Blake Miller, CFA, are Managing Directors of the Manager. Mr. Iselin has managed the Fund since 2007. Mr. Iselin joined the firm in 2006. Previously, Mr. Iselin was a portfolio manager for another investment adviser working in the Municipal Fixed Income group since 1993. Mr. Miller has managed the Fund since 2010. Mr. Miller joined the firm in 2008. Prior to this, he was the head of Municipal Fixed Income investing at another firm where he worked since 1986.

 

Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund

Ashok Bhatia, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in July 2017 and is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bhatia was a senior portfolio manager and co-leader of the customized fixed income team at another asset manager. He has over 24 years’ experience in the investment industry. Mr. Bhatia has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since July 2022.

 

Michael Foster is a Managing Director of the Manager. He has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since 2008. Mr. Foster has been a portfolio manager at the firm since 2004.

 

Matthew McGinnis is a Senior Vice President of the Manager. Mr. McGinnis joined the firm in 2008 and has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2017. Prior to being named co-portfolio manager of the Fund, Mr. McGinnis was a Senior Trader on the Enhanced Cash and Short Duration portfolio management teams.

 

David M. Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He re-joined the firm in January 2003 and is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. Mr. Brown has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since May 2021.

 

Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund

Thanos Bardas is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 1998 and is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. In addition, he is a member of the Asset Allocation Committee. Mr. Bardas has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since April 2009.

 

Ashok Bhatia, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in July 2017 and is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bhatia was a senior portfolio manager and co-leader of the customized fixed income team at another asset manager. He has over 24 years’ experience in the investment industry. Mr. Bhatia has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since December 2017.

 

David M. Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director of the Manager. He re-joined the firm in January 2003 and is the Co-Head of Global Investment Grade Fixed Income. Mr. Brown has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since April 2009.

 

Brad Tank is a Managing Director of the Manager. He joined the firm in 2002 and is the Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Fixed Income. He is a member of the firm’s Operating, Investment Risk, Asset Allocation and Fixed Income’s Investment Strategy Committees, and leads the Fixed Income Multi-Sector Group. He joined the firm after 23 years of experience in trading and asset management. Mr. Tank has been a Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2008.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund — Class A

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     10.30       9.76       10.50       10.90       10.60  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.23       0.26       0.23       0.13       0.20  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.52 )     0.78       0.47       (0.02 )     (1.96 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.29 )     1.04       0.70       0.11       (1.76 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.22       0.24       0.30       0.23       0.25  
Capital gain distributions                       0.18        
Tax return of capital     0.03       0.06                    
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.25       0.30       0.30       0.41       0.25  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     9.76       10.50       10.90       10.60       8.59  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.86       0.85       0.80       0.78       0.78  
Gross expenses(1)      0.92       0.93       0.84       0.80       0.80  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     2.32       2.60       2.11       1.16       2.06  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(5)      (2.83 )     10.82       6.76       0.97       (16.76 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     18.3       19.4       23.0       22.6       18.5  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)      136       147       111       151       164  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 226%, 243%, 186%, 187% and 224% for the years ended October 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(5)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class C shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund — Class C

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     10.31       9.77       10.51       10.91       10.61  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.16       0.19       0.15       0.05       0.13  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.52 )     0.78       0.47       (0.02 )     (1.96 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.36 )     0.97       0.62       0.03       (1.83 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.15       0.17       0.22       0.15       0.18  
Capital gain distributions                       0.18        
Tax return of capital     0.03       0.06                    
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.18       0.23       0.22       0.33       0.18  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     9.77       10.51       10.91       10.61       8.60  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.61       1.60       1.55       1.53       1.53  
Gross expenses(1)      1.67       1.68       1.59       1.57       1.58  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     1.56       1.85       1.39       0.43       1.33  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(5)      (3.55 )     9.99       5.97       0.22       (17.37 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     2.2       2.2       2.1       1.4       1.5  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)      136       147       111       151       164  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 226%, 243%, 186%, 187% and 224% for the years ended October 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(5)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Core Bond Fund — Institutional Class

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     10.34       9.79       10.53       10.94       10.63  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.28       0.30       0.27       0.17       0.24  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.54 )     0.79       0.49       (0.03 )     (1.96 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.26 )     1.09       0.76       0.14       (1.72 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.26       0.29       0.35       0.27       0.29  
Capital gain distributions                       0.18        
Tax return of capital     0.03       0.06                    
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.29       0.35       0.35       0.45       0.29  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     9.79       10.53       10.94       10.63       8.62  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.46       0.45       0.40       0.38       0.38  
Gross expenses(1)      0.54       0.55       0.46       0.43       0.43  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     2.73       2.98       2.51       1.56       2.42  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)      (2.52 )     11.24       7.28       1.28       (16.37 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     373.3       332.3       473.5       578.1       413.1  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)      136       147       111       151       164  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 226%, 243%, 186%, 187% and 224% for the years ended October 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund — Class A

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout the period indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of period     9.01       8.02       8.62       8.19       8.14  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.42       0.42       0.36       0.31       0.32  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.98 )     0.59       (0.45 )     (0.05 )     (2.06 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.56 )     1.01       (0.09 )     0.26       (1.74 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.26       0.24       0.10       0.31       0.17  
Return of Capital     0.17       0.17       0.24             0.14  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.43       0.41       0.34       0.31       0.31  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of period     8.02       8.62       8.19       8.14       6.09  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.16       1.16       1.16       1.16       1.16  
Gross expenses(1)      1.39       1.38       1.42       1.39       1.54  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     4.88       5.01       4.33       3.69       4.60  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over the period, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      (6.51 )     12.85       (1.01 )     3.10       (21.82 )
Net assets at end of period (in millions of dollars)     8.8       3.2       1.3       0.5       0.5  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     86       68       86       59       55  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during the fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class C shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund — Class C

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout the period indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of period     9.01       8.02       8.62       8.20       8.14  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.36       0.36       0.29       0.25       0.27  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.99 )     0.59       (0.43 )     (0.06 )     (2.06 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.63 )     0.95       (0.14 )     0.19       (1.79 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.19       0.18       0.04       0.25       0.12  
Return of Capital     0.17       0.17       0.24             0.14  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.36       0.35       0.28       0.25       0.26  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of period     8.02       8.62       8.20       8.14       6.09  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.91       1.91       1.91       1.91       1.91  
Gross expenses(1)      2.14       2.14       2.16       2.12       2.19  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     4.15       4.25       3.52       2.95       3.86  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over the period, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      (7.21 )     12.01       (1.62 )     2.21       (22.39 )
Net assets at end of period (in millions of dollars)     0.5       0.4       0.5       0.6       0.6  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     86       68       86       59       55  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during the fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

127

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund — Institutional Class

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout the period indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of period     9.02       8.03       8.63       8.20       8.15  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.46       0.45       0.39       0.35       0.35  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.99 )     0.59       (0.45 )     (0.06 )     (2.06 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.53 )     1.04       (0.06 )     0.29       (1.71 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.29       0.27       0.13       0.34       0.20  
Return of Capital     0.17       0.17       0.24             0.14  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.46       0.44       0.37       0.34       0.34  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of period     8.03       8.63       8.20       8.15       6.10  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.79       0.79       0.79       0.79       0.79  
Gross expenses(1)      1.00       1.00       1.02       0.96       1.01  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     5.28       5.36       4.69       4.08       4.91  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over the period, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)      (6.15 )     13.26       (0.62 )     3.49       (21.48 )
Net assets at end of period (in millions of dollars)     194.8       158.5       153.0       222.8       103.8  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     86       68       86       59       55  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during the fiscal period.

 

128

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund — Class A

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     9.94       9.85       9.55       9.40       9.80  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.39       0.46       0.37       0.32       0.43  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.09 )     (0.29 )     (0.15 )     0.40       (0.75 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     0.30       0.17       0.22       0.72       (0.32 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.39       0.47       0.37       0.32       0.43  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.39       0.47       0.37       0.32       0.43  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     9.85       9.55       9.40       9.80       9.05  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.07       1.08       1.07       0.99       0.97  
Gross expenses(1)      1.23       1.29       1.34       1.20       1.11  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     3.94       4.80       4.00       3.29       4.59  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      3.07       1.75       2.45       7.72       (3.33 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     20.3       6.5       7.0       10.6       11.1  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     55       60       81       49       46  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

129

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class C shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund — Class C

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     9.94       9.85       9.55       9.40       9.79  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.31       0.39       0.31       0.25       0.36  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.08 )     (0.30 )     (0.16 )     0.39       (0.74 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     0.23       0.09       0.15       0.64       (0.38 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.32       0.39       0.30       0.25       0.36  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.32       0.39       0.30       0.25       0.36  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     9.85       9.55       9.40       9.79       9.05  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.82       1.84       1.82       1.75       1.72  
Gross expenses(1)      1.97       2.02       2.06       1.94       1.84  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     3.17       4.07       3.30       2.54       3.82  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      2.30       0.99       1.68       6.81       (3.97 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     16.7       11.6       5.6       6.2       6.7  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     55       60       81       49       46  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

130

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Floating Rate Income Fund — Institutional Class

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     9.94       9.85       9.55       9.40       9.80  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.43       0.50       0.41       0.36       0.48  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.09 )     (0.30 )     (0.15 )     0.40       (0.77 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     0.34       0.20       0.26       0.76       (0.29 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.43       0.50       0.41       0.36       0.46  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.43       0.50       0.41       0.36       0.46  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     9.85       9.55       9.40       9.80       9.05  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.70       0.71       0.70       0.62       0.60  
Gross expenses(1)      0.85       0.89       0.93       0.80       0.72  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     4.31       5.16       4.41       3.67       5.04  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)      3.45       2.12       2.82       8.12       (2.96 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     333.4       206.8       149.4       341.3       444.7  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     55       60       81       49       46  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.

 

131

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund — Class A

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     8.79       8.35       8.52       8.33       8.68  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.43       0.44       0.39       0.38       0.38  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.44 )     0.16       (0.19 )     0.36       (1.39 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.01 )     0.60       0.20       0.74       (1.01 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.43       0.43       0.39       0.39       0.39  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.43       0.43       0.39       0.39       0.39  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     8.35       8.52       8.33       8.68       7.28  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense offset arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.12       1.12       1.12       1.12       1.12  
Gross expenses(1)      1.14       1.17       1.12       1.12       1.12  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     4.98       5.23       4.69       4.34       4.76  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      (0.13 )     7.43       2.56       8.91       (11.85 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     37.6       25.1       18.2       17.2       13.3  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     46       96       115       98       72  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement/recoupment.
(2)  Would have been lower/higher if the Manager had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

132

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class C shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund — Class C

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     8.81       8.36       8.54       8.34       8.70  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(1)      0.37       0.38       0.33       0.32       0.33  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.45 )     0.18       (0.19 )     0.37       (1.40 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.08 )     0.56       0.14       0.69       (1.07 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.37       0.38       0.34       0.33       0.33  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.37       0.38       0.34       0.33       0.33  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     8.36       8.54       8.34       8.70       7.30  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense offset arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.82       1.83       1.82       1.83       1.85  
Gross expenses     1.82       1.83       1.82       1.83       1.85  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     4.31       4.48       4.04       3.65       4.06  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)      (0.93 )     6.81       1.74       8.27       (12.45 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     16.0       12.0       5.9       5.0       3.2  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     46       96       115       98       72  

 

(1)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(2)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

133

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund — Institutional Class

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     8.80       8.36       8.53       8.34       8.69  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(1)      0.47       0.47       0.43       0.42       0.41  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.44 )     0.17       (0.19 )     0.36       (1.39 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     0.03       0.64       0.24       0.78       (0.98 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.47       0.47       0.43       0.43       0.42  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.47       0.47       0.43       0.43       0.42  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     8.36       8.53       8.34       8.69       7.29  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense offset arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.69       0.70       0.69       0.69       0.71  
Gross expenses     0.69       0.70       0.69       0.69       0.71  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     5.44       5.60       5.14       4.79       5.17  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)     0.31       7.89       3.02       9.38       (11.46 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     1,202.7       1,471.8       1,148.7       1,120.2       617.3  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     46       96       115       98       72  

 

(1)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund — Class A

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     10.20       10.00       10.58       10.31       10.81  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.33       0.32       0.28       0.26       0.25  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.20 )     0.58       (0.27 )     0.50       (2.07 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     0.13       0.90       0.01       0.76       (1.82 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.33       0.32       0.28       0.26       0.25  
Capital gain distributions                              
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.33       0.32       0.28       0.26       0.25  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     10.00       10.58       10.31       10.81       8.74  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.88       0.87       0.88       0.87       0.90  
Gross expenses(1)      1.35       1.30       1.24       1.19       1.46  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     3.23       3.10       2.68       2.40       2.48  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      1.24       9.13       0.09       7.44       (17.03 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     0.8       1.1       0.9       1.1       1.0  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     106       112       112       59       79  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

135

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class C shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund — Class C

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     10.21       10.00       10.59       10.33       10.83  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.25       0.24       0.20       0.18       0.17  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.21 )     0.59       (0.26 )     0.50       (2.07 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     0.04       0.83       (0.06 )     0.68       (1.90 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.25       0.24       0.20       0.18       0.18  
Capital gain distributions                              
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.25       0.24       0.20       0.18       0.18  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     10.00       10.59       10.33       10.83       8.75  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.63       1.62       1.63       1.62       1.64  
Gross expenses(1)      2.01       1.99       1.94       2.00       3.78  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     2.46       2.32       1.94       1.64       1.70  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      0.38       8.41       (0.57 )     6.63       (17.72 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     0.5       0.7       0.3       0.2       0.1  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     106       112       112       59       79  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

136

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund — Institutional Class

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     10.20       10.00       10.59       10.32       10.82  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.36       0.36       0.31       0.30       0.28  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.20 )     0.59       (0.27 )     0.50       (2.07 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     0.16       0.95       0.04       0.80       (1.79 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.36       0.36       0.31       0.30       0.29  
Capital gain distributions                              
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.36       0.36       0.31       0.30       0.29  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     10.00       10.59       10.32       10.82       8.74  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.51       0.50       0.51       0.50       0.52  
Gross expenses(1)      0.88       0.86       0.81       0.77       0.83  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     3.58       3.46       3.05       2.76       2.81  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)      1.61       9.62       0.46       7.83       (16.80 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     87.6       122.7       117.9       145.1       84.3  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     106       112       112       59       79  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.

 

137

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for the fiscal period indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund — Class A

 

YEAR ENDED   2018(1)     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     16.90       16.61       17.67       17.82       17.73  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(7)      0.16       0.35       0.28       0.23       0.21  
Net gains (losses) — unrealized and realized     (0.29 )     1.06       0.23       (0.02 )     (2.19 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.13 )     1.41       0.51       0.21       (1.98 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.16       0.35       0.28       0.23       0.21  
Capital gain distributions                 0.08       0.07       0.04  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.16       0.35       0.36       0.30       0.25  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     16.61       17.67       17.82       17.73       15.50  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.81 (4)(6)      0.81       0.80       0.80       0.80  
Gross expenses(2)      1.77 (4)(6)      1.51       1.12       1.43       3.06  
Net investment income — actual     2.47 (4)(6)      2.01       1.55       1.29       1.28  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(3)(8)      (0.78 )(5)      8.58       2.90       1.22       (11.26 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     0.0       0.1       0.1       0.1       0.1  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     92 (5)      100       42       20       20  

 

(1)  Period from 6/19/2018 (beginning of operations) to 10/31/2018.
(2)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(4)  Annualized.
(5)  Not annualized.
(6)  Proxy-related expenses, which are non-recurring expenses, are included in the ratio on a non-annualized basis.
(7)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(8)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

138

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class C shares for the fiscal period indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund — Class C

 

YEAR ENDED   2018(1)   2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     16.90       16.61       17.67       17.82       17.73  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(7)      0.11       0.23       0.14       0.10       0.10  
Net gains (losses) — unrealized and realized     (0.29 )     1.05       0.23       (0.02 )     (2.20 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.18 )     1.28       0.37       0.08       (2.10 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.11       0.22       0.14       0.10       0.09  
Capital gain distributions                 0.08       0.07       0.04  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.11       0.22       0.22       0.17       0.13  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     16.61       17.67       17.82       17.73       15.50  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.56 (4)(6)      1.55       1.55       1.55       1.55  
Gross expenses(2)      2.55 (4)(6)      2.43       2.01       2.22       6.71  
Net investment income — actual     1.71 (4)(6)      1.31       0.77       0.55       0.62  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(3)(8)      (1.06 )(5)      7.75       2.14       0.46       (11.92 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     0.0       0.0       0.0       0.0       0.1  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     92 (5)      100       42       20       20  

 

(1)  Period from 6/19/2018 (beginning of operations) to 10/31/2018.
(2)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(4)  Annualized.
(5)  Not annualized.
(6)  Proxy-related expenses, which are non-recurring expenses, are included in the ratio on a non-annualized basis.
(7)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(8)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

139

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover). The information for the prior fiscal years or periods was audited by a different independent public accounting firm.

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund — Institutional Class

 

YEAR ENDED   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     17.32       16.61       17.66       17.81       17.72  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(1)      0.40       0.42       0.34       0.29       0.28  
Net gains (losses) — unrealized and realized     (0.68 )     1.05       0.23       (0.01 )     (2.19 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.28 )     1.47       0.57       0.28       (1.91 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.40       0.42       0.34       0.30       0.27  
Capital gain distributions     0.03             0.08       0.07       0.04  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.43       0.42       0.42       0.37       0.31  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     16.61       17.66       17.81       17.72       15.50  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.87       0.44       0.43       0.43       0.43  
Gross expenses(2)      1.16       1.11       0.93       0.84       0.81  
Net investment income — actual     2.38       2.43       1.92       1.65       1.65  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(3)      (1.61 )     8.93       3.29       1.59       (10.88 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     52.3       59.0       62.7       83.8       76.7  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     92       100       42       20       20  

 

(1)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(2)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.

 

140

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund — Class A

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     11.79       11.37       12.02       11.99       12.07  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.23       0.25       0.21       0.18       0.18  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.38 )     0.68             0.14       (1.59 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.15 )     0.93       0.21       0.32       (1.41 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.23       0.26       0.21       0.18       0.17  
Capital gain distributions     0.04       0.02       0.03       0.06       0.07  
Tax return of capital                             0.03  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.27       0.28       0.24       0.24       0.27  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     11.37       12.02       11.99       12.07       10.39  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.83       0.80       0.67       0.67       0.67  
Gross expenses(1)      0.93       0.94       0.84       0.82       0.96  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     1.95       2.15       1.77       1.50       1.63  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      (1.32 )     8.24       1.80       2.64       (11.88 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     6.5       1.8       2.6       2.0       2.2  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     98       92       93       43       49  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

141

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class C shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund — Class C

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     11.80       11.37       12.02       12.00       12.08  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.14       0.17       0.12       0.09       0.10  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.39 )     0.67       0.01       0.13       (1.60 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.25 )     0.84       0.13       0.22       (1.50 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.14       0.17       0.12       0.08       0.08  
Capital gain distributions     0.04       0.02       0.03       0.06       0.07  
Tax return of capital                             0.03  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.18       0.19       0.15       0.14       0.18  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     11.37       12.02       12.00       12.08       10.40  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.58       1.54       1.42       1.42       1.42  
Gross expenses(1)      1.68       1.68       1.59       1.58       1.79  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     1.20       1.43       1.02       0.74       0.83  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      (2.14 )     7.43       1.12       1.87       (12.53 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     3.2       2.6       2.0       1.6       0.4  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     98       92       93       43       49  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

142

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund — Institutional Class

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     11.80       11.38       12.03       12.00       12.08  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.27       0.30       0.26       0.23       0.22  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.38 )     0.67             0.13       (1.59 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.11 )     0.97       0.26       0.36       (1.37 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.27       0.30       0.26       0.22       0.21  
Capital gain distributions     0.04       0.02       0.03       0.06       0.07  
Tax return of capital                             0.03  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.31       0.32       0.29       0.28       0.31  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     11.38       12.03       12.00       12.08       10.40  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.46       0.42       0.30       0.30       0.30  
Gross expenses(1)      0.55       0.55       0.47       0.44       0.46  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     2.32       2.54       2.13       1.86       1.98  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)      (0.95 )     8.63       2.17       3.02       (11.54 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     204.3       182.3       207.2       224.4       155.2  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     98       92       93       43       49  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.

 

143

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund — Class A

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     7.42       7.30       7.43       7.36       7.36  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.09       0.14       0.20       0.16       0.18  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.08 )     0.16       (0.06 )     0.04       (0.67 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     0.01       0.30       0.14       0.20       (0.49 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.13       0.17       0.21       0.20       0.21  
Tax return of capital                             0.01  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.13       0.17       0.21       0.20       0.22  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     7.30       7.43       7.36       7.36       6.65  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.81       0.76       0.73       0.72       0.71  
Gross expenses(1)      1.24       1.17       1.18       1.13       0.98  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     1.28       1.92       2.67       2.18       2.54  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      0.11       4.18       1.89       2.75       (6.80 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     1.4       0.8       1.5       2.0       2.9  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     99       131       165       91       76  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

144

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class C shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund — Class C

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     7.42       7.29       7.43       7.36       7.37  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.04       0.09       0.14       0.10       0.12  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.10 )     0.17       (0.06 )     0.06       (0.68 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.06 )     0.26       0.08       0.16       (0.56 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.07       0.12       0.15       0.15       0.15  
Tax return of capital                             0.01  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.07       0.12       0.15       0.15       0.16  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     7.29       7.43       7.36       7.37       6.65  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.55       1.51       1.48       1.47       1.46  
Gross expenses(1)      1.98       1.92       1.92       1.88       1.73  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     0.57       1.26       1.92       1.40       1.70  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(4)      (0.78 )     3.55       1.13       2.12       (7.62 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     1.2       1.4       2.1       1.5       1.2  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     99       131       165       91       76  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

145

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund — Institutional Class

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     7.79       7.65       7.79       7.72       7.73  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.13       0.18       0.24       0.20       0.21  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.11 )     0.17       (0.07 )     0.05       (0.72 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     0.02       0.35       0.17       0.25       (0.51 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.16       0.21       0.24       0.24       0.24  
Tax return of capital                             0.01  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.16       0.21       0.24       0.24       0.25  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     7.65       7.79       7.72       7.73       6.97  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.43       0.39       0.36       0.35       0.34  
Gross expenses(1)      0.84       0.78       0.79       0.74       0.59  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     1.71       2.37       3.08       2.53       2.87  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)      0.29       4.62       2.31       3.26       (6.65 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     54.7       56.3       55.7       90.0       147.6  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)     99       131       165       91       76  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.

 

146

Table of Contents

 

Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund — Class A

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     11.17       10.63       11.00       10.98       11.43  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.36       0.37       0.34       0.32       0.33  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.50 )     0.41       0.03       0.57       (1.86 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.14 )     0.78       0.37       0.89       (1.53 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.40       0.35       0.39       0.44       0.29  
Capital gain distributions                             0.21  
Return of capital           0.06                   0.17  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.40       0.41       0.39       0.44       0.67  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     10.63       11.00       10.98       11.43       9.23  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.99       0.99       0.99       1.00       0.99  
Gross expenses(1)      1.01       1.01       0.99       1.00       0.99  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     3.32       3.45       3.19       2.82       3.23  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(5)      (1.29 )     7.44       3.46       8.13       (13.92 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     160.8       113.5       125.9       133.3       103.1  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)      116       113       107       114       162  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement/recoupment and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)  Would have been lower/higher if the Manager had not reimbursed/recouped certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 308%, 308%, 344%, 325% and 345% for the years ended October 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(5)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

147

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Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Class C shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund — Class C

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     11.15       10.62       10.99       10.96       11.42  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.29       0.30       0.27       0.24       0.26  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.50 )     0.40       0.01       0.58       (1.87 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.21 )     0.70       0.28       0.82       (1.61 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.32       0.27       0.31       0.36       0.21  
Capital gain distributions                             0.21  
Return of capital           0.06                   0.17  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.32       0.33       0.31       0.36       0.59  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     10.62       10.99       10.96       11.42       9.22  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     1.69       1.69       1.69       1.70       1.69  
Gross expenses(1)      1.74       1.74       1.73       1.73       1.73  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     2.62       2.75       2.49       2.13       2.47  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)(5)      (1.89 )     6.70       2.64       7.47       (14.54 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     122.2       100.5       73.4       67.3       42.7  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)      116       113       107       114       162  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions were 308%, 308%, 344%, 325% and 345% for the years ended October 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(5)  Does not include the effect of sales charges.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

These financial highlights describe the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the fiscal periods indicated. All figures have been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, along with full financial statements, appears in the Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report (see back cover).

 

Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund — Institutional Class

 

YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,   2018     2019     2020     2021     2022  
PER-SHARE DATA ($)                                        
Data apply to a single share throughout each year indicated. You can see what the Fund earned (or lost), what it distributed to investors, and how its share price changed.                                        
Share price (NAV) at beginning of year     11.16       10.62       10.99       10.97       11.42  
Plus:                                        
Income from investment operations                                        
Net investment income (loss)(3)      0.41       0.42       0.39       0.37       0.37  
Net gain/(losses) — realized and unrealized     (0.51 )     0.40       0.02       0.56       (1.86 )
Subtotal: income (loss) from investment operations     (0.10 )     0.82       0.41       0.93       (1.49 )
Minus:                                        
Distributions to shareholders                                        
Income dividends     0.44       0.39       0.43       0.48       0.33  
Capital gain distributions                             0.21  
Return of capital           0.06                   0.17  
Subtotal: distributions to shareholders     0.44       0.45       0.43       0.48       0.71  
Equals:                                        
Share price (NAV) at end of year     10.62       10.99       10.97       11.42       9.22  
RATIOS (% OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)                                        
The ratios show the Fund’s expenses and net investment income (loss) — as they actually are as well as how they would have been if certain expense reimbursement and/or waiver arrangements had not been in effect.                                        
Net expenses — actual     0.59       0.59       0.59       0.60       0.59  
Gross expenses(1)      0.62       0.62       0.61       0.60       0.60  
Net investment income (loss) — actual     3.75       3.84       3.59       3.22       3.63  
OTHER DATA                                        
Total return shows how an investment in the Fund would have performed over each year, assuming all distributions were reinvested. The turnover rate reflects how actively the Fund bought and sold securities.                                        
Total return (%)(2)      (0.89 )     7.87       3.87       8.56       (13.59 )
Net assets at end of year (in millions of dollars)     2,219.8       2,357.5       2,227.5       2,560.0       1,954.9  
Portfolio turnover rate (%)(4)      116       113       107       114       162  

 

(1)  Shows what this ratio would have been if there had been no expense reimbursement and/or waiver of a portion of the investment management fee.
(2)  Would have been lower if the Manager had not reimbursed certain expenses and/or waived a portion of the investment management fee.
(3)  The per share amounts have been calculated based on the average number of shares outstanding during each fiscal period.
(4)  The portfolio turnover rates including TBA roll transactions 308%, 308%, 344%, 325% and 345% for the years ended October 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

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YOUR INVESTMENT

 

Shares of the Funds generally are available only through financial intermediaries. For certain investors, shares of a Fund may also be available directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the Funds’ Distributor. See “Maintaining Your Account”.

 

Choosing a Share Class

 

The Funds offer different classes of shares through this prospectus. Each share class is available through various investment programs or accounts, including certain types of retirement plans and accounts (see limitations below). The services or share classes available to you may vary depending upon how you wish to purchase shares of a Fund.

 

Each share class represents investment in the same portfolio of securities, but each class has its own sales charge and expense structure, allowing you to choose the class that best fits your situation. When you purchase shares of a Fund, you should choose a share class. If none is chosen, your investment will be made in Class A shares.

 

Factors you should consider in choosing a class of shares include:

 

how long you expect to own the shares

 

how much you intend to invest

 

total expenses associated with owning shares of each class

 

whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges (for example, Class A shares may be a less expensive option than Class C shares over time, particularly if you qualify for a sales charge reduction or waiver)

 

whether you plan to take any distributions in the near future

 

availability of (and eligibility for) share classes.

 

Each investor’s financial considerations are different. You should speak with your financial intermediary to help you decide which share class is best for you.

 

Summary of Primary Differences Among Share Classes

 

Class A Shares    
Initial sales charge   For all Funds, except Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund, up to 4.25% (reduced for purchases of $50,000 or more and eliminated for purchases of $1 million or more)
    For Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund, up to 2.50% (reduced for purchases of $50,000 or more and eliminated for purchases of $1 million or more)
Contingent deferred sales charge   None (except that a charge of 1.00% applies to certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of $1 million or more without an initial sales charge)
12b-1 fees   0.25% annually
Dividends   Generally higher than Class C due to lower annual expenses and lower than Institutional Class due to higher annual expenses
Purchase maximum   None
Conversion   None

 

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Class C Shares    
Initial sales charge   None
Contingent deferred sales charge   1.00% if shares are sold within one year after purchase
12b-1 fees   1.00% annually
Dividends   Generally lower than Class A and Institutional Class due to higher annual expenses
Purchase maximum   See the discussion regarding purchase minimums and maximums in “Maintaining Your Account”
Conversion   Automatic conversion into Class A shares of the same Fund at the end of the month following the eighth anniversary of the purchase date of Class C shares. Class C shares held through a financial intermediary may be converted pursuant to the conversion schedule or eligibility requirements of such financial intermediary. It is the financial intermediary’s (and not the Fund’s) responsibility to keep records and to ensure that the shareholder is credited with the proper holding period as the Fund and its agents may not have transparency into how long a shareholder has held Class C shares for purposes of determining whether such Class C shares are eligible to automatically convert pursuant to the conversion feature. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information regarding the conversion privileges of Class C shares.
Institutional Class Shares    
Initial sales charge   None
Contingent deferred sales charge   None
12b-1 fees   None
Dividends   Generally higher than Class A and Class C due to lower annual expenses
Purchase maximum   None
Conversion   None

 

Maintaining Your Account

 

Purchase of Class A and Class C shares — To open an account and purchase Class A and Class C shares of a Fund, contact any financial intermediary authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. Financial intermediaries may have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge waivers or contingent deferred sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those discussed herein; any such differences are described in Appendix A to this prospectus. All variations described in Appendix A are applied by, and are the responsibility of, the identified financial intermediary. Such variations may apply to purchases, sales, exchanges and reinvestments of Fund shares. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Distributor or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular financial intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Distributor, if eligible, or through another financial intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. See “Financial Intermediaries” if you are buying shares through a financial intermediary.

 

For Grandfathered Investors (as defined below), instructions for buying shares directly from Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the Funds’ Distributor, are under “Buying Shares.”

 

Purchase of Institutional Class shares — To open an account and purchase Institutional Class shares of a Fund, contact any financial intermediary authorized to sell the Fund’s shares. See “Financial Intermediaries” if you are buying shares through a financial intermediary.

 

Institutional Class shares are available for purchase (i) primarily through omnibus accounts (either at the plan level or at the level of the financial intermediary) by certain qualified retirement plans (including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans), profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, (ii) primarily through omnibus accounts by financial intermediaries (including, but not limited to registered investment advisors and financial planners) that have entered into an agreement with the Distributor or an affiliate, (iii) by institutional investors, if approved by the Distributor, or (iv) by accounts or funds managed by the Manager or an affiliate (including the funds in the Neuberger Berman family of funds).

 

For shareholders who are eligible to buy Institutional Class shares directly from the Distributor (“Eligible Investors”) and Predecessor Investors (as defined below), instructions for buying shares directly from the Distributor are under “Buying Shares.”

 

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If you transact in Institutional Class shares, you may be required to pay a commission to a financial intermediary acting as your broker. You may be eligible to transact in the other share classes that are offered by the Fund that have different fees and expenses.

 

When you buy shares — Investment checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank. We cannot accept cash, money orders, starter checks, travelers checks, or other cash equivalents. We do accept Bank Checks and Cashier’s Checks from U.S. Financial Institutions.

 

When you buy shares, you will receive the next share price to be calculated after your order has been received in proper form. Purchase orders are deemed “received in proper form” when the Funds’ transfer agent has received payment for the shares. In the case of certain institutional investors and financial intermediaries, the Distributor will process purchase orders when received, on the basis of a pre-existing arrangement to make payment by the following morning. In addition, if you have established a systematic investment program (SIP) with one or more of the Funds, your order is deemed received in proper form on the date you pre-selected on your SIP application for the systematic investments to occur. Dividends normally are first earned the business day after your purchase order is received in proper form. If you use a financial intermediary, you should check with that provider to find out by what time your purchase order must be received so that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when it accepts orders, it is possible that a Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to buy shares.

 

Whenever you make an initial investment in a Fund or add to your existing account (except with an automatic investment), you will be sent a statement confirming your transaction if you bought shares directly. Investors who bought shares through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary for information regarding transaction statements.

 

Purchase minimums — The minimum initial investment in Class A or Class C shares is $1,000. Additional investments in Class A or Class C shares can be as little as $100. The minimum initial investment in Institutional Class shares is $1 million. These minimums may be waived in certain cases. If you purchase shares of the Fund through an investment provider or other financial intermediary, you may be subject to different investment minimums. Please contact your financial intermediary for further information regarding investment minimums.

 

Purchase maximums — For Class C shares, a purchase transaction may not (1) be $1 million or above or (2) increase an investor’s aggregate holdings in Class C shares to $1 million or above.

 

In addition, if you have significant holdings in the fund family, you may not be eligible to invest in Class C shares. Specifically, you may not purchase Class C shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e., at net asset value). See “Sales Charges” and the Statement of Additional Information for more information regarding sales charge discounts.

 

When you sell shares — To sell shares you bought through a financial intermediary, contact your financial intermediary. See “Financial Intermediaries” if you are selling shares through a financial intermediary. If you bought your shares directly from the Distributor, instructions for selling shares are under “Selling Shares.”

 

When you sell shares, you will receive the next share price to be calculated after your order has been received in proper form, minus any applicable contingent deferred sales charge. Redemption orders are deemed “received in proper form” when a Fund’s transfer agent has received your order to sell. Dividends are earned through the business day on which your redemption order is received in proper form. Investors redeeming in full will receive earned dividends on the day they sell their shares; investors redeeming a portion of their shares will receive earned dividends on the next applicable monthly distribution date.

 

If you use a financial intermediary, you should check with that provider to find out by what time your redemption order must be received so that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when it accepts orders, it is possible that a Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to sell shares.

 

In some cases, you will have to place your order to sell shares in writing, and you will need a Medallion signature guarantee (see “Medallion Signature Guarantees”).

 

When selling Class A or Class C shares in an account that you do not intend to close, remember to leave at least $1,000 worth of shares in the account. When selling Institutional Class shares in an account that you do not intend to close, remember to leave at least $1 million (for Predecessor Investors, at least $2,000) worth of shares in the account. Otherwise, a Fund has the right to request that you bring the balance back up to the minimum level. If you have not done so within 60 days, we may close your account and redeem the proceeds. Institutional Class shareholders of a Fund as of the opening of regular trading on the Exchange on July 1, 2009, may continue to hold and buy Institutional Class shares of the Fund as long as they continuously maintain an account of at least $1 million in Institutional Class shares of the Fund; however, this minimum may be waived by the Distributor in certain cases. Predecessor Investors may continue to hold and buy Institutional Class shares of the Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund as long as they continuously maintain an account in Institutional Class shares of the Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund. Shareholders who held Institutional Class shares of the Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund

 

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through an investment provider as of the opening of regular trading on the Exchange on March 11, 2013, may continue to hold and buy Institutional Class shares of the Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund as long as they continuously maintain their account in Institutional Class shares of the Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund with the same investment provider.

 

The Funds reserve the right to pay in kind for redemptions. The Funds do not redeem in kind under normal circumstances, but would do so when the Manager or the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders as a whole or the transaction is otherwise effected in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. Institutional Class shareholders are urged to call 800-366-6264 before effecting any large redemption.

 

Class A and Class C only — You may reinvest proceeds from a redemption, dividend payment or capital gain distribution without a sales charge in a Fund or another fund in the fund family provided the reinvestment is made into the same account from which you redeemed the shares or received the distribution. Financial intermediaries may have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge waivers or contingent deferred sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ; any such differences are described in Appendix A to this prospectus. If the account has been closed, reinvestment can be made without a sales charge if the new receiving account has the same registration as the closed account. Proceeds from a redemption and all dividend payments and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption or distribution was made. Upon an eligible reinvestment, any contingent deferred sales charge on Class A or Class C shares will be credited to your account. Proceeds will be reinvested at the next calculated net asset value after your request is received in proper form. Redemption proceeds from a systematic withdrawal plan are not eligible for reinvestment without a sales charge.

 

Uncashed checks — We do not pay interest on uncashed checks from Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. We are not responsible for checks after they are sent to you. Checks will not be forwarded if the address of record is incorrect. After allowing a reasonable time for delivery, please call us if you have not received an expected check. While we cannot track a check, we may make arrangements for a replacement. We may be required to transfer assets related to uncashed checks to a state government under the state’s unclaimed or abandoned property law.

 

When you exchange Class A and Class C shares — Generally, you can move an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in the fund family (or to an eligible money market fund outside the fund family) through an exchange of shares or by electing to use your cash distributions from one fund to purchase shares of the other fund, both without a sales charge. Financial intermediaries may have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge waivers or contingent deferred sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ; any such differences are described in Appendix A to this prospectus. Exchanges from eligible money market funds outside the fund family will be subject to applicable sales charges on the fund being purchased, unless the eligible money market fund shares were acquired through an exchange from a fund in the fund family having a sales charge or by reinvestment or cross-reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions from a fund in the fund family having a sales charge. Currently, most, but not all, funds in the fund family offer Class A and Class C shares.

 

When you exchange Institutional Class shares — Generally, you can move an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in the fund family (or to an eligible money market fund outside the fund family) through an exchange of shares or by electing to use your cash distributions from one fund to purchase shares of the other fund.

 

When you exchange shares — There are three things to remember when making an exchange:

 

both accounts must have the same registration

 

you will need to observe any eligibility requirements, including minimum investment and minimum account balance requirements for the fund accounts involved

 

because an exchange is treated as a sale (redemption) of the exchanged shares for federal income tax purposes, consider any tax consequences before placing your order.

 

The exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor that we believe is trying to “time the market” or is otherwise making exchanges that we judge to be excessive. Frequent exchanges can interfere with Fund management and affect costs and performance for other shareholders. Contact your financial intermediary to see if it allows you to take advantage of the fund exchange program and for its policies to effect an exchange.

 

Grandfathered Investors generally are also eligible to take advantage of the exchange privilege assuming that they meet the requirements set forth above.

 

Predecessor Investors may exchange into Class A shares of another fund in the fund family (except Neuberger Berman International Select Fund, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund) without paying a sales charge. Predecessor Investors may only exchange into Trust Class shares of Neuberger Berman International Select Fund,

 

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Neuberger Berman Real Estate Fund and Neuberger Berman Strategic Income Fund. Currently, most, but not all, funds in the fund family offer Class A shares. If a fund in the fund family does not offer Class A shares, Predecessor Investors may exchange into Investor Class shares of that fund, if available.

 

See “Additional Exchange Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for information regarding eligible money market funds outside the fund family.

 

Placing orders by telephone — If you use a financial intermediary, contact your financial intermediary for its policies regarding telephone orders.

 

If you bought your shares directly from the Distributor, you have the option of placing telephone orders, subject to certain restrictions. This option is available to you unless you indicate on your account application (or in a subsequent letter to us or to SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.) that you do not want it.

 

Whenever we receive a telephone order, we take steps to make sure the order is legitimate. These may include asking for identifying information and recording the call. As long as a Fund and its representatives take reasonable measures to verify the authenticity of calls, investors may be responsible for any losses caused by unauthorized telephone orders.

 

In unusual circumstances, it may be difficult to place an order by phone. In these cases, consider sending your order by express delivery.

 

Proceeds from the sale of shares — For Class A and Class C shares, the proceeds from the shares you sell are typically sent out within two business days after your order is executed, and nearly always within seven days regardless of payment type. For Institutional Class shares, the proceeds from the shares you sell are typically sent out the next business day after your order is executed, and nearly always within seven days regardless of payment type. When you sell shares through your financial intermediary, contact your provider to find out when proceeds will be sent to you. There are two cases in which proceeds may be delayed beyond this time:

 

in unusual circumstances where the law allows additional time if needed

 

if a check you wrote to buy shares has not cleared by the time you sell those shares; clearance may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.

 

If you think you may need to sell shares soon after buying them, you can avoid the check clearing time by investing by wire.

 

The Funds do not issue certificates for shares.

 

The Funds typically expect to meet redemption requests, under both normal and stressed market conditions, by redeeming cash and cash equivalent portfolio holdings and/or selling portfolio securities or other instruments. As described further above and in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, the Funds also reserve the right to redeem an investor’s shares in kind (i.e., providing investors with portfolio securities instead of cash), in whole or in part to meet redemption requests in stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.

 

The Funds reserve the right to pay in kind for redemptions. A Fund also may elect to honor a shareholder’s request for the Fund to pay in kind for redemptions in an attempt to manage any liquidity needs, to manage and optimize its portfolio composition, to offset transaction costs associated with portfolio transactions, and/or to more efficiently manage its portfolio. The securities provided to investors in an in-kind redemption may be a pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio or a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio selected by the Manager based upon various circumstances and subject to the Fund’s policies and procedures and any applicable laws or regulations. If the securities provided to investors in an in-kind redemption are a non-pro-rata portion of the Fund’s portfolio, it will only include securities that have been disclosed in the Fund’s most recent public portfolio holdings disclosure.

 

Redemptions in kind may cause you to incur transaction costs to the extent you dispose of the securities redeemed in kind and the value of the securities redeemed in kind may decrease between the time of redemption and the time of such sale. The Funds may also borrow under any available line of credit and other available methods to meet redemption requests in both normal and stressed market conditions and other appropriate circumstances.

 

Other policies — Under certain circumstances, which may include normal and stressed market conditions, the Funds reserve the right to:

 

suspend the offering of shares

 

reject any exchange or purchase order

 

suspend or reject future purchase orders from any investor who has not provided timely payment to settle a purchase order

 

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change, suspend, or revoke the exchange privilege

 

suspend the telephone order privilege

 

satisfy an order to sell Fund shares with securities rather than cash

 

suspend or postpone investors’ ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on redemptions for more than seven days, on days when trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”) is restricted, or as otherwise permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)

 

suspend or postpone investors’ ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange or the bond market is closed

 

suspend or postpone investors’ ability to sell Fund shares or postpone payments on redemptions for more than seven days, on days when the Exchange, the Federal Reserve or the bond market closes early (e.g., on the eve of a major holiday or because of a local emergency, such as a blizzard)

 

change investment minimums or other requirements for buying and selling, or waive any minimums or requirements for certain investors

 

remain open and process orders to purchase or sell Fund shares when the Exchange is closed.

 

Important information regarding unclaimed/abandoned property — If your financial intermediary (or, if you bought your shares directly, the Distributor) is unable to locate you, then it is required by law to determine whether your account(s) must be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned.” Your financial intermediary (or the Distributor) is required to transfer (or escheat) unclaimed or abandoned property to the appropriate state government in accordance with state law. Your account(s) may also be deemed “unclaimed” or “abandoned” and subsequently transferred to the appropriate state government if no activity (as defined by that state) occurs within the account(s) during the period of time specified by state law or if checks related to the account(s) remain uncashed. Your last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction.

 

It is your responsibility to ensure that your financial intermediary (or the Distributor) maintains a correct address for your account(s). An incorrect address may cause your account statements and other mailings to be returned as undeliverable. Neither the Distributor nor a Fund nor its transfer agent will be liable to investors or their representatives for good faith compliance with state unclaimed or abandoned property (escheatment) laws. If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider regarding applicable state escheatment laws.

 

Medallion Signature Guarantees

 

You may need a Medallion signature guarantee when you sell shares directly or through a financial intermediary. A Medallion signature guarantee is a guarantee that your signature is authentic.

 

Medallion signature guarantees are required for a variety of transactions including requests for changes to your account or to the instructions for distribution of proceeds. We reserve the right to require a Medallion signature guarantee on any transaction at our discretion.

 

Most banks, brokers, and other financial institutions can provide you with one. Some may charge a fee; others may not, particularly if you are a customer of theirs.

 

A notarized signature from a notary public is not a Medallion signature guarantee.

 

Financial Intermediaries

 

The shares available in this prospectus can be purchased through certain financial intermediaries such as banks, brokerage firms, workplace retirement programs, and financial advisers.

 

The minimum aggregate size for each financial intermediary’s account with a Fund is $1 million for Institutional Class shares. This minimum does not apply to your individual account; however, your financial intermediary may establish a minimum size for individual accounts. The Distributor can waive this $1 million minimum for financial intermediaries in appropriate cases.

 

The fees and policies outlined in this prospectus are set by the Funds and by the Distributor. However, if you use a financial intermediary, most of the information you will need for managing your investment will come from that provider. This includes information on how to buy and sell shares, investor services, and additional policies.

 

If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider to buy or sell shares of the Funds described in this prospectus.

 

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Most financial intermediaries allow you to take advantage of the fund exchange program, which is designed for moving an investment from one fund to a comparable class of another fund in the fund family if made available by that financial intermediary through an exchange of shares. Currently, most, but not all, funds in the fund family offer Class A and Class C shares.

 

In exchange for the services it offers, your financial intermediary may charge fees that are in addition to those described in this prospectus.

 

Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Distributor and/or its affiliates pay additional compensation, out of their own resources and not as an expense of the Funds, to certain financial intermediaries, including affiliates, in connection with the sale, distribution, retention and/or servicing of Fund shares. The amount of these payments may be substantial and may differ among financial intermediaries based on, for example, the level or type of services provided by a financial intermediary. These payments are in addition to any fees paid to compensate financial intermediaries for providing distribution related services to the Funds and/or administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders, as well as any commissions paid to financial intermediaries out of sales charges paid by investors. These arrangements are separately negotiated between the Distributor and/or its affiliates, and the recipients of these payments or their affiliates. If your financial intermediary receives such payments, these payments may provide an incentive for the financial intermediary to make the Fundsshares available to you or recommend the Funds. If you have purchased shares of a Fund through a financial intermediary, please speak with your financial intermediary to learn more about any payments it receives from the Distributor and/or its affiliates, as well as fees and/or commissions the financial intermediary charges. You should also consult disclosures made by your financial intermediary at the time of purchase. Any such payments by the Distributor or its affiliates will not change the net asset value or the price of a Funds shares. For more information, please see the FundsStatement of Additional Information.

 

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees

 

The Funds have adopted plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the plans, each of Class A and Class C pays the Distributor a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively, of its average net assets to compensate financial intermediaries for providing distribution related services to a Fund and/or administrative or shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The Distributor may also retain part of this fee as compensation for providing these services. These fees increase the cost of investment. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over the long term they could result in higher overall costs than other types of sales charges.

 

Information Required from New Accounts

 

To help the U.S. government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

When you open an account, we (which may include your financial intermediary acting on our behalf) will require your name, address, date of birth, and social security number or other taxpayer identification number. We may also require other identifying documents. If we cannot verify the information you supply to us or if it is incomplete, we may be required to return your funds or redeem your account.

 

Retirement Plans and Accounts

 

If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider for information on retirement plans or accounts it may make available for investment in Fund shares.

 

Internet Access

 

If you use a financial intermediary, contact that provider about the services and information it provides on the Internet.

 

Share Prices

 

Because Class A shares of the Funds have an initial sales charge, the price you pay for each Class A share of a Fund is the Fund’s offering price, which is the Fund’s net asset value per share plus any applicable sales charge. The initial sales charge for Class A shares of a Fund may be eliminated in certain circumstances. Because Class C shares of the Funds do not have an initial sales

 

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charge, the price you pay for each Class C share of a Fund is the Fund’s net asset value per share. Unless a contingent deferred sales charge is applied, a Fund pays you the full share price when you sell Class A or Class C shares (see “Sales Charges” for more information).

 

Because Institutional Class shares of the Funds do not have a sales charge, the price you pay for each Institutional Class share of a Fund is the Fund’s net asset value per share. Similarly, because the Funds do not charge fees for selling Institutional Class shares, a Fund pays you the full share price when you sell Institutional Class shares.

 

If you use a financial intermediary, that provider may charge fees that are in addition to those described in this prospectus.

 

The Funds are generally open for business every day the Exchange is open. The Exchange is generally closed on all national holidays and Good Friday; Fund shares will not be priced on those days or other days on which the Exchange is scheduled to be closed. When the Exchange is closed for unusual reasons, Fund shares will generally not be priced although a Fund may decide to remain open and price Fund shares and in such a case, the Fund would post a notice on www.nb.com.

 

Each Fund normally calculates its share price on each day the Exchange is open once daily as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In the event of an emergency or other disruption in trading on the Exchange, a Fund’s share price would still normally be determined as of 4:00 P.M., Eastern time. In general, every buy or sell order you place will go through at the next share price calculated after your order has been received in proper form (see “Maintaining Your Account” for information on placing orders). If you use a financial intermediary, you should check with that provider to find out by what time your order must be received so that it can be processed the same day. Depending on when your financial intermediary accepts orders, it is possible that a Fund’s share price could change on days when you are unable to buy or sell shares.

 

Because foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed, the value of foreign securities owned by a Fund could change on days when you cannot buy or sell Fund shares. Remember, though, any purchase or sale takes place at the next share price calculated after your order is received in proper form.

 

Share Price Calculations

 

The net asset value per share of each class of a Fund is the total value of Fund assets attributable to shares of that class minus the liabilities attributable to that class, divided by the total number of shares outstanding for that class. Because the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities changes every business day, its share price usually changes as well.

 

A Fund generally values its investments based upon their last reported sale prices, market quotations, or estimates of value provided by an independent pricing service as of the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. Debt securities and certain derivative instruments that do not trade on an exchange generally are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager on the basis of market quotations and in the case of derivatives, market data about the underlying investments. Short-term securities held by a Fund may be valued on the basis of amortized cost, unless other factors indicate that amortized cost is not an accurate estimate of the security’s value. Equity securities (including securities issued by ETFs) and exchange-traded derivative instruments held by a Fund generally are valued by one or more independent pricing services approved by the Manager at the last reported sale price or official closing price or, if there is no reported sale quoted on a principal exchange or market for that security or official closing price, on the basis of market quotations.

 

Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective fund’s daily calculated net asset value per share. The prospectuses for these funds explain the circumstances under which the funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

 

If a valuation for a security is not available from an independent pricing service or if the Manager believes in good faith that the valuation does not reflect the amount a Fund would receive on a current sale of that security, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available, the Fund may use a fair value estimate made according to methods approved by the Manager. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Board of Trustees designated the Manager as the Fund’s valuation designee. As the Fund’s valuation designee, the Manager is responsible for determining fair value in good faith for any and all Fund investments. A Fund may also use these methods to value certain types of illiquid securities. Fair value pricing generally will be used if the market in which a portfolio security trades closes early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time as of which a Fund’s share price is calculated.

 

A Fund may also fair value securities that trade in a foreign market if significant events that appear likely to affect the value of those securities occur between the time the foreign market closes and the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. Significant events may include (1) corporate actions or announcements that affect a single issuer, (2)

 

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governmental actions that affect securities in one sector, country or region, (3) natural disasters or armed conflicts that affect a country or region, or (4) significant domestic or foreign market fluctuations.

 

For certain foreign assets, after the relevant foreign markets have closed, a third-party vendor supplies evaluated, systematic fair value pricing based upon analysis of historical correlation of multiple factors. In the case of both foreign equity and foreign income securities, in the absence of precise information about the market values of these foreign securities as of the time as of which a Funds share price is calculated, the Manager has determined on the basis of available data that prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer to the prices a Fund could realize on a current sale than are the prices of those securities established at the close of the foreign markets in which the securities primarily trade. Please see the FundsStatement of Additional Information for additional detail about the Fundsfair valuation practices.

 

The effect of using fair value pricing is that a portfolio security will be priced based on the subjective judgment of the Manager, operating under procedures approved by the Manager, instead of being priced using valuations from an independent pricing service. Fair value pricing can help to protect a Fund by reducing arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing will completely prevent dilution of a Fund’s net asset value by such traders.

 

Trading in securities on many foreign exchanges is normally completed before the Fund calculates its net asset value. In addition, foreign markets may be open on days when U.S. markets are closed. As a result, the value of foreign securities owned by the Fund could change at times or on days when the Fund’s net asset value is not calculated, when Fund shares do not trade, and when sales and redemptions of Fund shares do not occur.

 

Privileges and Services

 

If you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, consult your financial intermediary for information about privileges and services. If you purchase shares directly from the Distributor, see “Direct Investors” for information about privileges and services.

 

Sales Charges

 

To obtain information regarding sales charges and the reduction, and elimination or waiver of sales charges on shares of a Fund, see below, visit www.nb.com or call 1-877-628-2583. If you purchased shares of a Fund through a Financial Intermediary you may contact your Financial Intermediary about the reduction, elimination or waiver of sales charges.

 

Class A sales charges — The initial sales charge you pay each time you buy Class A shares differs depending upon the amount you invest and may be reduced or eliminated for larger purchases as indicated below. The “offering price,” the price you pay to buy shares, includes any applicable sales charge, which will be deducted directly from your investment. Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to an initial sales charge.

 

For all Funds, except Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund

 

    Sales charges as a percentage of:    
Investment   Offering Price   Net amount
invested
  Dealer commission
as a percentage
of offering price
Less than $50,000   4.25%   4.44%   4.00%
$50,000 or more but less than $100,000   3.75%   3.90%   3.50%
$100,000 or more but less than $250,000   3.25%   3.36%   3.00%
$250,000 or more but less than $500,000   2.50%   2.56%   2.25%
$500,000 or more but less than $1 million   2.00%   2.04%   1.75%
$1 million or more and certain other investments described below   None   None   See below

 

For Neuberger Berman Short Duration Bond Fund

 

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    Sales charges as a percentage of:    
Investment   Offering Price   Net amount
invested
  Dealer commission
as a percentage
of offering price
Less than $50,000   2.50%   2.56%   2.25%
$50,000 or more but less than $100,000   2.25%   2.30%   2.00%
$100,000 or more but less than $250,000   2.00%   2.04%   1.75%
$250,000 or more but less than $500,000   1.75%   1.78%   1.50%
$500,000 or more but less than $1 million   1.50%   1.52%   1.25%
$1 million or more and certain other investments described below   None   None   See below

 

The sales charge, expressed as a percentage of the offering price or the net amount invested, may be higher or lower than the percentages described in the table above due to rounding. This is because the dollar amount of the sales charge is determined by subtracting the net asset value of the shares purchased from the offering price, which is calculated to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria. The impact of rounding will vary with the size of the investment and the net asset value of the shares. Similarly, any contingent deferred sales charge paid by you on investments in Class A shares may be higher or lower than the 1% charge described below due to rounding.

 

Except as provided below, investments in Class A shares of $1 million or more may be subject to a 1% contingent deferred sales charge if the shares are sold within 18 months of purchase. The contingent deferred sales charge is a percentage of the original purchase price or the current market value of the shares being sold, whichever is less.

 

Class A purchases not subject to sales charges – Sales charge waivers are available for investments in Class A shares by Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors (see “Direct Investors” for more information) provided that such investors have properly notified the Manager or the Distributor of such status in advance of such purchases, except that in the case of accounts of Grandfathered Investors who have a documented relationship with a financial intermediary, the availability of the sales charge waiver may depend on the financial intermediary’s policies and procedures and eligibility requirements regarding such waivers.

 

When purchasing through a financial intermediary, you may not benefit from certain policies and procedures of the Fund as your eligibility may be dependent upon the policies and procedures of your financial intermediary, including those regarding sales charge waivers and reductions of sales charges through reinstatement, rights of accumulation, letters of intent, and share class exchanges and/or conversions. In some cases, due to financial intermediary policies and procedures, customers may receive waivers in circumstances that are not expressly provided for herein. In all instances, it is the investor’s responsibility to notify its financial intermediary of any relationship or other facts qualifying the investor for sales charge waivers or reductions. (Please see “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” below for additional information).

 

The Distributor may pay financial intermediaries up to 1% on investments made in Class A shares with no initial sales charge. See “Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees” for additional information regarding each Fund’s plans of distribution.

 

Certain other investors may qualify to purchase shares without a sales charge, such as employees of financial intermediaries authorized to sell funds in the fund family, employees of Neuberger Berman and members of the Funds’ Board of Trustees. See “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” below for more information.

 

Class C sales charges — Class C shares are sold without any initial sales charge. For Class C shares, a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% applies if shares are sold within one year of purchase.

 

Any contingent deferred sales charge paid by you on investments in Class C shares, expressed as a percentage of the applicable redemption amount, may be higher or lower than the percentages described above due to rounding.

 

Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. In addition, the contingent deferred sales charge may be waived in certain circumstances. See “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” below for more information. The contingent deferred sales charge is a percentage of the original purchase price or the current market value of the shares being sold, whichever is less. For purposes of determining the contingent deferred sales charge, if you sell only some of your shares, shares that are not subject to any contingent deferred sales charge will be sold first, followed by shares that you have owned the longest. The Distributor pays a fee equal to 1% of the amount invested to financial intermediaries who sell Class C shares. All or a portion of these payments may be made from amounts that each Fund pays the Distributor through its plans of distribution. See “Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees” for information regarding each Fund’s plans of distribution.

 

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Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers

 

Sales charge waivers are available for investments in Class A shares by Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors (see “Direct Investors” for more information) provided that such investors have properly notified NB Group and any affiliates of such status in advance of purchase.

 

Financial intermediaries may have sales charges and/or policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales charge waivers or contingent deferred sales charge waivers applicable to their customers that differ from those discussed herein; any such differences are described in Appendix A to this prospectus and it is the responsibility of the intermediary to monitor for and implement such policies and procedures. To receive a reduction in your Class A initial sales charge, you or your financial intermediary must let the Distributor know at the time you purchase shares that you qualify for such a reduction. If you or your financial intermediary does not let the Distributor know that you are eligible for a reduction, you may not receive a sales charge discount to which you are otherwise entitled. In order to determine your eligibility to receive a sales charge discount, it may be necessary for you or your financial intermediary to provide the Distributor with information and records (including account statements) of all relevant accounts invested in the fund family. To have your Class A or Class C contingent deferred sales charge waived, you or your financial intermediary must let the Distributor know at the time you redeem shares that you qualify for such a waiver.

 

Class A shares of a Fund may be sold at net asset value to the following types of investors, provided that such investors have properly notified their financial intermediary, NB Group (and/or any affiliates), as appropriate, of their eligibility in advance of purchase:

 

1. current or retired directors, trustees, and officers of the Neuberger Berman Funds, current or retired employees and partners of NB Group and any affiliates, or of any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with a Neuberger Berman Fund, NB Group and any affiliates;

 

2. current employees of firms, including wholesalers, that have entered into selling agreements to distribute shares of the Neuberger Berman Funds;

 

3. current employees of registered investment advisers that invest in the Neuberger Berman Funds either for proprietary accounts or on behalf of clients;

 

4. immediate family members of persons listed in (1) through (3) above (as “immediate family” is defined below);

 

5. companies exchanging securities with a Fund through a merger, acquisition or exchange offer;

 

6. insurance company separate accounts;

 

7. NB Group and its affiliated companies;

 

8. an individual or entity with a substantial client relationship with NB Group and its affiliated companies, or an individual or entity related or relating to such individual or entity that holds its shares directly with a Fund;

 

9. financial intermediaries (including but not limited to registered investment advisors and financial planners) that have entered into an agreement with the Distributor or one of its affiliates, purchasing shares on behalf of clients participating in a fund supermarket or in a wrap program, asset allocation program or other program in which the clients pay an asset-based fee;

 

10. Employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, group 403(b) plans and individual 403(b) accounts, maintained at a financial intermediary that has an agreement with the Distributor, the Manager or the Administrator, profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans; and individual retirement account (“IRA”) rollovers involving retirement plan assets invested in the Funds and transferred in-kind to an IRA held at a financial intermediary that has an agreement with the Distributor, the Manager or the Administrator to service such accounts;

 

11. Employee benefit and retirement plans sponsored by NB Group and any affiliates and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with NB Group and any affiliates;

 

12. Certain IRAs that are part of an IRA platform sponsored by or maintained at a financial intermediary that has an agreement with the Distributor, the Manager or the Administrator which specifically provides that the Funds’ shares are offered at NAV on such IRA platform; and

 

13. Qualified Tuition Programs under Section 529 of the Code.

 

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Shares are offered at NAV to these persons and organizations due to anticipated economies in sales effort and expense. Once an account is established under this net asset value privilege, additional investments can be made at NAV for the life of the account.

 

Reducing your Class A initial sales charge — Consistent with the policies described in this prospectus, you and your “immediate family” (your spouse — or equivalent if recognized under local law — and your children under the age of 21) may combine all of your investments in the fund family to reduce your Class A sales charge.

 

Aggregating accounts to reduce Class A initial sales charge — To receive a reduced Class A sales charge, investments made by you and your immediate family (see above) may be aggregated if made for your own account(s) and/or certain other accounts if all parties are purchasing shares for their own accounts and/or:

 

trust accounts established by you or your immediate family (for trusts with only one primary beneficiary, upon the trustor’s death the trust account may be aggregated with such beneficiary’s own accounts; for trusts with multiple primary beneficiaries, upon the trustor’s death the trustees of the trust may instruct the Fund’s transfer agent to establish separate trust accounts for each primary beneficiary; each primary beneficiary’s separate trust account may then be aggregated with such beneficiary’s own accounts);

 

business accounts solely controlled by you or your immediate family (for example, you own the entire business);

 

individual retirement plans, such as an IRA, individual 403(b) plan (see exception in “Purchases by certain 403(b) plans” under “Sales Charges”) or single-participant Keogh-type plan;

 

endowments or foundations established and controlled by you or your immediate family; or

 

529 accounts, which will be aggregated at the account owner level.

 

Individual purchases by a trustee(s) or other fiduciary(ies) may also be aggregated if the investments are:

 

for a single trust estate or fiduciary account, including employee benefit plans other than the individual-type employee benefit plans described above;

 

made for two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of affiliated employers as defined in the 1940 Act, excluding the individual-type employee benefit plans described above;

 

for a diversified common trust fund or other diversified pooled account not specifically formed for the purpose of accumulating Fund shares;

 

for nonprofit, charitable or educational organizations, or any endowments or foundations established and controlled by such organizations, or any employer-sponsored retirement plans established for the benefit of the employees of such organizations, their endowments, or their foundations; or

 

for individually established participant accounts of a 403(b) plan that is treated similarly to an employer-sponsored plan for sales charge purposes (see “Purchases by certain 403(b) plans” under “Sales Charges” above), or made for two or more such 403(b) plans that are treated similarly to employer-sponsored plans for sales charge purposes, in each case of a single employer or affiliated employers as defined in the 1940 Act.

 

Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of an investment dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with those made for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.

 

Concurrent purchases to reduce Class A initial sales charge — You may combine simultaneous purchases (including, upon your request, purchases for gifts) of any class of shares of two or more funds in the fund family to qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge.

 

Rights of accumulation to reduce Class A initial sales charge — Subject to the limitations described in the aggregation policies above, you may take into account your accumulated holdings in all share classes of the fund family to determine the initial sales charge you pay on each purchase of Class A shares. Subject to your financial intermediary’s capabilities, your accumulated holdings will be calculated as the higher of (a) the current value of your existing holdings (the “market value”) or (b) the amount you invested (including reinvested dividends and other distributions, but excluding capital appreciation) less any withdrawals (the “cost value”). Depending on the entity on whose books your account is held, the value of your holdings in that account may not be eligible for calculation at cost value. For example, accounts held in nominee or street name may not be eligible for calculation at cost value and instead may be calculated at market value for purposes of rights of accumulation. You should retain any records necessary to substantiate the historical amounts you have invested. You must contact your financial adviser or the Distributor if you have additional information that is relevant to the calculation of the value of your holdings. If you make a gift of shares, upon your request, you may purchase the shares at the sales charge discount allowed under rights of accumulation of all of your

 

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accounts in the fund family. You may not purchase Class C shares if such combined holdings cause you to be eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (i.e. at NAV).

 

Letter of Intent to reduce Class A initial sales charge — You may reduce your Class A sales charge by establishing a letter of intent. By establishing a letter of intent (the “Letter”), you enter into a nonbinding commitment to purchase shares of funds in the fund family over a 13-month period (the “Period”) and receive the same sales charge (expressed as a percentage of your purchases) as if all shares had been purchased at once; however, purchases made under a right of reinvestment, appreciation of your holdings, and reinvested dividends and other distributions do not count as purchases made during the Period. The market value of your existing holdings eligible to be aggregated as of the day immediately before the start of the Period may be credited toward satisfying the Letter. See “Sales Charges” for more information.

 

The Letter may be revised upward at any time during the Letter period, and such a revision will be treated as a new Letter, except that the Letter period during which the purchases must be made will remain unchanged. Purchases made from the date of revision will receive the reduced sales charge, if any, resulting from the revised Letter.

 

The Letter will be considered completed if the shareholder dies within the 13-month Letter period. Commissions to dealers will not be adjusted or paid on the difference between the Letter amount and the amount actually invested before the shareholder’s death.

 

A portion of your account may be held in escrow to cover additional Class A sales charges that may be due if your total purchases over the Period do not qualify you for the applicable sales charge reduction. When a shareholder elects to use a Letter, shares equal to 5% of the dollar amount specified in the Letter may be held in escrow in the shareholder’s account out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases, if necessary) by the Fund’s transfer agent. All dividends and any other distributions on shares held in escrow will be credited to the shareholder’s account in shares (or paid in cash, if requested). If the intended investment is not completed within the specified Letter period, the purchaser may be required to remit to the Distributor the difference between the sales charge actually paid and the sales charge which would have been paid if the total of such purchases had been made at a single time. Any dealers assigned to the shareholder’s account at the time a purchase was made during the Letter period will receive a corresponding commission adjustment if appropriate. If the difference is not paid by the close of the Letter period, the appropriate number of shares held in escrow will be redeemed to pay such difference. If the proceeds from this redemption are inadequate, the purchaser may be liable to the Distributor for the balance still outstanding.

 

Shareholders purchasing shares at a reduced sales charge under a Letter indicate their acceptance of these terms and those in the Class A and Class C Prospectuses with their first purchase. Employer sponsored retirement plans may be restricted from establishing a letter of intent.

 

Right of reinvestment — Please see “Maintaining Your Account — When you sell shares” for information on how to reinvest proceeds from a redemption, dividend payment or capital gain distribution without a sales charge.

 

Contingent deferred sales charge waivers — The contingent deferred sales charge on Class A and Class C shares may be waived in the following cases:

 

permitted exchanges of shares, except if shares acquired by exchange are then redeemed within the period during which contingent deferred sales charge would apply to the initial shares purchased

 

tax-free returns of excess contributions to IRAs

 

redemptions due to death or post-purchase disability of the shareholder (this generally excludes accounts registered in the names of trusts and other entities). In the case of joint tenant accounts, if one joint tenant dies, a surviving joint tenant, at the time he or she notifies the Fund’s transfer agent of the other joint tenant’s death and removes the decedent’s name from the account, may redeem shares from the account without incurring a CDSC. Redemptions made after the date of such notification will be subject to a CDSC.

 

distributions from an IRA upon the shareholder’s attainment of age 59½

 

the following types of transactions, if together they do not exceed 12% of the value of an “account” (defined below) annually (the 12% limit):

 

(i) redemptions due to the shareholder receiving required minimum distributions from retirement accounts upon reaching age 70½; and

 

(ii) redemptions through a systematic withdrawal plan (SWP) established directly with a Fund. For each SWP payment, assets that are not subject to a CDSC, such as appreciation on shares and shares acquired through reinvestment of income dividends and/or other distributions, will be redeemed first and will count toward the 12% limit. If there is an insufficient amount of assets not subject to a CDSC to cover a particular SWP payment, shares subject to the lowest

 

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CDSC will be redeemed next until the 12% limit is reached. Any income dividends and/or other distributions taken in cash by a shareholder who receives payments through a SWP will also count toward the 12% limit. In the case of a SWP, the 12% limit is calculated at the time a systematic redemption is first made, and is recalculated at the time each additional systematic redemption is made. Shareholders who establish a SWP should be aware that the amount of a payment not subject to a CDSC may vary over time depending on fluctuations in the value of their accounts. This privilege may be revised or terminated at any time.

 

For purposes of this paragraph, “account” means:

 

(a) in the case of Class A shares, your investment in Class A shares of all funds in the fund family; and

 

(b) in the case of Class C shares, your investment in Class C shares of the particular fund from which you are making the redemption.

 

purchases where no commission or transaction fee is paid by the Distributor to authorized dealers at the time of purchase.

 

Exchanges of shares — Exchanges of shares are generally not subject to any applicable sales charges. However, exchanges from eligible money market funds outside the fund family will be subject to applicable sales charges on the fund shares being purchased, unless the eligible money market fund shares were acquired through an exchange from a fund in the fund family having a sales charge or by reinvestment or cross-reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions from a fund in the fund family having a sales charge.

 

Distributions and Taxes

 

Distributions — Each Fund pays out to its shareholders any net investment income and net realized capital gains. Ordinarily, each Fund declares income dividends daily and pays them monthly and declares and makes any capital gain distributions once a year (usually in December). Gains from foreign currency transactions, if any, are normally distributed in December. A Fund may make additional distributions, if necessary, to avoid federal income or excise taxes.

 

Unless you designate otherwise, your distributions, if any, from a Fund will be reinvested in additional shares of the distributing Class of the Fund. However, if you prefer, you may receive all distributions in cash or reinvest capital gain distributions but receive income dividends in cash. Distributions taken in cash can be sent to you by check or by electronic transfer to a designated bank account or invested in shares of the same Class of another fund in the fund family with the same account registration. To take advantage of one of these options, please indicate your choice on your application or contact a Fund in writing or by phone if you bought shares directly. If you use a financial intermediary, you must consult it about whether your income dividends and capital gain distributions from a Fund will be reinvested in additional shares of the distributing Class of the Fund or paid to you in cash.

 

How distributions are taxed — Except for tax-advantaged retirement plans and accounts and other tax-exempt investors (collectively “exempt investors”) and except as noted in the next sentence, all Fund distributions you receive are generally taxable to you, regardless of whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares. The part of each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund’s, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund’s and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund’s income dividends that it reports to its shareholders in writing as “exempt-interest dividends” (essentially, the part of its dividends equal to the excess of its interest income that is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes over certain amounts disallowed as deductions) is excludable from its shareholders’ gross income for those purposes. Accordingly, shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund are not appropriate investments for exempt investors.

 

Fund distributions to IRAs, Roth IRAs, and qualified retirement plans generally are tax-free. Eventual withdrawals from a Roth IRA also may be tax-free, while withdrawals from other retirement plans and accounts are subject to federal income tax.

 

Distributions of taxable income dividends and net realized capital gains, if any, generally are taxable to shareholders other than exempt investors in the year they are received. In some cases, however, distributions received in January are treated for federal income tax purposes as if they had been paid the previous December 31. Your tax statement (see “Taxes and You”) will help clarify this for you.

 

Distributions of net investment income (other than exempt-interest dividends) and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss (“dividends”) are taxed as ordinary income. It is not expected that any of the Funds’ distributions will be attributable to “qualified dividend income” (generally, dividends a Fund receives on stock of most U.S. and certain foreign corporations), which are subject to maximum federal income tax rates for individual and certain other non-corporate shareholders (each, an “individual shareholder”) that are lower than the maximum rates for ordinary income (“lower maximum rates”).

 

 

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Distributions of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are taxed as long-term capital gain and for individual shareholders are subject to the lower maximum rates. The tax treatment of capital gain distributions from a Fund depends on how long the Fund held the securities it sold that generated the gain, not on when you bought your shares of the Fund or whether you reinvested your distributions.

 

As noted above, exempt-interest dividends from each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund are excludable from federal gross income. However, part of each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund’s, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund’s and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund’s exempt-interest dividends may be a Tax Preference Item, which could have adverse tax consequences for a high-income individual who otherwise would owe comparatively little in federal income tax. Each of Neuberger Berman Municipal High Income Fund, Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund and Neuberger Berman Municipal Intermediate Bond Fund also may invest in securities or use techniques that produce taxable income; your tax statement will identify any distributions of income of this type.

 

If, for any taxable year, a Fund distributes an amount that exceeds its current earnings and profits (generally, the sum of its investment company taxable income plus net capital gain for that year) — which might result from, among other things, the difference between book and tax accounting treatment of certain derivatives and foreign currency transactions — plus its accumulated earnings and profits, if any, that excess generally will be treated as a return of capital, which will reduce your tax basis in your Fund shares. To the extent that excess is greater than your tax basis, it will be treated as gain from a redemption of your shares (taxed as described below).

 

Shareholders should review any notice that accompanies a payment of dividends or other distributions to determine whether any portion of the payment represents a return of capital rather than a distribution of a Fund’s net income and/or gains.

 

How share transactions are taxed — When you sell (redeem) or exchange Fund shares, you generally will realize a taxable gain or loss. An exception, once again, applies to exempt investors. For individual shareholders, any capital gain recognized on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares that have been held for more than one year will qualify for the lower maximum rates.

 

Additional tax — An individual shareholder’s distributions from a Fund and net gains recognized on redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares are subject to a 3.8% federal tax on the lesser of (1) the individual’s “net investment income” (which generally includes distributions from a Fund and net gains from the disposition of Fund shares) or (2) the excess of the individual’s “modified adjusted gross income” over a specified threshold amount. This tax is in addition to any other taxes due on that income. You should consult your own tax professional regarding the effect, if any, this provision may have on your investment in Fund shares.

 

Taxes and You

 

The taxes you actually owe on taxable Fund distributions and share transactions can vary with many factors, such as your marginal tax bracket, how long you held your shares and whether you owe federal alternative minimum tax.

 

How can you figure out your tax liability on Fund distributions and share transactions? One helpful tool is the tax statement that we or your financial intermediary sends you after the end of each calendar year. It details the distributions you received during the past year and shows their tax status. That statement, or a separate statement from us or your financial intermediary, also covers your share transactions.

 

Most importantly, consult your tax professional. Everyone’s tax situation is different, and your tax professional should be able to help you answer any questions you may have.

 

Backup Withholding

 

A Fund is required to withhold at the backup withholding rate from the money you are otherwise entitled to receive from its taxable distributions and redemption proceeds (regardless of whether you realized a gain or loss) if you are an individual shareholder who fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number to the Fund. Withholding at that rate also is required from a Fund’s taxable distributions to which you are otherwise entitled if you are an individual shareholder and the Internal Revenue Service tells us that you are subject to backup withholding (1) for failing to properly report the receipt of interest or dividend income or (2) for any other reason.

 

If you use a financial intermediary, you must supply your signed taxpayer identification number form (generally, Form W-9) to your financial intermediary, and it must supply its taxpayer identification number to us, in order to avoid backup withholding.

 

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Buying Shares Before a Distribution

 

The money a Fund earns, either as net investment income or as net realized capital gains, is reflected in its share price until it distributes the money. At that time, the amount of the distribution is deducted from the share price. Because of this, if you buy shares of a Fund just before it makes such a distribution of taxable income, you will end up getting some of your investment back as a taxable distribution. You can avoid this situation by waiting to invest until after the record date for the distribution.

 

Generally, if you are an exempt investor, there are no current tax consequences to you from distributions.

 

Basis Determination and Reporting

 

Your basis in Fund shares (including for Predecessor Investors, Fund shares received in exchange for Empire Builder Tax Free Bond Fund shares) that you acquired or acquire after December 31, 2011 (collectively, “Covered Shares”), will be determined in accordance with the Fundsdefault basis determination method, which is average cost basis, unless you affirmatively elect in writing (which may be electronic) to use a different basis determination method acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service. The basis determination method may not be changed with respect to a redemption (including a redemption that is part of an exchange) of Covered Shares after the settlement date of the redemption. A Fund must report to the Internal Revenue Service and furnish to its shareholders the basis information for Covered Shares. See “Additional Tax Information” in the Statement of Additional Information for more information about the rules regarding basis determination and a Fund’s reporting obligation. You should consult with your tax professional to determine the best basis determination method for your tax situation and to obtain more information about how the basis determination and reporting rules apply to you.

 

Direct Investors

 

Eligible Investors, Predecessor Investors, and Grandfathered Investors are collectively referred to as “Direct Investors”.

 

“Grandfathered Investors” are investors in any fund in the Neuberger Berman family of funds who hold their shares directly with Neuberger Berman, who established accounts in Investor Class or Trust Class shares prior to March 1, 2008, and who have continuously maintained an account directly with Neuberger Berman since that date. A Grandfathered Investor’s “immediate family” (his or her spouse — or equivalent if recognized under local law — and his or her children under the age of 21) are also deemed “Grandfathered Investors.” A Grandfathered Investor’s mother, father, sister, or brother may open a custodial account for the Grandfathered Investor’s minor children. Grandfathered Investors do not include any financial intermediaries who have accounts with a fund or shareholders who invest through such financial intermediaries.

 

“Predecessor Investors” are investors who hold their shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund directly with Neuberger Berman BD LLC, the Fund’s Distributor, who held Institutional Class shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund as of the opening of regular trading on the Exchange on March 11, 2013, and who have continuously maintained an account directly with Neuberger Berman BD LLC since that date. Predecessor Investors do not include any investment providers who have accounts with the Fund or shareholders who invest through such investment providers. A Predecessor Investor who fails to continuously maintain an account in Institutional Class shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund will not be able to exchange shares of another fund in the fund family into Institutional Class shares of Neuberger Berman Municipal Impact Fund.

 

Statements and Confirmations — Please review your account statements and confirmations carefully as soon as you receive them. You must contact us within 30 days if you have any questions or notice any discrepancies. Otherwise, you may adversely affect your right to make a claim about the transaction(s).

 

Systematic Investments — This plan lets you take advantage of dollar-cost averaging by establishing periodic investments of $100 or more a month (for Institutional Class, once you make an initial minimum investment of at least $1 million). You choose the schedule and amount. Your investment money may come from an eligible money market fund outside the fund family or your bank account.

 

Systematic Withdrawals — This plan lets you arrange withdrawals of at least $100 from a fund in the fund family on a periodic schedule. You can also set up payments to distribute the full value of an account over a given time. While this service can be helpful to many investors, be aware that it could generate capital gains or losses.

 

Electronic Bank Transfers — When you sell Fund shares, you can have the money sent to your bank account electronically rather than mailed to you as a check. Please note that your bank must be a member of the Automated Clearing House, or ACH, system.

 

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FUNDfone® — Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors only. Get up-to-date performance and account information through our 24-hour automated service by calling 800-335-9366.

 

Dollar-Cost Averaging

 

Systematic investing allows you to take advantage of the principle of dollar-cost averaging. When you make regular investments of a given amount — say, $100 a month — you will end up investing at different share prices over time. When the share price is high, your $100 buys fewer shares; when the share price is low, your $100 buys more shares. Over time, this can help lower the average price you pay per share.

 

Dollar-cost averaging cannot guarantee you a profit or protect you from losses in a declining market. But it can be beneficial over the long term.

 

Internet Access

 

Grandfathered Investors with Internet access can enjoy many valuable and time-saving features by visiting us at www.nb.com.

 

The site offers more complete information on our funds, including current performance data, portfolio manager interviews, tax information plus educational articles, news and analysis. You can tailor the site so it serves up information that is most relevant to you.

 

As a Fund shareholder, you can use the web site to access account information 24 hours a day.

 

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If you are a Direct Investor buying or selling shares, instructions are provided in the following charts. Investors buying or selling shares through a financial intermediary should contact it for instructions.

 

Buying Shares — Direct Investors

 

Method   Things to know   Instructions

Sending us a check

 

 

Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors: Your first investment must be at least $1,000

 

Additional investments can be as little as $100

 

Eligible Investors: Your first investment must be at least $1 million

 

Direct Investors: We cannot accept cash, money orders, starter checks, travelers checks, or other cash equivalents

 

We do accept Bank Checks and Cashier’s Checks from U.S. Financial Institutions

 

You will be responsible for any losses or fees resulting from a bad check; if necessary, we may sell other shares belonging to you in order to cover these losses

 

All checks must be made out to “Neuberger Berman Funds”; we cannot accept checks made out to you or other parties and signed over to us

 

Fill out the application and enclose your check

 

If regular first-class mail, send to:

 

Neuberger Berman Funds
P.O. Box 219189
Kansas City, MO 64121-9189

 

If express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail, send to:

 

Neuberger Berman Funds
430 West 7th Street
Suite 219189
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

Wiring money

 

 

Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors: All wires must be for at least $1,000

 

Eligible Investors: Your first investment must be at least $1 million

 

Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors: Before wiring any money, call 800-877-9700 for an order confirmation

 

Eligible Investors: Before wiring any money, call 800-366-6264 for an order confirmation

 

Direct Investors: Have your financial institution send your wire to SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.

 

Include your name, the Fund name, your account number and other information as requested

Exchanging from another fund

 

 

All exchanges must be for at least $1,000

 

Both accounts involved must be registered in the same name, address and taxpayer identification number

 

An exchange order cannot be cancelled or changed once it has been placed

 

If you are an individual retail investor, please call 800-877-9700 to place your order

 

If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please call 800-366-6264 to place your order

By telephone

 

 

We do not accept phone orders for a first investment

 

Additional shares will be purchased when your order is received in proper form

 

Not available on retirement accounts

 

If you are an individual retail investor, please call 800-877-9700 to notify us of your purchase

 

If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please call 800-366-6264 to notify us of your purchase

 

Immediately follow up with a wire or electronic transfer

Setting up systematic investments

 

 

All investments must be at least $100 (and for Institutional Class, in addition to an initial minimum investment of at least $1 million)

 

If you are an individual retail investor, please call 800-877-9700 for instructions

 

If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please call 800-366-6264 for instructions

 

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Selling Shares — Direct Investors

 

Method   Things to know   Instructions
Sending us a letter  

Unless you instruct us otherwise, we will mail your proceeds by check to the address of record, payable to the registered owner(s); checks will not be forwarded

 

If you have designated a bank account on your application, you can request that we wire the proceeds to this account; if the total balance of all of your Neuberger Berman fund accounts is less than $100,000, you will be charged an $8.00 wire fee

 

You can also request that we send the proceeds to your designated bank account by electronic transfer (ACH) without a fee

 

You may need a Medallion signature guarantee

 

Please also supply us with your e-mail address and daytime telephone number when you write to us in the event we need to reach you

 

Send us a letter requesting us to sell shares signed by all registered owners; include your name, account number, the Fund name, the dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell, and any other instructions

 

If regular first-class mail, send to:

 

Neuberger Berman Funds
P.O. Box 219189
Kansas City, MO 64121-9189

 

If express delivery, registered mail, or certified mail, send to:

 

Neuberger Berman Funds
430 West 7th Street
Suite 219189
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

Sending us a fax  

Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors: For amounts of up to $100,000

 

Eligible Investors: For amounts of up to $250,000

 

Direct Investors: Not available if you have changed the address on the account in the past 15 days

 

Write a request to sell shares as described above

 

If you are an individual retail investor, please call 800-877-9700 to obtain the appropriate fax number

 

If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please call 800-366-6264 to obtain the appropriate fax number

Calling in your order  

Grandfathered Investors and Predecessor Investors: All phone orders to sell shares must be for at least $1,000 unless you are closing out an account

 

Direct Investors: Not available if you have declined the phone option or are selling shares in certain retirement accounts (The only exception is for those retirement shareholders who are at least 59½ or older and have their birthdates on file)

 

Not available if you have changed the address on the account in the past 15 days

 

If you are an individual retail investor, please call 800-877-9700 to place your order

 

If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please call 800-366-6264 to place your order

 

Give your name, account number, the Fund name, the dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell, and any other instructions

Exchanging into another fund

 

 

All exchanges must be for at least $1,000

 

Both accounts involved must be registered in the same name, address and taxpayer identification number

 

An exchange order cannot be cancelled or changed once it has been placed

 

If you are an individual retail investor, please call 800-877-9700 to place your order

 

If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please call 800-366-6264 to place your order

Setting up systematic withdrawals

 

  Withdrawals must be at least $100  

If you are an individual retail investor, please call 800-877-9700 for instructions

 

If you are an institution or a financial intermediary, please call 800-366-6264 for instructions

 

Market Timing Policy

 

Frequent purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares (“market-timing activities”) can interfere with effective Fund management and adversely affect Fund performance in various ways, including by requiring a portfolio manager to liquidate portfolio holdings at a disadvantageous time or price, by increasing costs (such as brokerage costs) to a Fund by requiring a portfolio manager to effect more frequent purchases and sales of portfolio securities, and possibly by requiring a portfolio manager to keep a larger portion of Fund assets in cash, all of which could adversely affect the interests of long-term shareholders. To discourage market-timing activities by Fund shareholders, the Board of Trustees has adopted market-timing policies and has approved the procedures of the principal underwriter for implementing those policies. As described earlier in this prospectus,

 

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pursuant to such policies, the exchange privilege can be withdrawn from any investor that is believed to be “timing the market” or is otherwise making exchanges judged to be excessive. In furtherance of these policies, under certain circumstances, the Funds reserve the right to reject any exchange or purchase order; change, suspend or revoke the exchange privilege; or suspend the telephone order privilege.

 

The Manager applies the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to market-timing activities by monitoring trading activity in the Funds, identifying excessive trading patterns, and warning or prohibiting shareholders who trade excessively from making further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares. These policies and procedures are applied consistently to all shareholders. Although the Funds make efforts to monitor for market-timing activities, the ability of the Funds to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of omnibus accounts maintained by brokers, retirement plan accounts and other approved financial intermediaries may be limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary maintains the underlying shareholder accounts. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Funds will be able to eliminate all market-timing activities.

 

Portfolio Holdings Policy

 

A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings is available in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information.

 

The complete portfolio holdings for each Fund are available at www.nb.com/holdings (click on the tab with the name of the relevant Fund). The complete portfolio holdings for each Fund are generally posted 15-30 days after each month-end.

 

Each Fund’s complete portfolio holdings will remain available at this website until the subsequent month-end holdings have been posted. Complete portfolio holdings for the Funds will also be available in reports on Form N-PORT and Form N-CSR filed with the SEC. Historical portfolio holdings are available upon request.

 

Generally, no earlier than five business days after month-end, a Fund may publicly disclose via various shareholder and public communications, such as portfolio manager commentaries, fact sheets or other marketing materials, which will be publicly available at www.nb.com, certain portfolio characteristics and partial information concerning portfolio holdings for the month as of month-end, including but not limited to: up to the top 10 holdings of the Fund (if the Fund engages in short selling, it may also disclose up to the top 10 short positions); up to the top 10 holdings that contributed to and/or detracted from performance or were the best and/or worst performers; sector breakdowns or changes to portfolio composition (e.g., buys and sells). This information will typically remain available at this website until information for the subsequent month has been posted; however, to comply with Rule 30e-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, quarter-end information may be retained on this website for each Fund’s previous fiscal year. A Fund may also post intra-month updates to holdings and certain portfolio characteristics to www.nb.com. Any such intra-month update would be in addition to and not in lieu of the holdings disclosure policies described above.

 

Fund Structure

 

Each Fund offers one or more classes of shares that have identical investment programs, but may have different fee waivers and different arrangements for distribution and shareholder servicing and, consequently, different expenses. Shares of a class to which a fee waiver applies may not be available to all investors in a Fund. Rather, they will be made available to investors meeting eligibility criteria outlined in the Prospectuses for such share classes. This prospectus relates solely to the Class A, Class C and Institutional Class shares of the Funds.

 

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Appendix A

 

Financial Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts

 

The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Distributor or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (“CDSC”) waivers, which are discussed below, and it is the responsibility of the intermediary to monitor for and implement such policies and procedures. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Distributor or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Distributor or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts.

 

Ameriprise Financial:

 

The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial:

 

Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial brokerage account are eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in a Fund’s prospectus or SAI:

 

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.

 

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).

 

Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 7-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares or conversion of Class C shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply.

 

Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their immediate family members.

 

Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant.

 

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement).

 

Baird:

 

Effective June 15, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Baird platform or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus or the SAI.

 

Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Baird

 

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund

 

Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliate and their family members as designated by Baird

 

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Fund within the fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement)

 

A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C Shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird

 

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Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs

 

CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Baird

 

Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder

 

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus

 

Shares bought due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA Account

 

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 72 as described in the Fund’s Prospectus

 

Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird

 

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement

 

Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations

 

Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus

 

Rights of accumulations which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible fund family assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets

 

Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family through Baird, over a 13-month period of time

 

Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (“Edward Jones”):

 

Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones

 

The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:

 

Effective on or after March 1, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as “shareholders”) purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in the mutual fund prospectus or statement of additional information (“SAI”) or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder’s responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings in the fund family, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.

 

Breakpoints

 

Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in the prospectus.

 

Rights of Accumulation (ROA)

 

The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of the fund family held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations (“pricing groups”). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge.

 

The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.

 

ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV).

 

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Letter of Intent (“LOI”)

 

Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13- month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met.

 

If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer.

 

Sales Charge Waivers

 

Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:

 

Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate’s life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones’ policies and procedures.

 

Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program.

 

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment.

 

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the same fund family so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account.

 

Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus.

 

Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) Waivers

 

If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:

 

The death or disability of the shareholder

 

Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value

 

Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

 

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations

 

Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones

 

Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program

 

Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement

 

Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below.

 

******************************************************************************************************************************************

 

Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones

 

Minimum Purchase Amounts

 

Initial purchase minimum: $250

 

Subsequent purchase minimum: none

 

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Minimum Balances

 

Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy:

 

A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform

 

A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform

 

An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI

 

Exchanging Share Classes

 

At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder’s holdings in a fund to Class A shares of the same fund.

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC:

 

Shares purchased through a self-directed brokerage account are eligible for sales charge waivers on purchases of Class A shares.

 

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC:

 

Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase fund shares through a Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”) brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”), or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in a Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.

 

Front-end sales charge* waivers on Class A shares available at Janney

 

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).

 

Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney.

 

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement).

 

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans.

 

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.

 

Class C shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures.

 

CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares available at Janney

 

Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.

 

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.

 

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and other retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney.

 

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.

 

Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund.

 

Front-end sales charge* discounts available at Janney: breakpoints, rights of accumulation, and/or letters of intent

 

Breakpoints as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

 

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Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

 

* Also referred to as an “initial sales charge.”

 

Merrill Lynch:

 

Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.

 

Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at Merrill Lynch

 

Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan

 

Shares purchased by a 529 Plan (does not include 529 Plan units or 529-specific share classes or equivalents)

 

Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program

 

Shares exchanged due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers

 

Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform

 

Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable)

 

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)

 

Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e. level-load) shares of the same fund pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers

 

Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members

 

Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus

 

Eligible shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill Lynch’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for reinstatement

 

CDSC Waivers on A, B and C Shares available at Merrill Lynch

 

Death or disability of the shareholder

 

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus

 

Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account

 

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code

 

Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch

 

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement

 

Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to a fee based account or platform (applicable to A and C shares only)

 

Shares received through an exchange due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers

 

Front-end load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch:

Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

 

Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.

 

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Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in the Fund’s prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) within the purchaser’s household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible fund family assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets

 

Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable)

 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management:

 

Effective July 1, 2018 shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.

 

Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

 

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans

 

Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules

 

Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund

 

Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account

 

Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class conversion program

 

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge.

 

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.:

 

Effective June 30, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“OPCO”) platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.

 

Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at OPCO

 

Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan

 

Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan

 

Shares purchased through a OPCO affiliated investment advisory program

 

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)

 

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Restatement).

 

A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of OPCO

 

Employees and registered representatives of OPCO or its affiliates and their family members

 

Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this Prospectus

 

CDSC Waivers on A, B and C Shares available at OPCO

 

Death or disability of the shareholder

 

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus

 

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Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account

 

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in the prospectus

 

Shares sold to pay OPCO fees but only if the transaction is initiated by OPCO

 

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement

 

Front-end load Discounts Available at OPCO: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

 

Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus.

 

Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at OPCO. Eligible fund family assets not held at OPCO may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

 

Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. & each entity’s affiliates (“Raymond James”):

 

Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.

 

Front-end sales load waivers on Class A shares available at Raymond James

 

Shares purchased in an investment advisory program.

 

Shares purchased within the same fund family through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions.

 

Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James.

 

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement).

 

A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James.

 

CDSC Waivers on Classes A, B and C shares available at Raymond James

 

Death or disability of the shareholder.

 

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.

 

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in the Fund’s prospectus.

 

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James.

 

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.

 

Front-end load discounts available at Raymond James: breakpoints, rights of accumulation, and/or letters of intent

 

Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus.

 

Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

 

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Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

 

UBS Financial Services, Inc.

 

Non-profits in brokerage accounts are eligible for sales charge waivers on purchases of Class A shares.

 

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NEUBERGER BERMAN INCOME FUNDS

Class A, Class C and Institutional Class Shares

 

If you would like further details on these Funds, you can request a free copy of the following documents:

 

Shareholder Reports. The shareholder reports offer information about each Fund, including:

 

a discussion by the Portfolio Managers about strategies and market conditions that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year

 

Fund performance data and financial statements

 

portfolio holdings.

 

Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The SAI contains more comprehensive information on each Fund, including:

 

various types of securities and practices, and their risks

 

investment limitations and additional policies

 

information about the Fund’s management and business structure.

 

The SAI is hereby incorporated by reference into this prospectus, making it legally part of the prospectus.

 

Investment Manager: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC

 

Sub-adviser (for Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Fund): Neuberger Berman Europe Limited

 

Obtaining Information

 

You can obtain a shareholder report, SAI, and other information from your financial intermediary, or from:

 

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

877-628-2583

Website: www.nb.com

 

Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: [email protected].

 

Each Fund’s current net asset value per share is made available at: http://www.nb.com/performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC” are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund names in this prospectus are either service marks or registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. ©2023 Neuberger Berman BD LLC, distributor. All rights reserved.

 

SEC File Number: 811-03802

H0772 02/23