Lazard World Dividend
& Income Fund, Inc.

Annual Report

December 31, 2017

Dear Stockholders,

We are pleased to present this report for Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc. (“LOR” or the “Fund”), for the year ended December 31, 2017. LOR is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on June 28, 2005. Its ticker symbol is “LOR.”

We believe that the Fund has provided investors with an attractive distribution return and diversification, backed by the extensive experience, commitment, and professional management of Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager” or “Lazard”).

Portfolio Update (as of December 31, 2017)

For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) returned 20.8%, underperforming the 24.0% return of its benchmark, the MSCI All Country World^® Index (ACWI) (the “Index”). Due to weaker performance during the years 2013 through 2015, the Fund’s NAV performance over longer time periods and since inception has also lagged the benchmark. The since inception annualized return through December 31, 2017 was 5.7% versus the 7.1% return for the Index for the same period. Shares of LOR ended the year with a market price of $11.63, representing an 8.4% discount to the Fund’s NAV per share of $12.70.

The Fund’s net assets were $87.4 million as of December 31, 2017, with total leveraged assets (net assets plus line of credit outstanding and net notional value of forward currency contracts) of $121.6 million, representing a 28.1% leverage rate. This leverage rate was higher than that at the end of 2016 (23.1%), but below the maximum permitted leverage rate of 33⅓%.

Within the world equity portfolio, stock selection within the energy and utilities sectors, and within Japan and Australia, contributed to performance. A higher-than-benchmark exposure to emerging markets also added value. However, a higher-than-benchmark exposure to the telecommunication services sector, and stock selection in the consumer discretionary, financials and telecommunication services sectors and within France and China detracted from performance in the year.

The smaller, short duration¹ emerging markets currency and debt portion of the Fund rallied strongly in 2017, but was a meaningful negative contributor to

performance in the years 2013 to 2015. However, it has still contributed positively to performance since the Fund’s inception.

As of December 31, 2017, 67.8% of the Fund’s total leveraged assets consisted of world equities, 39.7% consisted of emerging market currency and debt instruments, and -7.5% consisted of cash and other assets.

Declaration of Distributions

Pursuant to LOR’s Level Distribution Policy, through 2017, the Fund has been declaring, monthly, a distribution equal to 6.5% (on an annualized basis) of the Fund’s published NAV per share on the last business day of the previous year. This published NAV per share may differ from the NAV per share as of year-end shown elsewhere in this shareholder report, generally as the result of post year-end accounting and tax adjustments to the published NAV per share. Throughout 2017, the monthly distribution rate per share was $0.06045. Total distributions in 2017 represented a distribution rate of 6.2% based on the Fund’s market price of $11.63 as of the close of trading on the NYSE on December 29, 2017 (inclusive of returns of capital). Of the $0.7254 per share distributed in 2017, $0.0285 was a return of capital.

In November 2017, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of LOR authorized an increase in the monthly distribution rate from 6.5% to 7.0% (on an annualized basis) of the NAV per share on the last business day of the previous year. The 2018 monthly distribution rate per share will, therefore, be $0.07409, reflecting this new 7.0% distribution rate.

Additional Information

Please note that available on www.lazardassetmanagement.com are frequent updates on the Fund’s performance, press releases, distribution information, and a monthly fact sheet that provides information about the Fund’s major holdings, sector weightings, regional exposures, and other characteristics, including the notices regarding the composition of monthly (and any additional) distributions required by Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). You may also reach Lazard by phone at 1-800-823-6300.

On behalf of Lazard, we thank you for your investment in Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc. and look forward to continuing to serve your investment needs in the future.

Message from the Portfolio Managers

World Equity Portfolio

(67.8% of total leveraged assets)

The Fund’s world equity portfolio is typically invested in 60 to 90 securities, broadly diversified in both developed and emerging market countries and across the capitalization spectrum. Examples include Pfizer, a US-based global pharmaceutical company that develops and produces medicines and vaccines and consumer health care products; Royal Dutch Shell, a British-Dutch multinational oil and gas company headquartered in the Netherlands and incorporated in the United Kingdom; and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, a Taiwan-based company principally engaged in the manufacturing, selling, packaging, testing and computer-aided design of integrated circuits.

As of December 31, 2017, 41.6% of the portfolio’s stocks were based in North America, 20.6% were based in continental Europe (not including the United Kingdom), 20.2% were from Asia (not including Japan) and Australia, 6.8% were from the United Kingdom, 5.7% were from Japan, 2.6% were based in Africa and the Middle East, and 2.5% were based in Latin America.

The world equity portfolio is similarly well diversified across a number of industry sectors. The top two sectors, by weight, as of December 31, 2017, were financials (24.0% of the portfolio), which includes banks, insurance companies, and financial services companies; and information technology (15.1% of the portfolio), which consists of companies involved in semiconductor production, semiconductor equipment, software and services, and technology hardware and equipment. Other sectors in the portfolio include energy, healthcare, industrials, telecommunication services, materials, utilities, consumer staples, real estate and consumer discretionary. The average dividend yield on the securities held in the world equity portfolio was approximately 4.4% as of December 31, 2017.

World Equity Markets Review

Global stocks performed well in 2017, as global growth accelerated and became more synchronized, while inflation and interest rates remained subdued, enabling equity valuation multiples to continue to expand. While late 2016 saw a dramatic rotation from defensive growth stocks toward more attractively valued cyclicals as deflationary pressures abated, 2017 saw investors shun valuation once again in favor of defensive growth stocks. Weakness in oil prices early in the year and the lack of uplift in US wage growth, even as unemployment fell to multi-decade lows, led investors to lose hope for a normalization in inflation and interest rates. Valuation-oriented strategies, which typically outperform in environments of building inflationary pressures, struggled during the year. Investors focused on a handful of perceived winners that offered sufficient defensiveness or secular growth to maintain profitability in an adverse environment, driving significant outperformance of high momentum stocks. The technology sector materially outperformed, driven by higher growth companies in areas such as social media. Meanwhile, lower-valued sectors, such as telecommunications and energy, lagged significantly. The energy sector’s underperformance occurred in spite of the more than 40% increase in the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil (a grade of crude oil used as a benchmark in oil pricing) during the second half of the year.

What Helped and What Hurt LOR

Stock selection in the energy sector contributed positively to performance in 2017. Shares of Royal Dutch Shell rose as the company reported strong profits and cash flows and canceled the scrip dividend and as oil rallied back towards $60. We continue to like Royal Dutch Shell as they have quality assets and a robust dividend yield and we are confident in management’s plans for restructuring. Stock selection in the utilities sector also helped performance. Shares of Italgas, a European natural gas distributor, rallied as the company continued to grow income and execute on its strategic plan. We like Italgas as it continues to increase its market share and the potential for dividend growth.

In contrast, stock selection and an overweight position in the telecommunication services sector detracted from performance. Shares of Bezeq, an Israeli telecom company, declined as the path to structural separation of the company’s business units became more clouded. We exited the position as we saw more attractive uses of capital. Stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector and within France also detracted from performance. Shares of SES, a global satellite communication company, declined on disappointing earnings and guidance. We like SES as, while the company is undergoing technology driven transitions in parts of its business, we feel its competitive position and the underlying growth in its markets should maintain its cash generative ability.

Emerging Markets Currency and Debt Portfolio

(39.7% of total leveraged assets)

The Fund also seeks income through investing in primarily high-yielding, short-duration emerging markets forward currency contracts and local currency debt instruments. As of December 31, 2017, this portfolio consisted of forward currency contracts (63.8%) and sovereign debt obligations (36.2%). The average duration of the emerging markets currency and debt portfolio decreased meaningfully during 2017, with the December 31, 2017 duration at approximately 11 months, compared to 29 months at the end of 2016. The average yield decreased from 8.1%² on December 31, 2016 to 6.3% on December 31, 2017.

Emerging Markets Currency and Debt Markets Review

Emerging local currency and debt markets extended their recovery in 2017. Idiosyncratic country developments played a strong role in returns. Otherwise, performance was influenced by a favorable global environment marked by a slow, deliberate policy normalization cycle in the United States, global reflation, compelling emerging market local market fundamentals (such as basic balance surpluses and record for-

eign exchange reserves in many countries), positive emerging markets versus developed markets real interest rate and economic growth differentials, and sharply discounted emerging markets currency valuations.

What Helped and What Hurt LOR

A synchronized global recovery, much-improved emerging markets fundamentals, and discounted valuations supported emerging markets currency and local debt markets. Egypt led contributors on sizeable market exposure following the country’s International Monetary Fund 3-year program agreement and massive devaluation. Ongoing macro and policy adjustment, central bank foreign exchange reserve rebuild, high yields, and ensuing pound stabilization drove results. Frontier markets (besides Egypt) added value. Sizeable exposure to Malaysia, China, and India benefited returns. Indonesia and South African security selection added material value. Russian ruble and OFZ (ruble-denominated government fixed-income instruments) duration exposure also helped performance, benefiting from the ongoing oil recovery (off the 2015 lows), sharply improving growth/inflation data, high carry, and orthodox monetary policy. Polish and Czech exposure outperformed the European region. European reflation also benefited Hungary, in spite of its unorthodox easy monetary stance, owing to its huge basic balance of payments surplus position.

Amongst detractors, lack of exposure to low-yielding Taiwan and Singapore limited the portfolio’s upside from uncharacteristically sharp currency appreciation during the first quarter. Material non-resident inflows into Taiwanese equities, a soft US dollar, and markedly reduced currency intervention in Taiwan (perhaps pre-empting a “currency manipulator” label by the US administration) propelled gains. Modest allocations to Romania, South Africa, Israel, South Korea, Chile, and Mexico limited upside from these top-performing markets.

1. Organization

Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc. was incorporated in Maryland on April 6, 2005 and is registered under the 1940 Act, as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol LOR and commenced operations on June 28, 2005. The Fund’s investment objective is total return through a combination of dividends, income and capital appreciation.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying financial statements are presented in conformity with GAAP. The Fund is an investment company and therefore applies specialized accounting guidance in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of the financial statements:

(a) Valuation of Investments—Equity securities traded on a securities exchange or market, including exchange-traded option contracts, rights and warrants, are valued at the last reported sales price (for domestic equity securities) or the closing price (for foreign equity securities) on the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded or, for securities trading on the NASDAQ National Market System (“NASDAQ”), the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If there is no available closing price for a foreign equity security, the last reported sales price is used. If there are no reported sales of a security on the valuation date, the security is valued at the most recent quoted bid price on such date reported by such principal exchange or market. Forward currency contracts generally are valued using quotations from an independent pricing service. Investments in money market funds are valued at the fund’s NAV per share.

Bonds and other fixed-income securities that are not exchange-traded are valued on the basis of prices provided by independent pricing services which are based on, among other things, trading in securities with similar characteristics, brokers’ quotations and/or a matrix system which considers such factors as other security prices, yields and maturities.

Calculation of the Fund’s NAV may not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of portfolio assets used in such calculation. Trading on Europe, Latin and South America and Far East securities exchanges and in over-the-counter markets ordinarily is completed well before the close of business on each business day in New York (i.e., a day on which the NYSE is open). In addition, European or Far Eastern securities trading generally, or in a particular country or countries, may not take place on all

business days in New York and on which the NAV of the Fund is calculated.

The Valuation Committee of the Investment Manager, which meets periodically under the direction of the Board, may evaluate a variety of factors to determine the fair value of securities for which market quotations are determined not to be readily available or reliable. These factors include, but are not limited to, the type of security, the value of comparable securities, observations from financial institutions and relevant news events. Input from the Investment Manager’s portfolio managers/analysts also will be considered.

If a significant event materially affecting the value of securities occurs between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded and the time when the Fund’s NAV is calculated, or when current market quotations otherwise are determined not to be readily available or reliable (including restricted or other illiquid securities such as certain derivative instruments), such securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by, or in accordance with procedures approved by, the Board. The fair value of non-US securities may be determined with the assistance of an independent pricing service using correlations between the movement of prices of such securities and indices of US securities and other appropriate indicators, such as closing market prices of relevant ADRs or futures contracts. Non-US securities may trade on days when the Fund is not open for business, thus affecting the value of the Fund’s assets on days when Fund stockholders may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares.

The effect of using fair value pricing is that the NAV of the Fund will reflect the affected securities’ values as determined in the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined by the market. Using a fair value pricing methodology to price securities may result in a value that is different from the most recent closing price of a security and from the prices used by other investment companies to calculate their portfolios’ NAVs.

(b) Portfolio Securities Transactions and Investment Income—Portfolio securities transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gain (loss) on sales of investments are recorded on a specific identification basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except for certain dividends from non-US securities where the dividend rate is not available. In such cases, the dividend is recorded as soon as the information is received by the Fund. Interest income, if any, is accrued daily. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts on fixed-income securities using the effective yield method.

The Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by non-US countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based upon income earned or capital gains (realized and/or unrealized). The Fund accrues and applies such taxes to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized gains concurrent with the recognition of income earned or capital gains (realized and/or unrealized) from the applicable portfolio securities.

As a result of several court cases in certain countries across the European Union, the Fund has filed tax reclaims for previously withheld taxes on dividends earned in those countries. These filings are subject to various administrative proceedings by the local jurisdictions’ tax authorities within the European Union, as well as a number of related judicial proceedings. Uncertainty exists as to the ultimate resolution of these proceedings, the likelihood of receipt of these claims, and the potential timing of payment, and accordingly no amounts are reflected in the financial statements. Such amounts, if and when recorded, could result in an increase in the Fund’s NAV per share.

(c) Leveraging—The Fund uses leverage to invest Fund assets in currency investments, primarily using forward currency contracts and by borrowing under a credit facility with State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), up to a maximum of 33⅓% of the Fund’s total leveraged assets. If the assets of the Fund decline due to market conditions such that this 33⅓% threshold will be exceeded, leverage risk will increase.

If the Fund is able to realize a higher return on the leveraged portion of its investment portfolio than the cost of such leverage together with other related expenses, the effect of the leverage will be to cause the Fund to realize a higher net return than if the Fund were not so leveraged. There is no assurance that any leveraging strategy the Fund employs will be successful.

Using leverage is a speculative investment technique and involves certain risks. These include higher volatility of NAV, the likelihood of more volatility in the market value of the Fund’s common stocks and, with respect to borrowings, the possibility either that the Fund’s return will fall if the interest rate on any borrowings rises, or that income will fluctuate because the interest rate of borrowings varies.

If the market value of the Fund’s leveraged currency investments declines, the leverage will result in a greater decrease in NAV, or less of an increase in NAV, than if the Fund were not leveraged. To the extent that the Fund is required or elects to prepay any borrowings, the Fund may need to liquidate investments to fund such prepayments.

Liquidation at times of adverse economic conditions may result in capital losses and may reduce returns.

(d) Foreign Currency Translation and Forward Currency Contracts—The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in US dollars. Portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated daily into US dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange. Purchases and sales of securities, income receipts and expense payments are translated into US dollars at the prevailing exchange rates on the respective transaction dates.

The Fund does not isolate the portion of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in their market prices. Such fluctuations are included in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments. Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions and forward currency contracts represents net foreign currency gain (loss) from forward currency contracts, disposition of foreign currencies, currency gain (loss) realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amount of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s accounting records and the US dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency translations reflects the impact of changes in exchange rates on the value of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, during the period.

A forward currency contract is an agreement between two parties to buy or sell currency at a set price on a future date. Upon entering into these contracts, risks may arise from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from unanticipated movements in the value of the foreign currency relative to the US dollar.

The US dollar value of forward currency contracts is determined using quotations provided by an independent pricing service. Daily fluctuations in the value of such contracts are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward currency contracts. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain (loss) equal to the difference between the value at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

(e) Federal Income Taxes—The Fund’s policy is to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and to distribute all of its taxable income, including any net realized capital gains, to stockholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

At December 31, 2017, the Fund had unused realized capital loss carryovers which, for federal income tax purposes,

could be used to offset future realized capital gains with no expiration date as follows:

Under current tax law, post-October capital losses or certain late-year ordinary losses, as defined by the Code, within the taxable year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. For the tax year ended December 31, 2017, the Fund had no such losses to defer.

For federal income tax purposes, the aggregate cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation, aggregate gross unrealized depreciation and the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) were as follows:

Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions, and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on tax returns filed for any open tax years (or expected to be taken on future tax returns). Open tax years are those that remain subject to examination and are based on each tax jurisdiction’s statute of limitations. The Fund files a U.S. federal income tax return annually after its fiscal year-end, which is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years from the date of filing.

(f) Dividends and Distributions—The Fund intends to declare and to pay dividends monthly. Distributions to stockholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. During any particular year, net realized gains from investment transactions in excess of available capital loss carryforwards would be taxable to the Fund, if not distributed. The Fund intends to declare and distribute these amounts, at least annually, to stockholders; however, to avoid taxation, a second distribution may be required.

Income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations which may differ from GAAP. These book/tax differences, which may result in distribution reclassifications, are primarily due to differing treatments of foreign currency and fixed-income transactions, wash sales, and distributions from real estate investment trusts and other corporations. The book/tax differences relating to stockholder distributions resulted in reclassifications among certain capital accounts as follows:

The Fund has implemented a Level Distribution Policy to seek to maintain a stable monthly distribution, subject to oversight of the Fund’s Board. Under the Fund’s Level Distribution Policy, the Fund intends to make regular monthly distributions at a fixed rate per share. If for any monthly distribution, net investment income and net realized short-term capital gain were less than the amount of the distribution, the difference would generally be distributed from the Fund’s assets. In addition, in order to make such distributions, the Fund might have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such actions.

In July 2010, the Investment Manager, on behalf of itself and the Fund, received an exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) facilitating the implementation of a distribution policy that may include multiple long-term capital gains distributions (“Managed Distribution Policy”). As a result, the Fund may, subject to the determination of its Board, implement a Managed Distribution Policy.

Concurrent with the monthly distributions paid throughout the year, the Fund issues any required notices pursuant to Section 19(a) of the 1940 Act (the “Section 19(a) Notices”), each stating that the Fund has distributed more than its then-current net investment income. For 2017, $0.0285 of the $0.7254 per share distributed was a return of capital. The Section 19(a) Notices may also be viewed at www.lazardassetmanagement.com.

The amounts and sources of distributions shown on the Section 19(a) Notices are only estimates and are not provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the cumulative distributions for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investments during the year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send stockholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year explaining how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the years ended December 31, were as follows:

At December 31, 2017, the components of distributable earnings and unrealized appreciation, on a tax basis, were as follows:

(g) Allocation of Expenses—Expenses common to the Fund, The Lazard Funds, Inc., Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. and Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc. (each a “Lazard Fund” and collectively, the “Lazard Fund Complex”), each a registered management investment company advised by the Investment Manager, not directly chargeable to one or more specific Lazard Funds are allocated to the Fund primarily on the basis of relative net assets.

(h) Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets resulting from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(i) Net Asset Value—NAV per share for the Fund is determined each day the NYSE is open for trading as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The Fund will not treat an intraday unscheduled disruption in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE, and will price its shares as of 4:00 p.m., if the particular disruption directly affects only the NYSE. NAV per share is determined by dividing the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liabilities, by the total number of Fund shares outstanding.

3. Investment Management Agreement

The Fund has entered into a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Investment Manager. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Investment Manager regularly provides the Fund with investment research, advice and supervision and furnishes continuously an investment program for the Fund consistent with its investment objective and policies, including the purchase, retention and disposition of securities, and provides the Fund with administrative, operational and compliance assistance services.

The Fund has agreed to pay the Investment Manager an annual investment management fee of 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily “Total Leveraged Assets” (the Fund’s total

assets including Financial Leverage (defined below)) for the services and facilities provided by the Investment Manager, payable on a monthly basis. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the effective annualized management fee, as a percentage of the Fund’s average net assets, was 1.17%.

The fee paid to the Investment Manager will be higher when the Investment Manager uses Currency Commitments (defined below) and Borrowings (defined below) (“Financial Leverage”) to make Currency Investments (defined below), rather than by reducing the percentage of “Net Assets” (the Fund’s assets without taking into account Financial Leverage) invested in World Equity Investments for the purposes of making Currency Investments. “World Equity Investments” refers to investments in the Fund’s world equity strategy consisting of approximately 60 to 90 securities, broadly diversified in both developed and emerging market countries and across the capitalization spectrum. “Currency Investments” refers to investments in the Fund’s emerging income strategy, consisting of emerging market currencies (primarily by entering into forward currency contracts), or instruments whose value is derived from the performance of an underlying emerging market currency, but also may invest in debt obligations, including government, government agency and corporate obligations and structured notes denominated in emerging market currencies. “Currency Commitments” are the aggregate financial exposures created by forward currency contracts in excess of that represented in the Fund’s Net Assets, and “Borrowings” refers to the borrowings under the Fund’s credit facility. Assuming Financial Leverage in the amount of 33⅓% of the Fund’s Total Leveraged Assets, the annual fee payable to the Investment Manager would be 1.28% of Net Assets (i.e., not including amounts attributable to Financial Leverage).

The following is an example of this calculation of the Investment Manager’s fee, using very simple illustrations. If the Fund had assets of $1,000, it could invest $1,000 in World Equity Investments and enter into $500 in forward currency contracts (because the Fund would not have to pay money at the time it enters into the currency contracts). Similarly, the Fund could invest $1,000 in World Equity Investments, borrow $500 and invest the $500 in foreign currency denominated bonds. In either case, the Investment Manager’s fee would be calculated based on $1,500 of assets, because the fee is calculated based on Total Leveraged Assets (Net Assets plus Financial Leverage). In our example, the Financial Leverage is in the form of either the forward currency contracts (Currency Commitments) or investments from Borrowings. The amount of the Financial Leverage outstanding, and therefore the amount of Total Leveraged Assets on which the

Investment Manager’s fee is based, fluctuates daily based on changes in value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, including changes in value of the currency involved in the forward currency contracts and foreign currency denominated bonds acquired with the proceeds of Borrowings. However, the Investment Manager’s fee will be the same regardless of whether Currency Investments are made with Currency Commitments or with Borrowings (without taking into account the cost of Borrowings).

This method of calculating the Investment Manager’s fee is different than the way closed-end investment companies typically calculate management fees. Traditionally, closed-end investment companies calculate management fees based on Net Assets plus Borrowings (excluding Financial Leverage obtained through Currency Commitments). The Investment Manager’s fee is different because the Fund’s leverage strategy is different than the leverage strategy employed by many other closed-end investment companies. Although the Fund may employ Borrowings in making Currency Investments, the Fund’s leverage strategy relies primarily on Currency Commitments, rather than relying exclusively on borrowing money and/or issuing preferred stock, as is the strategy employed by most closed-end investment companies. The Investment Manager’s fee would be lower if its fee were calculated only on Net Assets plus Borrowings, because the Investment Manager would not earn fees on Currency Investments made with Currency Commitments (forward currency contracts). Using the example above, where the Fund has assets of $1,000 and invests $1,000 in World Equity Investments and $500 in forward currency contracts, the following table illustrates how the Investment Manager’s fee would be different if it did not earn management fees on these types of Currency Investments. A discussion of the most recent review and approval by the Fund’s Board of the Management Agreement (including the method of calculating the Investment Manager’s fee) is included under “Other Information—Board Consideration of Management Agreement” in the Fund’s semi-annual report for the period ended June 30, 2017.

Investment Manager Fee Conflict Risk—The fee paid to the Investment Manager for investment management services will be higher when the Fund uses Financial Leverage, whether through forward currency contracts or Borrowings, because the fee paid will be calculated on the basis of the Fund’s assets including this Financial Leverage. Consequently, the Investment Manager may have a financial interest for the Fund to utilize such Financial Leverage, which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager and the stockholders of the Fund.

The Fund has implemented procedures to monitor this potential conflict.

4. Administration and Custody Agreements

State Street provides the Fund with custody and certain fund administration and accounting services.

In December 2015, State Street announced that it had identified inconsistencies in the way in which clients were invoiced for custody out-of-pocket expenses from 1998 until 2015. The dollar amount difference between what was charged and what should have been charged, plus interest, was recorded as a reimbursement when determined in 2016.

5. Directors’ Compensation

Certain Directors of the Fund are officers of the Investment Manager. For the year ended December 31, 2017, each Director who is not an affiliated person of the Investment Manager or any of its affiliates was paid by the Lazard Fund Complex: (1) an annual retainer of $210,000, (2) an additional annual fee of $30,000 to the lead Independent Director (an “Independent Director” is a Director who is not an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund), and (3) an additional annual fee of $20,000 to the Audit Committee Chair. Effective January 1, 2018, the aggregate compensation for Independent Directors for the Lazard Fund Complex is comprised of: (1) an annual retainer of $225,000, (2) an additional annual fee of $32,500 to the lead Independent Director, and (3) an additional annual fee of $22,500 to the Audit Committee Chair. The Independent Directors may be paid additional compensation for participation on ad hoc committees or other work performed on behalf of the Board. The Independent Directors also are reimbursed for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses for attending Board and committee meetings. The Directors do not receive benefits from the Fund pursuant to any pension, retirement or similar arrangement. Independent Directors’ fees are allocated among the portfolios in the Lazard Fund Complex at a rate of $5,000 per portfolio with the remainder allocated based upon each portfolio’s proportionate share of combined net assets. The

Statement of Operations shows the Independent Directors’ fees and expenses paid by the Fund.

6. Securities Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments) for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $65,920,510 and $70,979,947, respectively.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Fund did not engage in any cross-trades in accordance with Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, and no brokerage commissions were paid to affiliates of the Investment Manager or other affiliates of the Fund for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.

7. Line of Credit

The Fund has a $20 million Line of Credit Agreement (the “Agreement”) with State Street primarily to borrow to invest Fund assets in Currency Investments. The Fund may borrow the lesser of $20 million or 33⅓% of its Total Leveraged Assets. Interest on borrowings is payable at the higher of the Federal Funds rate or the reserve adjusted LIBOR rate plus 0.95%, on an annualized basis. Under the Agreement, the Fund has agreed to pay a 0.15% per annum fee on the unused portion of the commitment (0.25% per annum if the unused portion is equal to or exceeds 25% of the committed line amount), payable quarterly in arrears. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Fund had borrowings under the Agreement as follows:

* For the 365 days borrowings were outstanding.

Management believes that the fair value of the liability under the line of credit is equivalent to the recorded amount based on its short-term maturity and interest rate, which fluctuates with LIBOR. The line of credit outstanding balance as of December 31, 2017 is categorized as Level 2 (see Note 10).

8. Investment Risks

(a) Non-US Securities Risk—The Fund’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Fund invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.

(b) Emerging Market Risk—Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. The risks may include less protection of property rights and uncertain political and economic policies, the imposition of capital controls and/or foreign investment limitations by a country, nationalization of businesses and the imposition of sanctions by other countries, such as the US. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.

(c) Foreign Currency Risk—Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Fund’s currency investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Fund’s foreign currency exposure.

(d) Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk—The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening.

Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in rates will adversely affect debt securities and, accordingly, will cause the value of the Fund’s investments in these securities to decline. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Fund may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the US and other

countries are at or near historic lows. During periods of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell debt securities at prices at or near their perceived value. Economic and other developments can adversely affect debt securities markets.

The Fund’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher-rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Fund’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The prices of high yield securities can fall in response to negative news about the issuer or its industry, or the economy in general to a greater extent than those of higher-rated securities. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.

Some fixed-income securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity. If securities held by the Fund are called during a time of declining interest rates (which is typically the case when issuers exercise options to call outstanding securities), the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Fund may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates).

(e) Derivatives and Hedging Risk—Derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Fund investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Over-the-counter swap agreements, forward currency contracts, writing or purchasing over-the-counter options on securities (including options on exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded notes), indexes and currencies and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty and can be illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded futures and options in which the

Fund may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related index, commodity, interest rate, currency, security or other reference asset. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Fund’s performance. Purchasing options will reduce returns by the amount of premiums paid for options that are not exercised. In fact, many derivatives may be subject to greater risks than those associated with investing directly in the underlying or other reference asset. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of derivatives, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market and, for hedging activities, correlation of the derivative instruments used with the investments seeking to be hedged. Use of derivatives transactions, even when entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Fund to experience losses greater than if the Fund had not engaged in such transactions.

9. Contractual Obligations

The Fund enters into contracts in the normal course of business that contain a variety of indemnification provisions. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

10. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an asset, or would pay to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the date of measurement. The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures provisions of GAAP also establish a framework for measuring fair value, and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurement that is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer, broadly, to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Fund. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy for the assets and liabilities of the Fund is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant

to the overall fair value measurement. The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

Changes in valuation technique may result in transfers into or out of the current assigned level within the hierarchy.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in these securities.

In connection with the implementation of fair value pricing procedures with respect to non-US securities (see Note 2(a)), certain equity securities can transfer from Level 1 to Level 2 as a result of fair value pricing procedures and would revert to Level 1 when the fair value pricing procedures are no longer used. Accordingly, a significant portion of the Fund’s investments are categorized as Level 2 investments. The Fund recognizes all transfers between levels as though they were transferred at the beginning of the reporting period.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, securities valued at $2,365,900 were transferred from Level 1 to Level 2.

There were no other transfers into or out of Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the year ended December 31, 2017.

For further information regarding security characteristics see Portfolio of Investments.

11. Derivative Instruments

The Fund may use derivative instruments, including forward currency contracts, to gain exposure to the local currency and interest rates of emerging markets or to hedge certain types of currency exposure.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the approximate average monthly notional exposure for derivative instruments was as follows:

The following table summarizes the fair value of derivative instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2017: