UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORMN-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number:811-02383
AB BOND FUND, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Joseph J. Mantineo
AllianceBernstein L.P.
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 221-5672
Date of fiscal year end: September 30, 2019
Date of reporting period: March 31, 2019
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
MAR 03.31.19
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO
Beginning January 1, 2021, as permitted by new regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website address to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically at any time by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by calling the Fund at (800) 221 5672.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper form free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports; if you invest directly with the Fund, you can call the Fund at (800) 221 5672. Your election to receive reports in paper form will apply to all funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly, to all AB Mutual Funds you hold.
Investment Products Offered | • Are Not FDIC Insured• May Lose Value• Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For copies of our prospectus or summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.abfunds.com or contact your AB representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.
This shareholder report must be preceded or accompanied by the Fund’s prospectus for individuals who are not current shareholders of the Fund.
You may obtain a description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent12-month period ended June 30, without charge. Simply visit AB’s website at www.abfunds.com, or go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800) 227 4618.
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT may also be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC; information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC 0330. AB publishes full portfolio holdings for the Fund monthly at www.abfunds.com.
AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (ABI) is the distributor of the AB family of mutual funds. ABI is a member of FINRA and is an affiliate of AllianceBernstein L.P., the Adviser of the funds.
The [A/B] logo is a registered service mark of AllianceBernstein and AllianceBernstein® is a registered service mark used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.
FROM THE PRESIDENT |
Dear Shareholder,
We are pleased to provide this report for AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio (the “Fund”). Please review the discussion of Fund performance, the market conditions during the reporting period and the Fund’s investment strategy.
As always, AB strives to keep clients ahead of what’s next by:
+ | Transforming uncommon insights into uncommon knowledge with a global research scope |
+ | Navigating markets with seasoned investment experience and sophisticated solutions |
+ | Providing thoughtful investment insights and actionable ideas |
Whether you’re an individual investor or a multi-billion-dollar institution, we put knowledge and experience to work for you.
AB’s global research organization connects and collaborates across platforms and teams to deliver impactful insights and innovative products. Better insights lead to better opportunities—anywhere in the world.
For additional information about AB’s range of products and shareholder resources, please log on to www.abfunds.com.
Thank you for your investment in the AB Mutual Funds.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Keith
President and Chief Executive Officer, AB Mutual Funds
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 1 |
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
May 14, 2019
This report provides management’s discussion of fund performance for AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio for the semi-annual reporting period ended March 31, 2019.
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek the highest level of income that is available without assuming what the Adviser considers to be undue risk to principal.
NAV RETURNS AS OF MARCH 31, 2019(unaudited)
6 Months | 12 Months | |||||||
AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | ||||||||
Class A Shares | 2.45% | 4.60% | ||||||
Class C Shares | 2.07% | 3.72% | ||||||
Advisor Class Shares1 | 2.58% | 4.77% | ||||||
Bloomberg Barclays Global High Yield1-5 Year Index (USD hedged) | 2.70% | 4.53% |
1 | Please note that this share class is for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certainfee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Fund. |
INVESTMENT RESULTS
The table above shows the Fund’s performance compared to its benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays Global High Yield1-5 Year Index (USD hedged), for thesix- and12-month periods ended March 31, 2019.
During thesix-month period, all share classes of the Fund underperformed the benchmark, before sales charges. Industry allocation detracted, relative to the benchmark, primarily due to underweight positions in real estate investment trusts and sovereigns. Yield-curve positioning also weighed on performance, particularly an underweight intwo-year maturities along the US yield curve. Security selection added to returns, helped most by selections within energy and telecommunications. Country allocation (a result ofbottom-up security analysis combined with fundamental research) also contributed. Currency positioning did not have a significant impact on overall returns in the period.
During the12-month period, Class A and Advisor Class shares outperformed the benchmark, while Class C underperformed, before sales charges. Security decisions contributed to performance, as gains from selection within energy outweighed losses from selection within other consumer cyclicals and consumernon-cyclicals. Industry positioning
2 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
boosted returns further, helped by an underweight to sovereigns and the Fund’s utilization of total return swap derivatives. Country allocation was also positive. The Fund’s short duration exposures in the eurozone and the UK detracted, as yields there mostly rose during the period. Currency positioning did not did not meaningfully affect overall performance.
During both periods, the Fund utilized currency forwards and currency options, both purchased and written, to hedge currency exposure as well as to manage active currency risk. Purchased and written equity options were used to hedge market exposure. Interest rate swaps and treasury futures were used to manage duration, country exposure and yield-curve positioning. Equity futures were used to hedge active risk. Total return swaps, purchased credit default swap swaptions and credit default swaps, both single name and index, were used to hedge high-yield credit risk as well as to take active credit and growth risk.
MARKET REVIEW AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Fixed-income markets generally performed well over thesix-month period ended March 31, 2019. Concerns regarding global trade tensions, geopolitical uncertainty and tighter monetary policy gave way torisk-on sentiment following a more dovish US Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), trade-talk progress and Chinese policy stimulus. Developed-market treasuries rallied, outpacing the positive returns of investment-grade securities and global high yield. Although slowing Chinese growth andUS-China trade tensions weighed on emerging-market debt performance during the first part of the period, emerging-market debt sectors ultimately rallied, a function of positive idiosyncratic developments and a more favorable macro backdrop.
After quarterly rate increases in 2018, the Fed surprised markets with a dovish pivot during the first quarter of 2019. Markets around the globe reacted positively to the Fed’s tightening pause. Following the Fed surprise, and compounded by signs of slowing global economic growth, the US Treasury curve inverted—temporarily—along the three-month to10-year portion at the end of the period. Although the European Central Bank formally ended its bond-buying program, the bank also turned more dovish in 2019, citing a continent-wide economic slowdown, and pushed out any rate hikes until at least 2020. The Bank of Japan downgraded its view of the economy due to concerns about weak global growth negatively affecting the country’s exports and industrial output.
The Fund’s Senior Investment Management Team (the “Team”) continues to utilize its high-quality strategy that seeks attractive returns with less volatility than traditional high-yield approaches. The Team seeks to manage interest-rate risk by maintaining an average duration of less than four years. The Fund’s primary investments are high-yield corporate fixed-income securities from developed and emerging markets, particularly lower rated, investment-grade and unrated debt securities.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 3 |
INVESTMENT POLICIES
The Fund invests primarily in fixed-income securities, with an emphasis on corporate fixed-income securities rated below investment-grade (commonly known as “junk bonds”), unrated securities considered by the Adviser to be of comparable quality, and related derivatives. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will maintain a dollar-weighted average duration of less than four years, although it may invest in individual fixed-income securities with durations in excess of four years.
The Fund may also invest in investment-grade fixed-income securities, high-yield securities of governments and government-related issuers, loan participations and, to a lesser extent, equity securities and derivatives related to these instruments. The Fund will not invest more than 10% of its net assets in securities rated at or below Caa1 by Moody’s Investors Service, CCC+ by S&P Global Ratings or CCC by Fitch Ratings at the time of purchase. (For the purpose of this 10% limit, the Fund will rely on the highest rating from any of the three rating agencies, and the notional amount of derivatives related to these instruments will be counted.)
The Fund will invest on a global basis, including securities of issuers in both developed- and emerging-market countries. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, although it expects to use hedging instruments frequently to attempt to limit the currency exposure resulting from such investments.
The Fund expects to use derivatives, such as options, futures contracts, forwards and swaps, to a significant extent. Derivatives may provide more efficient and economical exposure to market segments than direct investments, and may also be a quicker and more efficient way to alter the Fund’s exposure. For example, the Fund may use credit default and interest rate swaps to gain exposure to the fixed-income markets. In determining when and to what extent to enter into derivative transactions, the Adviser will consider factors such as the risks and returns of these investments relative to direct investments and the costs of such transactions. Derivatives such as options and forwards may also be used for hedging purposes, including to hedge against interest-rate, credit market and currency fluctuations.
4 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
DISCLOSURES AND RISKS
Benchmark Disclosure
The Bloomberg Barclays Global High Yield1-5 Year Index (USD hedged) is unmanaged and does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. The Bloomberg Barclays Global High Yield1-5 Year Index represents the performance ofnon-investment grade fixed-income securities in the US, developed and emerging markets with more than one year and less than five years remaining until maturity, hedged to the US dollar. An investor cannot invest directly in an index, and its results are not indicative of the performance for any specific investment, including the Fund.
A Word About Risk
Market Risk: The value of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate as the stock, bond, currency and commodity markets fluctuate. The value of its investments may decline, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, simply because of economic changes or other events that affect large portions of the market.
Interest-Rate Risk: Changes in interest rates will affect the value of investments in fixed-income securities. When interest rates rise, the value of existing investments in fixed-income securities tends to fall and this decrease in value may not be offset by higher income from new investments. Interest-rate risk is generally greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations.
Credit Risk: An issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives or other contract, may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The issuer, guarantor or counterparty may default, causing a loss of the full principal amount of a security and accrued interest. The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. There is the possibility that the credit rating of a fixed-income security may be downgraded after purchase, which may adversely affect the value of the security.
Below Investment-Grade Securities Risk: Investments in fixed-income securities with lower ratings (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments and negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally and may be more difficult to trade or dispose of than other types of securities.
Duration Risk: Duration is a measure that relates the expected price volatility of a fixed-income security to changes in interest rates. The duration of a fixed-income security may be shorter than or equal to full maturity of a
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 5 |
DISCLOSURES AND RISKS(continued)
fixed-income security. Fixed-income securities with longer durations have more risk and will decrease in price as interest rates rise.
Inflation Risk: This is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the value of the Fund’s assets can decline as can the value of the Fund’s distributions. This risk is significantly greater if the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in fixed-income securities with longer maturities.
Derivatives Risk: Derivatives may be difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund. Derivatives may also be subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments.
Foreign(Non-US) Risk: Investments in securities ofnon-US issuers may involve more risk than those of US issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be more difficult to trade or dispose of due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.
Emerging-Market Risk: Investments in emerging-market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid, and because these investments may be subject to increased economic, political, regulatory and other uncertainties.
Currency Risk: Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce its returns.
Illiquid Investments Risk: Illiquid investments risk exists when certain investments become difficult to purchase or sell. Difficulty in selling such investments may result in sales at disadvantageous prices affecting the value of your investment in the Fund. Causes of illiquid investments risk may include low trading volumes, large positions and heavy redemptions of Fund shares. Over recent years illiquid investments risk has also increased because the capacity of dealers in the secondary market for fixed-income securities to make markets in these securities has decreased, even as the overall bond market has grown significantly, due to, among other things, structural changes, additional regulatory requirements and capital and risk restraints that have led to reduced inventories. Illiquid investments risk may be higher in a rising interest-rate environment, when the value and liquidity of fixed-income securities generally decline.
Management Risk: The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment fund. The Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results.
6 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
DISCLOSURES AND RISKS(continued)
These risks are fully discussed in the Fund’s prospectus. As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
An Important Note About Historical Performance
The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate, so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown in this report represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance information shown. You may obtain performance information current to the most recentmonth-end by visiting www.abfunds.com.
All fees and expenses related to the operation of the Fund have been deducted. Net asset value (“NAV”) returns do not reflect sales charges; if sales charges were reflected, the Fund’s quoted performance would be lower. SEC returns reflect the applicable sales charges for each share class: a 4.25% maximumfront-end sales charge for Class A shares and a 1%1-year contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares. Returns for the different share classes will vary due to different expenses associated with each class. Performance assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 7 |
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE
AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS AS OF MARCH 31, 2019(unaudited)
NAV Returns | SEC Returns (reflects applicable sales charges) | SEC Yields1 | ||||||||||
CLASS A SHARES | 3.67% | |||||||||||
1 Year | 4.60% | 0.20% | ||||||||||
5 Years | 3.12% | 2.23% | ||||||||||
Since Inception2 | 4.67% | 4.06% | ||||||||||
CLASS C SHARES | 3.09% | |||||||||||
1 Year | 3.72% | 2.72% | ||||||||||
5 Years | 2.36% | 2.36% | ||||||||||
Since Inception2 | 3.90% | 3.90% | ||||||||||
ADVISOR CLASS SHARES3 | 4.10% | |||||||||||
1 Year | 4.77% | 4.77% | ||||||||||
5 Years | 3.39% | 3.39% | ||||||||||
Since Inception2 | 4.94% | 4.94% |
The Fund’s current prospectus fee table shows the Fund’s total annual operating expense ratios as 1.05%, 1.80% and 0.80% for Class A, Class C and Advisor Class shares, respectively, gross of any fee waivers or expense reimbursements. Contractual fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements limit the Fund’s annual operating expense ratios exclusive of expenses associated with acquired fund fees and expenses of any AB mutual funds in which the Fund may invest, interest expense, taxes, extraordinary expenses, and brokerage commissions and other transaction costs to 0.95%, 1.70% and 0.70% for Class A, Class C and Advisor Class shares, respectively. These waivers/reimbursements may not be terminated before January 31, 2020. Absent reimbursements or waivers, performance would have been lower. The Financial Highlights section of this report sets forth expense ratio data for the current reporting period; the expense ratios shown above may differ from the expense ratios in the Financial Highlights section since they are based on different time periods.
1 | SEC yields are calculated based on SEC guidelines for the30-day period ended March 31, 2019. |
2 | Inception date: 12/7/2011. |
3 | This share class is offered at NAV to eligible investors and the SEC returns are the same as the NAV returns. Please note that this share class is for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certainfee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Fund. |
8 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE(continued)
SEC AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS
AS OF THE MOST RECENT CALENDARQUARTER-END
MARCH 31, 2019(unaudited)
SEC Returns (reflects applicable sales charges) | ||||
CLASS A SHARES | ||||
1 Year | 0.20% | |||
5 Years | 2.23% | |||
Since Inception1 | 4.06% | |||
CLASS C SHARES | ||||
1 Year | 2.72% | |||
5 Years | 2.36% | |||
Since Inception1 | 3.90% | |||
ADVISOR CLASS SHARES2 | ||||
1 Year | 4.77% | |||
5 Years | 3.39% | |||
Since Inception1 | 4.94% |
1 | Inception date: 12/7/2011. |
2 | Please note that this share class is for investors purchasing shares through accounts established under certainfee-based programs sponsored and maintained by certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries, institutional pension plans and/or investment advisory clients of, and certain other persons associated with, the Adviser and its affiliates or the Fund. |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 9 |
EXPENSE EXAMPLE
(unaudited)
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution(12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period as indicated below.
Actual Expenses
The table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table below also provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed annual rate of return of 5% before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds by comparing this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), or contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions. Therefore, the hypothetical example is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
10 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
EXPENSE EXAMPLE(continued)
Beginning Account Value October 1, 2018 | Ending Account Value March 31, 2019 | Expenses Paid During Period* | Annualized Expense Ratio* | Total Expenses Paid During Period+ | Total Annualized Expense Ratio+ | |||||||||||||||||||
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,024.50 | $ | 4.80 | 0.95 | % | $ | 4.85 | 0.96 | % | ||||||||||||
Hypothetical** | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,020.14 | $ | 4.78 | 0.95 | % | $ | 4.84 | 0.96 | % | ||||||||||||
Class C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,020.70 | $ | 8.56 | 1.70 | % | $ | 8.61 | 1.71 | % | ||||||||||||
Hypothetical** | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,016.40 | $ | 8.55 | 1.70 | % | $ | 8.60 | 1.71 | % | ||||||||||||
Advisor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,025.80 | $ | 3.54 | 0.70 | % | $ | 3.59 | 0.71 | % | ||||||||||||
Hypothetical** | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,021.39 | $ | 3.53 | 0.70 | % | $ | 3.58 | 0.71 | % | ||||||||||||
Class R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,024.20 | $ | 6.06 | 1.20 | % | $ | 6.06 | 1.20 | % | ||||||||||||
Hypothetical** | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,018.95 | $ | 6.04 | 1.20 | % | $ | 6.04 | 1.20 | % | ||||||||||||
Class K | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,025.50 | $ | 4.80 | 0.95 | % | $ | 4.80 | 0.95 | % | ||||||||||||
Hypothetical** | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,020.19 | $ | 4.78 | 0.95 | % | $ | 4.78 | 0.95 | % | ||||||||||||
Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,025.80 | $ | 3.54 | 0.70 | % | $ | 3.54 | 0.70 | % | ||||||||||||
Hypothetical** | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,021.44 | $ | 3.53 | 0.70 | % | $ | 3.53 | 0.70 | % |
* | Expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
** | Assumes 5% annual return before expenses. |
+ | In connection with the Fund’s investments in affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios, the Fund incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Fund’s total expenses are equal to the classes’ annualized expense ratio plus the Fund’s pro rata share of the weighted average expense ratio of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying portfolios in which it invests, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 11 |
PORTFOLIO SUMMARY
March 31, 2019(unaudited)
PORTFOLIO STATISTICS
Net Assets ($mil): $256.9
1 | All data are as of March 31, 2019. The Fund’s security type breakdown is expressed as a percentage of total investments and may vary over time. The Fund also enters into derivative transactions, which may be used for hedging or investment purposes (see “Portfolio of Investments” section of the report for additional details). |
12 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
March 31, 2019(unaudited)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
CORPORATES –NON-INVESTMENT GRADE – 46.7% | �� | |||||||||||
Industrial – 40.8% | ||||||||||||
Basic – 4.4% | ||||||||||||
Axalta Coating Systems LLC | U.S.$ | 300 | $ | 302,679 | ||||||||
Berry Global, Inc. | 645 | 665,253 | ||||||||||
CF Industries, Inc. | 896 | 937,144 | ||||||||||
Constellium NV | 250 | 255,203 | ||||||||||
Eldorado Gold Corp. | 233 | 228,533 | ||||||||||
FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty Ltd. | 980 | 982,509 | ||||||||||
5.125%,3/15/23-5/15/24(a) | 340 | 339,754 | ||||||||||
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. | 805 | 798,834 | ||||||||||
Grinding Media,Inc./Moly-Cop AltaSteel Ltd. | 329 | 316,083 | ||||||||||
Lecta SA | EUR | 298 | 310,882 | |||||||||
Novelis Corp. | U.S.$ | 283 | 289,090 | |||||||||
OCI NV | EUR | 300 | 355,034 | |||||||||
Peabody Energy Corp. | U.S.$ | 1,430 | 1,439,181 | |||||||||
Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC/Reynolds Group Issuer Lu | 1,433 | 1,458,149 | ||||||||||
Sealed Air Corp. | 1,200 | 1,237,236 | ||||||||||
Valvoline, Inc. | 73 | 74,209 | ||||||||||
WR Grace & Co.-Conn | 1,381 | 1,425,717 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
11,415,490 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Capital Goods – 2.8% | ||||||||||||
ARD Finance SA | EUR | 255 | 289,748 | |||||||||
Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc. | U.S.$ | 888 | 888,568 | |||||||||
6.75%, 5/15/24(a) | EUR | 398 | 473,244 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 13 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Ball Corp. | U.S.$ | 700 | $ | 704,907 | ||||||||
Bombardier, Inc. | 26 | 26,241 | ||||||||||
6.125%, 1/15/23(a) | 390 | 394,953 | ||||||||||
7.50%, 3/15/25(a) | 26 | 26,757 | ||||||||||
BWAY Holding Co. | EUR | 900 | 1,030,767 | |||||||||
Clean Harbors, Inc. | U.S.$ | 795 | 796,582 | |||||||||
Cleaver-Brooks, Inc. | 139 | 129,559 | ||||||||||
Colfax Corp. | 194 | 201,987 | ||||||||||
Crown European Holdings SA | EUR | 116 | 134,599 | |||||||||
GFL Environmental, Inc. | U.S.$ | 405 | 392,878 | |||||||||
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc. | 503 | 516,194 | ||||||||||
TA MFG. Ltd. | EUR | 695 | 793,891 | |||||||||
Tervita Escrow Corp. | U.S.$ | 450 | 447,745 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
7,248,620 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Communications - Media – 5.6% | ||||||||||||
Altice Financing SA | 1,193 | 1,219,723 | ||||||||||
Altice Luxembourg SA | 718 | 718,043 | ||||||||||
AMC Networks, Inc. | 898 | 908,749 | ||||||||||
5.00%, 4/01/24 | 711 | 715,444 | ||||||||||
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp. | 614 | 612,883 | ||||||||||
5.25%, 9/30/22 | 936 | 953,690 | ||||||||||
CSC Holdings LLC | 716 | 729,489 | ||||||||||
6.75%, 11/15/21 | 346 | 369,774 | ||||||||||
DISH DBS Corp. | 144 | 144,913 | ||||||||||
6.75%, 6/01/21 | 391 | 403,383 | ||||||||||
7.875%, 9/01/19 | 606 | 615,351 | ||||||||||
Lamar Media Corp. | 671 | 680,481 |
14 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Netflix, Inc. | U.S.$ | 954 | $ | 1,001,070 | ||||||||
Radiate Holdco LLC/Radiate Finance, Inc. | 119 | 117,798 | ||||||||||
RR Donnelley & Sons Co. | 19 | 19,378 | ||||||||||
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. | 718 | 718,057 | ||||||||||
6.125%, 10/01/22 | 745 | 760,094 | ||||||||||
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. | 850 | 848,683 | ||||||||||
4.625%, 5/15/23(a) | 130 | 131,422 | ||||||||||
6.00%, 7/15/24(a) | 125 | 129,529 | ||||||||||
TEGNA, Inc. | 1,398 | 1,405,353 | ||||||||||
Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC | 743 | 764,889 | ||||||||||
5.25%, 1/15/26(a) | 335 | 336,983 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
14,305,179 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Communications - Telecommunications – 3.4% | ||||||||||||
Altice France SA/France | EUR | 535 | 619,641 | |||||||||
CBT-Mobile USA, Inc. | U.S.$ | 731 | – 0 | – | ||||||||
6.50%, 1/15/24(c)(d)(e)(f) | 235 | – 0 | – | |||||||||
CenturyLink, Inc. | 464 | 482,978 | ||||||||||
Series T | 260 | 265,585 | ||||||||||
DKT Finance ApS | EUR | 215 | 261,404 | |||||||||
9.375%, 6/17/23(a) | U.S.$ | 200 | 214,824 | |||||||||
Frontier Communications Corp. | 343 | 243,602 | ||||||||||
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA | 927 | 1,068,015 | ||||||||||
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | 883 | 888,687 | ||||||||||
Level 3 Parent LLC | 953 | 963,826 | ||||||||||
Sable International Finance Ltd. | 271 | 282,209 | ||||||||||
Sprint Communications, Inc. | 667 | 686,216 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 15 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
T-Mobile USA, Inc. | U.S.$ | 731 | $ | 751,570 | ||||||||
6.375%, 3/01/25 | 125 | 130,211 | ||||||||||
6.50%, 1/15/24 | 235 | 244,174 | ||||||||||
Wind Tre SpA | EUR | 972 | 1,059,048 | |||||||||
Zayo Group LLC/Zayo Capital, Inc. | U.S.$ | 602 | 609,790 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
8,771,780 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Automotive – 0.5% | ||||||||||||
IHO Verwaltungs GmbH | 200 | 200,284 | ||||||||||
Meritor, Inc. | 400 | 412,040 | ||||||||||
Panther BF Aggregator 2 LP/Panther Finance Co., Inc. | EUR | 110 | 125,685 | |||||||||
6.25%, 5/15/26(a) | U.S.$ | 48 | 48,961 | |||||||||
8.50%, 5/15/27(a) | 254 | 254,836 | ||||||||||
Tenneco, Inc. | EUR | 230 | 269,974 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
1,311,780 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Entertainment – 0.7% | ||||||||||||
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. | U.S.$ | 664 | 674,710 | |||||||||
NCL Corp., Ltd. | 1,069 | 1,082,470 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
1,757,180 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Other – 3.5% | ||||||||||||
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. | 804 | 840,727 | ||||||||||
Cirsa Finance International SARL | EUR | 108 | 128,074 | |||||||||
Eldorado Resorts, Inc. | U.S.$ | 252 | 255,251 | |||||||||
Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower LLC/Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower, Inc. | 743 | 772,400 | ||||||||||
International Game Technology PLC | 250 | 260,275 | ||||||||||
KB Home | 144 | 154,411 | ||||||||||
7.625%, 5/15/23 | 355 | 386,286 | ||||||||||
8.00%, 3/15/20 | 265 | 275,913 |
16 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc./ILG LLC | U.S.$ | 380 | $ | 398,335 | ||||||||
MGM Resorts International | 302 | 319,628 | ||||||||||
6.625%, 12/15/21 | 916 | 980,981 | ||||||||||
7.75%, 3/15/22 | 96 | 106,119 | ||||||||||
PulteGroup, Inc. | 1,367 | 1,382,215 | ||||||||||
Rivers Pittsburgh Borrower LP/Rivers Pittsburgh Finance Corp. | 43 | 43,155 | ||||||||||
Samsonite Finco SARL | EUR | 100 | 112,016 | |||||||||
Samsonite Finco Sarl | 115 | 128,818 | ||||||||||
Shea Homes LP/Shea Homes Funding Corp. | U.S.$ | 1,137 | 1,119,047 | |||||||||
Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc./Taylor Morrison Holdings II, Inc. | 896 | 896,717 | ||||||||||
Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp. | 395 | 390,418 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
8,950,786 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Restaurants – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Stonegate Pub Co. Financing PLC | GBP | 394 | 513,473 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Retailers – 2.3% | ||||||||||||
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. | U.S.$ | 497 | 512,482 | |||||||||
Group 1 Automotive, Inc. | 1,377 | 1,388,883 | ||||||||||
Hanesbrands, Inc. | 710 | 712,286 | ||||||||||
L Brands, Inc. | 490 | 515,402 | ||||||||||
7.00%, 5/01/20 | 155 | 161,102 | ||||||||||
Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | 1,393 | 1,419,996 | ||||||||||
Sonic Automotive, Inc. | 1,043 | 1,006,370 | ||||||||||
William Carter Co. (The) | 110 | 111,444 | ||||||||||
5.625%, 3/15/27(a) | 143 | 147,984 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
5,975,949 | ||||||||||||
|
|
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 17 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
ConsumerNon-Cyclical – 3.5% | ||||||||||||
Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc. | U.S.$ | 578 | $ | 584,219 | ||||||||
Albertsons Cos. LLC/Safeway, Inc./New Albertsons LP/Albertson’s LLC | 257 | 260,017 | ||||||||||
Bausch Health Cos., Inc. | 555 | 558,230 | ||||||||||
6.50%, 3/15/22(a) | 439 | 454,299 | ||||||||||
CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. | 956 | 939,270 | ||||||||||
DaVita, Inc. | 790 | 781,120 | ||||||||||
5.75%, 8/15/22 | 161 | 164,049 | ||||||||||
First Quality Finance Co., Inc. | 1,610 | 1,608,777 | ||||||||||
HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 260 | 273,221 | ||||||||||
Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | 685 | 706,194 | ||||||||||
Kinetic Concepts, Inc./KCI USA, Inc. | 897 | 919,613 | ||||||||||
Mallinckrodt International Finance SA/Mallinckrodt CB LLC | 3 | 2,832 | ||||||||||
RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings, Inc. | 82 | 87,369 | ||||||||||
Tenet Healthcare Corp. | 388 | 393,793 | ||||||||||
4.75%, 6/01/20 | 125 | 126,561 | ||||||||||
6.00%, 10/01/20 | 582 | 603,924 | ||||||||||
Vizient, Inc. | 475 | 515,926 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
8,979,414 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Energy – 5.5% | ||||||||||||
California Resources Corp. | 290 | 227,914 | ||||||||||
Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. | 560 | 551,236 | ||||||||||
8.25%, 7/15/25 | 125 | 129,904 | ||||||||||
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC | 511 | 576,342 | ||||||||||
Chesapeake Energy Corp. | 275 | 268,128 | ||||||||||
7.00%, 10/01/24 | 550 | 548,537 |
18 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
Covey Park Energy LLC/Covey Park Finance Corp. | U.S.$ | 68 | $ | 63,148 | ||||||
DCP Midstream Operating LP | 1,011 | 1,038,085 | ||||||||
Denbury Resources, Inc. | 375 | 364,661 | ||||||||
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. | 450 | 385,294 | ||||||||
Genesis Energy LP/Genesis Energy Finance Corp. | 108 | 103,711 | ||||||||
6.75%, 8/01/22 | 642 | 658,056 | ||||||||
Gulfport Energy Corp. | 400 | 362,624 | ||||||||
Hess Infrastructure Partners LP/Hess Infrastructure Partners Finance Corp. | 195 | 198,319 | ||||||||
HighPoint Operating Corp. | 545 | 518,448 | ||||||||
Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co. | 520 | 506,475 | ||||||||
Murphy Oil USA, Inc. | 50 | 51,342 | ||||||||
Nabors Industries, Inc. | 906 | 893,262 | ||||||||
Nine Energy Service, Inc. | 283 | 292,277 | ||||||||
Noble Holding International Ltd. | 45 | 40,516 | ||||||||
PBF Holding Co. LLC/PBF Finance Corp. | 135 | 138,564 | ||||||||
QEP Resources, Inc. | 344 | 325,286 | ||||||||
5.375%, 10/01/22 | 328 | 320,404 | ||||||||
Range Resources Corp. | 1,092 | 1,067,084 | ||||||||
5.875%, 7/01/22 | 31 | 31,414 | ||||||||
Sanchez Energy Corp. | 480 | 386,184 | ||||||||
SemGroup Corp. | 403 | 390,676 | ||||||||
SemGroup Corp./Rose Rock Finance Corp. | 241 | 238,289 | ||||||||
SM Energy Co. | 115 | 115,202 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 19 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Sunoco LP/Sunoco Finance Corp. | U.S.$ | 1,150 | $ | 1,168,101 | ||||||||
Transocean Phoenix 2 Ltd. | 272 | 287,115 | ||||||||||
Transocean, Inc. | 485 | 517,063 | ||||||||||
Weatherford International Ltd. | 415 | 373,919 | ||||||||||
Whiting Petroleum Corp. | 1,081 | 1,093,150 | ||||||||||
WPX Energy, Inc. | 11 | 11,418 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
14,242,148 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Other Industrial – 1.2% | ||||||||||||
Algeco Global Finance PLC | EUR | 109 | 127,402 | |||||||||
8.00%, 2/15/23(a) | U.S.$ | 251 | 251,876 | |||||||||
Global Partners LP/GLP Finance Corp. | 866 | 859,591 | ||||||||||
7.00%, 6/15/23 | 417 | 412,630 | ||||||||||
KAR Auction Services, Inc. | 264 | 260,666 | ||||||||||
LKQ Corp. | 292 | 292,803 | ||||||||||
Rexel SA | EUR | 225 | 259,451 | |||||||||
Travis Perkins PLC | GBP | 485 | 646,710 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
3,111,129 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Services – 2.3% | ||||||||||||
APX Group, Inc. | U.S.$ | 1,276 | 1,280,440 | |||||||||
Aramark Services, Inc. | 141 | 144,920 | ||||||||||
Arena Luxembourg Finance SARL | EUR | 109 | 125,229 | |||||||||
Carlson Travel, Inc. | U.S.$ | 816 | 816,082 | |||||||||
eDreams ODIGEO SA | EUR | 169 | 187,233 | |||||||||
Intertrust Group BV | 400 | 458,751 | ||||||||||
Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co. | U.S.$ | 560 | 560,616 | |||||||||
5.00%, 4/15/22(a) | 680 | 671,588 |
20 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance, Inc. | U.S.$ | 431 | $ | 452,994 | ||||||||
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc. | 85 | 86,887 | ||||||||||
Sabre GLBL, Inc. | 166 | 169,527 | ||||||||||
5.375%, 4/15/23(a) | 792 | 811,024 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
5,765,291 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Technology – 3.0% | ||||||||||||
ADT Security Corp. (The) | 868 | 836,283 | ||||||||||
Amkor Technology, Inc. | 305 | 310,103 | ||||||||||
CommScope Finance LLC | 827 | 846,831 | ||||||||||
Dell International LLC/EMC Corp. | 542 | 552,027 | ||||||||||
7.125%, 6/15/24(a) | 211 | 223,654 | ||||||||||
First Data Corp. | 1,284 | 1,313,211 | ||||||||||
Infor US, Inc. | 545 | 553,546 | ||||||||||
IQVIA, Inc. | EUR | 248 | 284,225 | |||||||||
4.875%, 5/15/23(a) | U.S.$ | 673 | 684,993 | |||||||||
Iron Mountain, Inc. | 294 | 295,752 | ||||||||||
6.00%, 8/15/23 | 521 | 535,333 | ||||||||||
Solera LLC/Solera Finance, Inc. | 195 | 211,370 | ||||||||||
Veritas US, Inc./Veritas Bermuda Ltd. | 558 | 536,439 | ||||||||||
Xerox Corp. | 426 | 415,401 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
7,599,168 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Transportation - Services – 1.9% | ||||||||||||
EC Finance PLC | EUR | 225 | 255,549 | |||||||||
Europcar Mobility Group | 871 | 1,001,471 | ||||||||||
Herc Rentals, Inc. | U.S.$ | 243 | 253,182 | |||||||||
Hertz Corp. (The) | 145 | 137,521 | ||||||||||
7.375%, 1/15/21 | 948 | 948,663 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 21 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Hertz Holdings Netherlands BV | EUR | 221 | $ | 255,929 | ||||||||
Loxam SAS | 112 | 127,934 | ||||||||||
4.25%, 4/15/24(a) | 105 | 123,473 | ||||||||||
6.00%, 4/15/25(a) | 320 | 377,439 | ||||||||||
Park Aerospace Holdings Ltd. | U.S.$ | 155 | 154,222 | |||||||||
XPO Logistics, Inc. | 1,311 | 1,322,510 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
4,957,893 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
104,905,280 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Financial Institutions – 4.5% | ||||||||||||
Banking – 2.2% | ||||||||||||
Ally Financial, Inc. | 380 | 381,353 | ||||||||||
4.125%,3/30/20-2/13/22 | 506 | 509,768 | ||||||||||
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA | EUR | 200 | 218,180 | |||||||||
Banco Santander SA | 600 | 714,274 | ||||||||||
Barclays PLC | 340 | 410,496 | ||||||||||
8.00%, 6/15/24(g) | U.S.$ | 340 | 348,075 | |||||||||
CIT Group, Inc. | 108 | 112,632 | ||||||||||
5.25%, 3/07/25 | 746 | 794,386 | ||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC | 900 | 838,746 | ||||||||||
Societe Generale SA | 386 | 399,166 | ||||||||||
8.00%, 9/29/25(a)(g) | 386 | 411,183 | ||||||||||
UniCredit SpA | EUR | 427 | 528,725 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
5,666,984 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Brokerage – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
LPL Holdings, Inc. | U.S.$ | 385 | 390,255 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Finance – 1.2% | ||||||||||||
goeasy Ltd. | 626 | 656,693 |
22 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Lincoln Finance Ltd. | EUR | 204 | $ | 233,347 | ||||||||
7.375%, 4/15/21(a) | U.S.$ | 200 | 203,662 | |||||||||
Navient Corp. | 506 | 508,915 | ||||||||||
6.50%, 6/15/22 | 496 | 517,695 | ||||||||||
7.25%, 9/25/23 | 137 | 145,373 | ||||||||||
8.00%, 3/25/20 | 296 | 307,858 | ||||||||||
SLM Corp. | 449 | 441,062 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
3,014,605 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Insurance – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Polaris Intermediate Corp. | 270 | 267,557 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Other Finance – 0.7% | ||||||||||||
Intrum AB | EUR | 731 | 807,700 | |||||||||
LHC3 PLC | 572 | 651,129 | ||||||||||
Lincoln Financing SARL | 327 | 370,506 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
1,829,335 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
REITS – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP/MGP FinanceCo-Issuer, Inc. | U.S.$ | 371 | 387,250 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
11,555,986 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Utility – 1.4% | ||||||||||||
Electric – 1.0% | ||||||||||||
AES Corp./VA | 829 | 839,462 | ||||||||||
Calpine Corp. | 140 | 139,230 | ||||||||||
6.00%, 1/15/22(a) | 719 | 728,520 | ||||||||||
Talen Energy Supply LLC | 2 | 1,928 | ||||||||||
9.50%, 7/15/22(a) | 849 | 917,803 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
2,626,943 | ||||||||||||
|
|
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 23 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Natural Gas – 0.4% | ||||||||||||
NGL Energy Partners LP/NGL Energy Finance Corp. | U.S.$ | 944 | $ | 977,040 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
3,603,983 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Corporates –Non-Investment Grade | 120,065,249 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
CORPORATES – INVESTMENT GRADE – 24.3% | ||||||||||||
Industrial – 16.1% | ||||||||||||
Basic – 2.2% | ||||||||||||
Anglo American Capital PLC | 1,323 | 1,310,339 | ||||||||||
ArcelorMittal | 780 | 841,511 | ||||||||||
Equate Petrochemical BV | 505 | 496,067 | ||||||||||
Glencore Finance Canada Ltd. | 610 | 627,287 | ||||||||||
Glencore Finance Europe Ltd. | EUR | 290 | 337,835 | |||||||||
Glencore Funding LLC | U.S.$ | 300 | 305,826 | |||||||||
Gold Fields Orogen Holdings BVI Ltd. | 242 | 244,658 | ||||||||||
INEOS Finance PLC | EUR | 353 | 401,126 | |||||||||
Mosaic Co. (The) | U.S.$ | 1,130 | 1,132,859 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
5,697,508 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Capital Goods – 1.2% | ||||||||||||
CNH Industrial Capital LLC | 648 | 666,163 | ||||||||||
CNH Industrial NV | 854 | 887,101 | ||||||||||
Masco Corp. | 572 | 612,984 | ||||||||||
Rolls-Royce PLC | EUR | 791 | 931,439 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
3,097,687 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Communications - Media – 0.8% | ||||||||||||
Cox Communications, Inc. | U.S.$ | 484 | 471,774 |
24 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Omnicom Group, Inc./Omnicom Capital, Inc. | U.S.$ | 407 | $ | 403,642 | ||||||||
Time Warner Cable LLC | 769 | 781,427 | ||||||||||
Warner Media LLC | 434 | 410,998 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
2,067,841 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Communications - Telecommunications – 0.9% | ||||||||||||
Hughes Satellite Systems Corp. | 665 | 668,504 | ||||||||||
Qwest Corp. | 265 | 281,621 | ||||||||||
Sprint Spectrum Co. LLC/Sprint Spectrum Co. II LLC/Sprint Spectrum Co. III LLC | 1,385 | 1,400,041 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
2,350,166 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Automotive – 1.5% | ||||||||||||
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV | 456 | 460,884 | ||||||||||
General Motors Financial Co., Inc. | 852 | 887,068 | ||||||||||
Schaeffler Finance BV | 469 | 475,243 | ||||||||||
Volkswagen International Finance NV | EUR | 800 | 901,196 | |||||||||
ZF North America Capital, Inc. | U.S.$ | 751 | 750,940 | |||||||||
4.75%, 4/29/25(a) | 400 | 389,484 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
3,864,815 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Entertainment – 0.4% | ||||||||||||
Carnival Corp. | EUR | 785 | 930,238 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Other – 1.2% | ||||||||||||
Lennar Corp. | U.S.$ | 150 | 150,024 | |||||||||
MDC Holdings, Inc. | 645 | 657,449 | ||||||||||
Standard Industries, Inc./NJ | 295 | 300,664 | ||||||||||
5.50%, 2/15/23(a) | 964 | 980,542 | ||||||||||
Toll Brothers Finance Corp. | 867 | 870,451 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 25 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
5.875%, 2/15/22 | U.S.$ | 237 | $ | 249,160 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
3,208,290 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
ConsumerNon-Cyclical – 2.1% | ||||||||||||
CVS Health Corp. | 488 | 500,908 | ||||||||||
HCA, Inc. | 608 | 652,001 | ||||||||||
6.50%, 2/15/20 | 416 | 427,943 | ||||||||||
McKesson Corp. | EUR | 845 | 958,770 | |||||||||
MEDNAX, Inc. | U.S.$ | 809 | 818,837 | |||||||||
Mylan NV | 240 | 239,263 | ||||||||||
Mylan, Inc. | 467 | 456,446 | ||||||||||
Smithfield Foods, Inc. | 370 | 362,352 | ||||||||||
Tyson Foods, Inc. | 180 | 184,052 | ||||||||||
4.35%, 3/01/29 | 199 | 205,754 | ||||||||||
Universal Health Services, Inc. | 480 | 485,525 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
5,291,851 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Energy – 3.0% | ||||||||||||
Andeavor Logistics LP/Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp. | 470 | 483,738 | ||||||||||
Antero Resources Corp. | 651 | 654,795 | ||||||||||
Cenovus Energy, Inc. | 386 | 377,913 | ||||||||||
3.80%, 9/15/23 | 30 | 29,980 | ||||||||||
Energy Transfer Operating LP | 509 | 520,290 | ||||||||||
7.50%, 10/15/20 | 501 | 532,543 | ||||||||||
EQM Midstream Partners LP | 204 | 206,109 | ||||||||||
Murphy Oil Corp. | 296 | 296,921 | ||||||||||
Newfield Exploration Co. | 319 | 340,424 | ||||||||||
ONEOK, Inc. | 323 | 328,704 |
26 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC | U.S.$ | 387 | $ | 426,424 | ||||||||
Southern Star Central Corp. | 2,000 | 1,999,600 | ||||||||||
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) | 679 | 683,875 | ||||||||||
3.70%, 1/15/23 | 814 | 827,895 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
7,709,211 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Services – 0.7% | ||||||||||||
IHS Markit Ltd. | 1,446 | 1,509,118 | ||||||||||
Total System Services, Inc. | 333 | 339,773 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
1,848,891 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Technology – 1.9% | ||||||||||||
Agilent Technologies, Inc. | 495 | 511,944 | ||||||||||
Broadcom, Inc. | 390 | 386,950 | ||||||||||
4.25%, 4/15/26 | 390 | 387,118 | ||||||||||
Ingram Micro, Inc. | 89 | 87,719 | ||||||||||
NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC | 537 | 546,752 | ||||||||||
4.625%, 6/01/23(a) | 509 | 529,548 | ||||||||||
Sanmina Corp. | 1,209 | 1,210,475 | ||||||||||
Seagate HDD Cayman | 79 | 76,824 | ||||||||||
4.875%, 3/01/24 | 536 | 534,724 | ||||||||||
Western Digital Corp. | 571 | 546,145 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
4,818,199 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Transportation - Services – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
United Rentals North America, Inc. | 402 | 409,333 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
41,294,030 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Financial Institutions – 8.1% | ||||||||||||
Banking – 6.0% | ||||||||||||
ABN AMRO Bank NV | 787 | 843,869 | ||||||||||
7.75%, 5/15/23(i) | 200 | 228,900 | ||||||||||
American Express Credit Corp. | EUR | 696 | 793,870 | |||||||||
BBVA Bancomer SA/Texas | U.S.$ | 520 | 541,642 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 27 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
BNP Paribas SA | U.S.$ | 383 | $ | 391,196 | ||||||||
7.625%, 3/30/21(a)(g) | 383 | 402,207 | ||||||||||
Capital One Bank USA, NA | 509 | 508,206 | ||||||||||
Citigroup Capital XVIII | GBP | 643 | 767,672 | |||||||||
Citigroup, Inc. | EUR | 369 | 419,319 | |||||||||
Compass Bank | U.S.$ | 687 | 679,484 | |||||||||
Cooperatieve Rabobank UA | EUR | 500 | 596,710 | |||||||||
Credit Agricole SA | U.S.$ | 442 | 445,487 | |||||||||
Credit Agricole SA/London | 323 | 324,547 | ||||||||||
Credit Suisse Group Funding Guernsey Ltd. | EUR | 960 | 1,106,355 | |||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG/New York NY | U.S.$ | 598 | 588,671 | |||||||||
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | EUR | 801 | 947,312 | |||||||||
ING Bank NV | U.S.$ | 705 | 759,955 | |||||||||
Lloyds Banking Group PLC | GBP | 410 | 564,827 | |||||||||
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | U.S.$ | 345 | 345,483 | |||||||||
Morgan Stanley | 662 | 708,545 | ||||||||||
Nordea Bank Abp | 419 | 418,824 | ||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC | 344 | 366,914 | ||||||||||
6.10%, 6/10/23 | 681 | 723,379 | ||||||||||
Santander Holdings USA, Inc. | 345 | 343,354 | ||||||||||
Santander UK PLC | 263 | 270,088 | ||||||||||
Standard Chartered PLC | 506 | 532,823 | ||||||||||
UBS Group Funding Switzerland AG | 802 | 822,836 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
15,442,475 | ||||||||||||
|
|
28 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Insurance – 0.4% | ||||||||||||
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. | EUR | 843 | $ | 965,929 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
REITS – 1.7% | ||||||||||||
EPR Properties | U.S.$ | 650 | 685,561 | |||||||||
GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc. | 106 | 107,520 | ||||||||||
5.375%, 11/01/23 | 1,024 | 1,073,019 | ||||||||||
HCP, Inc. | 344 | 352,366 | ||||||||||
4.20%, 3/01/24 | 58 | 60,008 | ||||||||||
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. | 325 | 332,007 | ||||||||||
Regency Centers LP | 400 | 405,704 | ||||||||||
Sabra Health Care LP/Sabra Capital Corp. | 889 | 897,917 | ||||||||||
5.50%, 2/01/21 | 316 | 320,158 | ||||||||||
Spirit Realty LP | 303 | 298,840 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
4,533,100 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
20,941,504 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Utility – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Electric – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
DPL, Inc. | 219 | 222,384 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Corporates – Investment Grade | 62,457,918 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
BANK LOANS – 8.7% | ||||||||||||
Industrial – 8.4% | ||||||||||||
Basic – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Berry Global, Inc. (fka Berry Plastics Corporation) | 288 | 286,741 | ||||||||||
Foresight Energy LLC | 161 | 157,540 | ||||||||||
Starfruit Finco B.V. (Starfruit US Holdco LLC) (fka AkzoNobel) | 98 | 95,977 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
540,258 | ||||||||||||
|
|
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 29 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Capital Goods – 1.2% | ||||||||||||
Accudyne Industries Borrower S.C.A. / Accudyne Industries, LLC (fka Silver II US Holdings, LLC) | U.S.$ | 210 | $ | 209,905 | ||||||||
Apex Tool Group, LLC | 956 | 926,678 | ||||||||||
Brookfield WEC Holdings Inc. (fka Westinghouse Electric Company LLC) | 366 | 365,226 | ||||||||||
Gardner Denver, Inc. | 89 | 88,537 | ||||||||||
Gates Global LLC | 358 | 353,224 | ||||||||||
GFL Environmental Inc. | 389 | 375,019 | ||||||||||
Honeywell Technologies SÃ rl (fka Garrett Motion Inc.) | 144 | 140,946 | ||||||||||
Transdigm Inc. | 681 | 664,797 | ||||||||||
Welbilt, Inc. (fka Manitowoc Foodservice, Inc.) | 58 | 57,056 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
3,181,388 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Communications - Media – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Townsquare Media, Inc. | 397 | 391,928 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Communications - Telecommunications – 0.3% | ||||||||||||
Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A. | 90 | 89,989 | ||||||||||
6.989% (LIBOR 1 Month + 4.50%), | 54 | 53,790 |
30 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
West Corporation | U.S.$ | 517 | $ | 483,746 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
627,525 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Automotive – 0.5% | ||||||||||||
Dana Incorporated | 528 | 522,720 | ||||||||||
Navistar Financial Corporation | 521 | 520,181 | ||||||||||
Navistar, Inc. | 106 | 105,573 | ||||||||||
Panther BF Aggregator 2 LP | 41 | 40,143 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
1,188,617 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Entertainment – 0.4% |
| |||||||||||
Seaworld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. (fka SW Acquisitions Co., Inc.) | 1,028 | 1,016,489 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Other – 0.8% |
| |||||||||||
Caesars Resort Collection, LLC (fka Caesars Growth Properties Holdings, LLC) | 435 | 428,318 | ||||||||||
Golden Nugget, Inc. (fka Landry’s Inc.) | 523 | 517,796 | ||||||||||
5.249% (LIBOR 1 Month + 2.75%), | 656 | 649,029 | ||||||||||
Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc. | 356 | 354,024 | ||||||||||
Stars Group Holdings B.V. | 192 | 191,898 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
2,141,065 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Restaurants – 0.8% |
| |||||||||||
1011778 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company (New Red Finance, Inc.) (fka Burger King/Tim Hortons) | 1,812 | 1,781,502 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 31 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
IRB Holding Corp. (fka Arby’s / Buffalo Wild Wings) | U.S.$ | 224 | $ | 218,439 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
1,999,941 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Retailers – 0.1% |
| |||||||||||
Specialty Building Products Holdings, LLC | 300 | 292,129 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
ConsumerNon-Cyclical – 2.5% |
| |||||||||||
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. | 385 | 380,945 | ||||||||||
Air Medical Group Holdings, Inc. | 1,470 | 1,382,082 | ||||||||||
Alphabet Holding Company, Inc. (fka Nature’s Bounty) | 615 | 497,561 | ||||||||||
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, LLC | 408 | 355,915 | ||||||||||
athenahealth, Inc. | 496 | 488,918 | ||||||||||
BI-LO, LLC | 295 | 284,992 | ||||||||||
10.739% (LIBOR 3 Month + 8.00%), | 310 | 298,763 | ||||||||||
10.783% (LIBOR 3 Month + 8.00%), | 310 | 298,763 | ||||||||||
Envision Healthcare Corporation | 278 | 259,582 | ||||||||||
Horizon Pharma, Inc. | 703 | 702,068 | ||||||||||
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. | 309 | 307,457 | ||||||||||
Post Holdings, Inc. | 122 | 120,501 |
32 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Regionalcare Hospital Partners Holdings, Inc. | U.S.$ | 912 | $ | 900,747 | ||||||||
Vizient, Inc. | 83 | 82,623 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
6,360,917 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Energy – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
California Resources Corporation | 545 | 573,580 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Other Industrial – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
HD Supply Waterworks, LTD. | 62 | 61,820 | ||||||||||
Travelport Finance (Luxembourg) S.Ã r.l. | 439 | 438,809 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
500,629 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Services – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Camelot U.S. Acquisition 1 Co. (fka Thomson Reuters Intellectual Property & Science) | 194 | 192,467 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Technology – 0.8% | ||||||||||||
Avaya Inc. | 75 | 74,221 | ||||||||||
6.734% (LIBOR 2 Month + 4.25%), | 123 | 122,742 | ||||||||||
Boxer Parent Company Inc. (fka BMC Software, Inc.) | 798 | 780,580 | ||||||||||
MTS Systems Corporation | 364 | 359,966 | ||||||||||
Solera, LLC (Solera Finance, Inc.) | 679 | 672,638 | ||||||||||
Veritas US Inc. | 78 | 71,696 | ||||||||||
7.101% (LIBOR 3 Month + 4.50%), | 22 | 20,107 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
2,101,950 | ||||||||||||
|
|
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 33 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Transportation - Services – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Avolon TLB Borrower 1 (US) LLC | U.S.$ | 371 | $ | 367,697 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
21,476,580 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Financial Institutions – 0.3% | ||||||||||||
Insurance – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC | 532 | 514,685 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Other Finance – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
PI UK Holdco II Limited | 405 | 396,789 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
911,474 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Bank Loans | 22,388,054 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
EMERGING MARKETS – SOVEREIGNS – 3.0% | ||||||||||||
Angola – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Angolan Government International Bond | 225 | 255,938 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Bahamas – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Bahamas Government International Bond | 250 | 262,500 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Bahrain – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Bahrain Government International Bond | 370 | 396,825 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Dominican Republic – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Dominican Republic International Bond | 620 | 644,800 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Ecuador – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Ecuador Government International Bond | 493 | 548,550 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Egypt – 0.3% | ||||||||||||
Egypt Government International Bond | 380 | 384,750 | ||||||||||
6.20%, 3/01/24(a) | 380 | 384,298 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
769,048 | ||||||||||||
|
|
34 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
El Salvador – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
El Salvador Government International Bond | U.S.$ | 300 | $ | 316,500 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Gabon – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Gabon Government International Bond | 270 | 258,188 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Honduras – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Honduras Government International Bond | 380 | 399,950 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Ivory Coast – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Ivory Coast Government International Bond | 260 | 254,150 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Jamaica – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Jamaica Government International Bond | 240 | 267,048 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Kenya – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Kenya Government International Bond | 240 | 239,400 | ||||||||||
6.875%, 6/24/24(a) | 240 | 246,300 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
485,700 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Lebanon – 0.1% |
| |||||||||||
Lebanon Government International Bond | 210 | 182,619 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Mongolia – 0.1% |
| |||||||||||
Mongolia Government International Bond | 260 | 259,759 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Nigeria – 0.3% |
| |||||||||||
Nigeria Government International Bond | 720 | 766,800 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Oman – 0.1% |
| |||||||||||
Oman Government International Bond | 400 | 382,000 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Senegal – 0.1% |
| |||||||||||
Senegal Government International Bond | 240 | 257,700 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Sri Lanka – 0.2% |
| |||||||||||
Sri Lanka Government International Bond | 260 | 259,718 | ||||||||||
6.85%, 3/14/24(a) | 255 | 259,999 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
519,717 | ||||||||||||
|
|
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 35 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Ukraine – 0.2% |
| |||||||||||
Ukraine Government International Bond | U.S.$ | 530 | $ | 525,760 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Emerging Markets – Sovereigns | 7,753,552 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS – 2.8% | ||||||||||||
Risk Share Floating Rate – 2.8% |
| |||||||||||
Bellemeade Re Ltd. | 185 | 184,988 | ||||||||||
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust | 750 | 755,227 | ||||||||||
Series2019-R01, Class 2M2 | 458 | 458,329 | ||||||||||
Series2019-R02, Class 1M2 | 266 | 267,524 | ||||||||||
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. | 279 | 280,258 | ||||||||||
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. | 700 | 751,169 | ||||||||||
Series 2017-HQA1, Class M2 | 450 | 483,983 | ||||||||||
Series 2018-DNA1, Class M2 | 462 | 451,013 | ||||||||||
Series 2018-HQA1, Class M2 | 114 | 114,107 | ||||||||||
Federal National Mortgage Association Connecticut Avenue Securities | 130 | 148,373 |
36 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Series2015-C04, Class 2M2 | U.S.$ | 184 | $ | 204,618 | ||||||||
Series2016-C01, Class 1M2 | 452 | 523,710 | ||||||||||
Series2016-C01, Class 2M2 | 181 | 207,532 | ||||||||||
Series2016-C04, Class 1M2 | 348 | 382,248 | ||||||||||
Series2016-C05, Class 2M2 | 197 | 214,760 | ||||||||||
Series2016-C07, Class 2M2 | 200 | 218,461 | ||||||||||
Series2017-C03, Class 1M2 | 22 | 23,215 | ||||||||||
Series2017-C07, Class 2M2 | 16 | 16,250 | ||||||||||
Series2018-C01, Class 1M2 | 738 | 742,189 | ||||||||||
PMT Credit Risk Transfer Trust | 411 | 411,940 | ||||||||||
Radnor RE Ltd. | 290 | 291,473 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations | 7,131,367 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
EMERGING MARKETS – TREASURIES – 2.7% | ||||||||||||
Brazil – 2.0% |
| |||||||||||
Brazil Letras do Tesouro Nacional | BRL | 15,120 | 3,736,460 | |||||||||
Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional | 5,728 | 1,544,130 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
5,280,590 | ||||||||||||
|
|
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 37 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Dominican Republic – 0.2% |
| |||||||||||
Dominican Republic International Bond | DOP | 19,200 | $ | 445,680 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
South Africa – 0.5% |
| |||||||||||
Republic of South Africa Government Bond | ZAR | 3,538 | 245,226 | |||||||||
Series R186 10.50%, 12/21/26 | 13,315 | 1,020,181 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
1,265,407 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Emerging Markets – Treasuries | 6,991,677 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES – 1.6% |
| |||||||||||
Other ABS - Fixed Rate – 1.3% |
| |||||||||||
DB Master Finance LLC | U.S.$ | 595 | 595,873 | |||||||||
Marlette Funding Trust Series2018-2A, Class C 4.37%, 7/17/28(a)(c) | 880 | 889,656 | ||||||||||
Series2018-3A, Class C 4.63%, 9/15/28(a)(c) | 756 | 769,638 | ||||||||||
Series2018-4A, Class C 4.91%, 12/15/28(a)(c) | 752 | 768,965 | ||||||||||
Wendy’s Funding LLC | 376 | 370,917 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
3,395,049 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Autos - Fixed Rate – 0.3% |
| |||||||||||
CPS Auto Receivables Trust | 500 | 531,006 | ||||||||||
Hertz Vehicle Financing II LP | 209 | 212,035 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
743,041 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Asset-Backed Securities | 4,138,090 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
EMERGING MARKETS – CORPORATE BONDS – 1.6% | ||||||||||||
Industrial – 1.6% | ||||||||||||
Basic – 0.3% | ||||||||||||
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. | 161 | 162,739 | ||||||||||
7.25%, 5/15/22(a) | 491 | 492,181 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
654,920 | ||||||||||||
|
|
38 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Capital Goods – 0.0% | ||||||||||||
Union Andina de Cementos SAA | U.S.$ | 116 | $ | 118,030 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Communications - | ||||||||||||
MTN Mauritius Investments Ltd. | 820 | 824,674 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Consumer Cyclical - Other – 0.3% | ||||||||||||
Studio City Co., Ltd. | 690 | 694,312 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
ConsumerNon-Cyclical – 0.0% | ||||||||||||
Tonon Luxembourg SA | 266 | 5,854 | ||||||||||
Virgolino de Oliveira Finance SA | 425 | 13,477 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
19,331 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Energy – 0.5% | ||||||||||||
Petrobras Global Finance BV | 784 | 793,212 | ||||||||||
6.25%, 3/17/24 | 311 | 333,936 | ||||||||||
ReNew Power Synthetic | 200 | 201,370 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
1,328,518 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Other Industrial – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
KOC Holding AS | 200 | 193,078 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Transportation - Airlines – 0.1% | ||||||||||||
Guanay Finance Ltd. | 169 | 170,128 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Emerging Markets – Corporate Bonds | 4,002,991 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS – 0.8% | ||||||||||||
CLO - Floating Rate – 0.8% | ||||||||||||
Goldentree Loan Opportunities Ltd. | 520 | 510,065 | ||||||||||
Greywolf CLO VI Ltd. | 550 | 541,748 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 39 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Sound Point CLO XIX Ltd. | U.S.$ | 550 | $ | 540,803 | ||||||||
TIAA CLO II Ltd. | 500 | 498,443 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Collateralized Loan Obligations | 2,091,059 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
GOVERNMENTS – SOVEREIGN BONDS – 0.6% | ||||||||||||
Qatar – 0.3% | ||||||||||||
Qatar Government International Bond | 680 | 699,550 | ||||||||||
4.00%, 3/14/29(a) | 246 | 253,530 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
953,080 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Saudi Arabia – 0.3% | ||||||||||||
Saudi Government International Bond | 685 | 698,529 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Governments – Sovereign Bonds | 1,651,609 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Non-Agency Fixed Rate CMBS – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust | 100 | 94,132 | ||||||||||
UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust | 140 | 139,315 | ||||||||||
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust | 2,673 | 249,803 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
483,250 | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Non-Agency Floating Rate CMBS – 0.0% | ||||||||||||
Great Wolf Trust | 39 | 38,902 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | 522,152 | |||||||||||
|
|
40 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Principal Amount (000) | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
GOVERNMENTS – TREASURIES – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Russia – 0.2% | ||||||||||||
Russian Federal Bond – OFZ | RUB | 30,493 | $ | 463,007 | ||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Notional Amount | ||||||||||||
OPTIONS PURCHASED – PUTS – 0.0% | ||||||||||||
Options on Funds and Investment Trusts – 0.0% | ||||||||||||
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | USD | 13,419,000 | 27,087 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Shares | ||||||||||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.5% | ||||||||||||
Investment Companies – 1.1% | ||||||||||||
AB Fixed Income Shares, Inc. – Government Money Market Portfolio – Class AB, 2.38%(o)(p)(q) | 2,800,062 | 2,800,062 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Principal Amount (000) | ||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills – 0.4% | ||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bill | U.S.$ | 905 | 902,741 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Short-Term Investments | 3,702,803 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Total Investments – 94.7% | 243,386,615 | |||||||||||
Other assets less liabilities – 5.3% | 13,523,636 | |||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Net Assets – 100.0% | $ | 256,910,251 | ||||||||||
|
|
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 41 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
FUTURES (see Note D)
Description | Number of Contracts | Expiration Month | Current Notional | Value and Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | ||||||||||||
Sold Contracts | ||||||||||||||||
Euro-BOBL Futures | 48 | June 2019 | EUR | 7,168,792 | $ | (62,511 | ) |
FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS (see Note D)
Counterparty | Contracts to Deliver (000) | In Exchange For (000) | Settlement Date | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | ||||||||||||
Bank of America, NA | USD | 1,606 | NZD | 2,358 | 4/26/19 | $ | 385 | |||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC | RUB | 32,163 | USD | 485 | 5/16/19 | (1,849 | ) | |||||||||
Citibank, NA | GBP | 2,108 | USD | 2,782 | 4/09/19 | 35,545 | ||||||||||
Citibank, NA | BRL | 1,812 | USD | 455 | 5/03/19 | (7,110 | ) | |||||||||
Goldman Sachs Bank USA | NZD | 2,357 | USD | 1,620 | 4/26/19 | 13,946 | ||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc. | EUR | 19,347 | USD | 22,336 | 4/10/19 | 618,473 | ||||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank | BRL | 1,946 | USD | 499 | 4/02/19 | 2,379 | ||||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank | USD | 502 | BRL | 1,946 | 4/02/19 | (5,435 | ) | |||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank | BRL | 1,946 | USD | 501 | 5/03/19 | 5,446 | ||||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank | USD | 633 | KRW | 707,030 | 5/16/19 | (10,797 | ) | |||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank | USD | 376 | INR | 26,586 | 7/16/19 | 1,727 | ||||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank | BRL | 15,120 | USD | 3,984 | 10/10/19 | 183,846 | ||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | BRL | 1,946 | USD | 501 | 4/02/19 | 3,780 | ||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | USD | 307 | GBP | 230 | 4/09/19 | (7,051 | ) | |||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | EUR | 1,750 | USD | 1,987 | 4/10/19 | 23,823 | ||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | USD | 462 | EUR | 408 | 4/10/19 | (5,365 | ) | |||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | ZAR | 6,738 | USD | 477 | 4/17/19 | 10,492 | ||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | ZAR | 11,493 | USD | 788 | 4/17/19 | (7,311 | ) | |||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | BRL | 2,415 | USD | 624 | 5/03/19 | 8,459 | ||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | CAD | 433 | USD | 324 | 5/09/19 | 259 | ||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | CAD | 419 | USD | 313 | 5/09/19 | (1,009 | ) | |||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | MXN | 4,608 | USD | 239 | 6/13/19 | 4,760 | ||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | USD | 630 | MXN | 12,047 | 6/13/19 | (16,037 | ) | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||
$ | 851,356 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN (see Note D)
Description | Counterparty | Contracts | Exercise Price | Expiration Month | Notional (000) | Premiums Received | U.S. $ Value | |||||||||||||||||||
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(s) | Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. | 497 | USD 264.00 | April 2019 | USD 13,121 | $ | 32,782 | $ | (12,674 | ) |
42 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
CENTRALLY CLEARED CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS (see Note D)
Description | Fixed Rate (Pay) Receive | Payment Frequency | Implied Credit Spread at March 31, 2019 | Notional | Market Value | Upfront Premiums Paid (Received) | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sale Contracts |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-NAHY Series 31, 5 Year Index, 12/20/23* | 5.00 | % | Quarterly | 3.36 | % | USD | 2,839 | $ | 194,150 | $ | 105,656 | $ | 88,494 | |||||||||||||||||||
CDX-NAHY Series 31, 5 Year Index, 12/20/23* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 3.36 | USD | 1,529 | 104,492 | 54,949 | 49,543 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-NAHY Series 32, 5 Year Index, 6/20/24* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 3.49 | USD | 7,733 | 527,678 | 471,275 | 56,403 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
iTraxx-Xover Series 21, 5 Year Index, 6/20/29* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 2.08 | EUR | 3 | 42 | 10 | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
iTraxx-Xover Series 30, 5 Year Index, 12/20/23* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 2.74 | EUR | 152 | 16,850 | 15,020 | 1,830 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
iTraxx-Xover Series 31, 5 Year Index, 6/20/24* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 2.69 | EUR | 1,145 | 141,932 | 134,174 | 7,758 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 985,144 | $ | 781,084 | $ | 204,060 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
* | Termination date |
CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAPS (see Note D)
Rate Type | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notional (000) | Termination Date | Payments made by the Fund | Payments received by the Fund | Payment Frequency Paid/ Received | Market Value | Upfront Premiums Paid (Received) | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |||||||||||||||||||
USD | 4,200 | 5/03/26 | 1.771% | 3 Month LIBOR | | Semi-Annual/ Quarterly |
| $ | 146,439 | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 146,439 | ||||||||||||
USD | 2,680 | 12/16/26 | 2.342% | 3 Month LIBOR | | Semi-Annual/ Quarterly |
| (11,422 | ) | – 0 | – | (11,422 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 135,017 | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 135,017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 43 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS (see Note D)
Swap Counterparty & Referenced Obligation | Fixed Rate (Pay) Receive | Payment Frequency | Implied Credit Spread at March 31, 2019 | Notional | Market Value | Upfront Premiums Paid (Received) | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buy Contracts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse International | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-CMBX.NA.BB Series 6, 5/11/63* | (5.00 | )% | Monthly | 13.95 | % | USD | 540 | $ | 125,241 | $ | 67,953 | $ | 57,288 | |||||||||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs International | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-CMBX.NA.BB Series 6, 5/11/63* | (5.00 | ) | Monthly | 13.95 | USD | 1,190 | 275,994 | 151,581 | 124,413 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Sale Contracts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UPC Holding B.V., 8.375%, 8/15/20, 9/20/19* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 0.13 | EUR | 424 | 11,933 | 13,071 | (1,138 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
UPC Holding B.V., 8.375%, 8/15/20, 9/20/19* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 0.13 | EUR | 326 | 9,179 | 10,042 | (863 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Citibank, NA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UPC Holding B.V., 8.375%, 8/15/20, 9/20/19* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 0.13 | EUR | 670 | 18,860 | 19,987 | (1,127 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Credit Suisse International | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International Game Technology, 4.750% 2/15/23, 6/20/22* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 1.30 | EUR | 410 | 55,458 | 29,232 | 26,226 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB- | 3.00 | Monthly | 7.43 | USD | 315 | (39,822 | ) | (21,255 | ) | (18,567 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB- | 3.00 | Monthly | 7.43 | USD | 1,052 | (132,990 | ) | (72,873 | ) | (60,117 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs International | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC, 5.250% 3/15/25, 12/20/23* | 5.00 | Quarterly | 2.55 | USD | 400 | 40,910 | 38,046 | 2,864 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-CMBX.NA.BB Series 6, 5/11/63* | 5.00 | Monthly | 13.95 | USD | 1,026 | (238,021 | ) | (122,179 | ) | (115,842 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-CMBX.NA.BB Series 6, 5/11/63* | 5.00 | Monthly | 13.95 | USD | 837 | (194,123 | ) | (104,666 | ) | (89,457 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-CMBX.NA.BB Series 6, 5/11/63* | 5.00 | Monthly | 13.95 | USD | 836 | (193,892 | ) | (107,345 | ) | (86,547 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB- | 3.00 | Monthly | 7.43 | USD | 46 | (5,815 | ) | (3,101 | ) | (2,714 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
CDX-CMBX.NA.BBB- | 3.00 | Monthly | 7.43 | USD | 592 | (74,839 | ) | (42,183 | ) | (32,656 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | (341,927 | ) | $ | (143,690 | ) | $ | (198,237 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
* | Termination date |
44 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
TOTAL RETURN SWAPS (see Note D)
Counterparty & Referenced Obligation | Rate Paid/ Received | Payment Frequency | Current Notional | Maturity Date | Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |||||||||||||||||||
Receive Total Return on Reference Obligation |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
iBoxx $ Liquid High Yield Index | LIBOR | Quarterly/Maturity | USD | 1,794 | 6/20/19 | $ | 15,720 | |||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
iBoxx $ Liquid High Yield Index | LIBOR | Quarterly/Maturity | USD | 7,149 | 6/20/19 | 59,259 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 74,979 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
(a) | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities are considered restricted, but liquid and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At March 31, 2019, the aggregate market value of these securities amounted to $110,052,265 or 42.8% of net assets. |
(b) | Pay-In-Kind Payments (PIK). The issuer may pay cash interest and/or interest in additional debt securities. Rates shown are the rates in effect at March 31, 2019. |
(c) | Security in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value. |
(d) | Fair valued by the Adviser. |
(e) | Non-income producing security. |
(f) | Illiquid security. |
(g) | Securities are perpetual and, thus, do not have a predetermined maturity date. The date shown, if applicable, reflects the next call date. |
(h) | Floating Rate Security. Stated interest/floor/ceiling rate was in effect at March 31, 2019. |
(i) | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities, which represent 0.10% of net assets as of March 31, 2019, are considered illiquid and restricted. Additional information regarding such securities follows: |
144A/Restricted & Illiquid Securities | Acquisition Date | Cost | Market Value | Percentage of Net Assets | ||||||||||||
ABN AMRO Bank NV | 3/21/18 | $ | 224,545 | $ | 228,900 | 0.09 | % | |||||||||
Tonon Luxembourg SA | 7/24/15 | 263,580 | 5,854 | 0.00 | % | |||||||||||
Virgolino de Oliveira Finance SA | 3/15/13 | 425,000 | 13,477 | 0.01 | % |
(j) | The stated coupon rate represents the greater of the LIBOR or the LIBOR floor rate plus a spread at March 31, 2019. |
(k) | This position or a portion of this position represents an unsettled loan purchase. The coupon rate will be determined at the time of settlement and will be based upon the London-Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a premium which was determined at the time of purchase. |
(l) | Defaulted. |
(m) | Defaulted matured security. |
(n) | IO—Interest Only. |
(o) | Affiliated investments. |
(p) | To obtain a copy of the fund’s shareholder report, please go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, or call AB at (800)227-4618. |
(q) | The rate shown represents the7-day yield as of period end. |
(r) | Position, or a portion thereof, has been segregated to collateralize OTC derivatives outstanding. |
(s) | One contract relates to 100 shares. |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 45 |
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS(continued)
Currency Abbreviations:
BRL – Brazilian Real CAD – Canadian Dollar DOP – Dominican Peso EUR – Euro GBP – Great British Pound INR – Indian Rupee | KRW – South Korean Won MXN – Mexican Peso NZD – New Zealand Dollar RUB – Russian Ruble USD – United States Dollar ZAR – South African Rand |
Glossary:
ABS – Asset-Backed Securities
BOBL – Bundesobligationen
CDX-CMBX.NA – North American Commercial Mortgage-Backed Index
CDX-NAHY – North American High Yield Credit Default Swap Index
CMBS – Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
ETF – Exchange Traded Fund
LIBOR – London Interbank Offered Rates
REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust
SPDR – Standard & Poor’s Depository Receipt
See notes to financial statements.
46 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES
March 31, 2019(unaudited)
Assets | ||||
Investments in securities, at value | ||||
Unaffiliated issuers (cost $241,753,083) | $ | 240,586,553 | ||
Affiliated issuers (cost $2,800,062) | 2,800,062 | |||
Cash | 9,360,747 | |||
Cash collateral due from broker | 955,989 | |||
Foreign currencies, at value (cost $302,579) | 264,061 | |||
Interest receivable | 2,988,813 | |||
Receivable for capital stock sold | 2,114,010 | |||
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts | 913,320 | |||
Market value on credit default swaps (net premiums paid $329,912) | 537,575 | |||
Receivable for investment securities sold and foreign currency transactions | 332,570 | |||
Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swaps | 82,991 | |||
Unrealized appreciation on total return swaps | 74,979 | |||
Affiliated dividends receivable | 21,578 | |||
Receivable for terminated credit default swaps | 486 | |||
|
| |||
Total assets | 261,033,734 | |||
|
| |||
Liabilities | ||||
Options written, at value (premiums received $32,782) | 12,674 | |||
Payable for investment securities purchased and foreign currency transactions | 2,387,314 | |||
Market value on credit default swaps (net premiums received $473,602) | 879,502 | |||
Payable for capital stock redeemed | 338,519 | |||
Dividends payable | 189,805 | |||
Advisory fee payable | 96,738 | |||
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts | 61,964 | |||
Distribution fee payable | 21,924 | |||
Administrative fee payable | 14,065 | |||
Payable for variation margin on futures | 2,139 | |||
Transfer Agent fee payable | 1,723 | |||
Directors’ fees payable | 663 | |||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 116,453 | |||
|
| |||
Total liabilities | 4,123,483 | |||
|
| |||
Net Assets | $ | 256,910,251 | ||
|
| |||
Composition of Net Assets | ||||
Capital stock, at par | $ | 25,076 | ||
Additionalpaid-in capital | 265,680,993 | |||
Accumulated loss | (8,795,818 | ) | ||
|
| |||
$ | 256,910,251 | |||
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 47 |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES(continued)
Net Asset Value Per Share—30 billion shares of capital stock authorized, $.001 par value
Class | Net Assets | Shares Outstanding | Net Asset Value | |||||||||
| ||||||||||||
A | $ | 17,475,777 | 1,703,583 | $ | 10.26 | * | ||||||
| ||||||||||||
C | $ | 20,669,497 | 2,016,104 | $ | 10.25 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
Advisor | $ | 218,734,707 | 21,352,996 | $ | 10.24 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
R | $ | 10,296 | 1,003.98 | $ | 10.26 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
K | $ | 10,298 | 1,004 | $ | 10.26 | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
I | $ | 9,676 | 943 | $ | 10.26 | |||||||
|
* | The maximum offering price per share for Class A shares was $10.72 which reflects a sales charge of 4.25%. |
See notes to financial statements.
48 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Six Months Ended March 31, 2019(unaudited)
Investment Income | ||||||||
Interest | $ | 5,937,894 | ||||||
Dividends | ||||||||
Affiliated issuers | 154,983 | |||||||
Other income | 950 | $ | 6,093,827 | |||||
|
| |||||||
Expenses | ||||||||
Advisory fee (see Note B) | 687,576 | |||||||
Distribution fee—Class A | 22,187 | |||||||
Distribution fee—Class C | 104,127 | |||||||
Distribution fee—Class R | 25 | |||||||
Distribution fee—Class K | 13 | |||||||
Transfer agency—Class A | 3,736 | |||||||
Transfer agency—Class C | 4,448 | |||||||
Transfer agency—Advisor Class | 44,410 | |||||||
Transfer agency—Class R | 3 | |||||||
Transfer agency—Class K | 3 | |||||||
Transfer agency—Class I | 1 | |||||||
Custodian | 68,181 | |||||||
Audit and tax | 67,188 | |||||||
Administrative | 34,368 | |||||||
Registration fees | 28,442 | |||||||
Printing | 22,528 | |||||||
Legal | 21,107 | |||||||
Directors’ fees | 12,437 | |||||||
Miscellaneous | 11,801 | |||||||
|
| |||||||
Total expenses | 1,132,581 | |||||||
Less: expenses waived and reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note B) | (133,218 | ) | ||||||
|
| |||||||
Net expenses | 999,363 | |||||||
|
| |||||||
Net investment income | 5,094,464 | |||||||
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 49 |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS(continued)
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment and Foreign Currency Transactions | ||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: | ||||||||
Investment transactions | $ | (1,604,563 | ) | |||||
Forward currency exchange contracts | 50,689 | |||||||
Futures | (48,882 | ) | ||||||
Options written | 26,646 | |||||||
Swaps | 697,358 | |||||||
Swaptions written | 58,919 | |||||||
Foreign currency transactions | 650,425 | |||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of: | ||||||||
Investments | 1,258,823 | |||||||
Forward currency exchange contracts | 443,708 | |||||||
Futures | (119,504 | ) | ||||||
Options written | 20,108 | |||||||
Swaps | (306,012 | ) | ||||||
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | (5,198 | ) | ||||||
|
| |||||||
Net gain on investment and foreign currency transactions | 1,122,517 | |||||||
|
| |||||||
Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations | $ | 6,216,981 | ||||||
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
50 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Six Months Ended March 31, 2019 (unaudited) | Year Ended September 30, 2018 | |||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations | ||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 5,094,464 | $ | 10,748,615 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | (169,408 | ) | 1,347,281 | |||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities | 1,291,925 | (5,909,501 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Net increase in net assets from operations | 6,216,981 | 6,186,395 | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||
Class A | (398,692 | ) | (735,706 | ) | ||||
Class C | (387,150 | ) | (692,776 | ) | ||||
Advisor Class | (4,973,879 | ) | (8,938,414 | ) | ||||
Class R | (213 | ) | (344 | ) | ||||
Class K | (226 | ) | (369 | ) | ||||
Class I | (224 | ) | (369 | ) | ||||
Return of capital | ||||||||
Class A | – 0 | – | (36,040 | ) | ||||
Class C | – 0 | – | (33,937 | ) | ||||
Advisor Class | – 0 | – | (437,866 | ) | ||||
Class R | – 0 | – | (17 | ) | ||||
Class K | – 0 | – | (18 | ) | ||||
Class I | – 0 | – | (18 | ) | ||||
Capital Stock Transactions | ||||||||
Net decrease | (8,588,826 | ) | (64,832,818 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total decrease | (8,132,229 | ) | (69,522,297 | ) | ||||
Net Assets | ||||||||
Beginning of period | 265,042,480 | 334,564,777 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
End of period | $ | 256,910,251 | $ | 265,042,480 | ||||
|
|
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 51 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2019(unaudited)
NOTE A
Significant Accounting Policies
AB Bond Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as anopen-end management investment company. The Company, which is a Maryland corporation, operates as a series company comprised of ten portfolios currently in operation. Each portfolio is considered to be a separate entity for financial reporting and tax purposes. This report relates only to the AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio (the “Fund”), a diversified portfolio. The Fund has authorized the issuance of Class A, Class B, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K, Class I, Class T, Class 1 and Class 2 shares. Class B, Class T, Class 1 and Class 2 shares have not been issued. As of March 31, 2019, AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Adviser”) was the sole shareholder of Class R, Class K and Class I shares. Class A shares are sold with afront-end sales charge of up to 4.25% for purchases not exceeding $1,000,000. With respect to purchases of $1,000,000 or more, Class A shares redeemed within one year of purchase may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%. Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1% on redemptions made within the first year after purchase, and 0% after the first year of purchase. Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares ten years after the end of the calendar month of purchase. Advisor Class, Class R, Class K, Class I, Class 1 and Class 2 shares are sold without an initial or contingent deferred sales charge. Advisor Class, Class I and Class 2 shares are not subject to ongoing distribution expenses. All ten classes of shares have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights, except that the classes bear different distribution and transfer agency expenses. Each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its distribution plan. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund.
1. Security Valuation
Portfolio securities are valued at their current market value determined on the basis of market quotations or, if market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable, at “fair value” as determined in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).
52 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
In general, the market values of securities which are readily available and deemed reliable are determined as follows: securities listed on a national securities exchange (other than securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”)) or on a foreign securities exchange are valued at the last sale price at the close of the exchange or foreign securities exchange. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at the last traded price from the previous day. Securities listed on more than one exchange are valued by reference to the principal exchange on which the securities are traded; securities listed only on NASDAQ are valued in accordance with the NASDAQ Official Closing Price; listed or over the counter (“OTC”) market put or call options are valued at the mid level between the current bid and ask prices. If either a current bid or current ask price is unavailable, the Adviser will have discretion to determine the best valuation (e.g., last trade price in the case of listed options); open futures are valued using the closing settlement price or, in the absence of such a price, the most recent quoted bid price. If there are no quotations available for the day of valuation, the last available closing settlement price is used; U.S. Government securities and any other debt instruments having 60 days or less remaining until maturity are generally valued at market by an independent pricing vendor, if a market price is available. If a market price is not available, the securities are valued at amortized cost. This methodology is commonly used for short term securities that have an original maturity of 60 days or less, as well as short term securities that had an original term to maturity that exceeded 60 days. In instances when amortized cost is utilized, the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) must reasonably conclude that the utilization of amortized cost is approximately the same as the fair value of the security. Such factors the Committee will consider include, but are not limited to, an impairment of the creditworthiness of the issuer or material changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service or at a price obtained from one or more of the major broker-dealers. In cases where broker-dealer quotes are obtained, the Adviser may establish procedures whereby changes in market yields or spreads are used to adjust, on a daily basis, a recently obtained quoted price on a security. Swaps and other derivatives are valued daily, primarily using independent pricing services, independent pricing models using market inputs, as well as third party broker-dealers or counterparties. Open end mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share, while exchange traded funds are valued at the closing market price per share.
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities) or are deemed unreliable are valued at fair value as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 53 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
contacting the issuer, analysts, analysis of the issuer’s financial statements or other available documents. In addition, the Fund may use fair value pricing for securities primarily traded innon-U.S. markets because most foreign markets close well before the Fund values its securities at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, may have occurred in the interim and may materially affect the value of those securities. To account for this, the Fund generally values many of its foreign equity securities using fair value prices based on third party vendor modeling tools to the extent available.
2. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with U.S. GAAP regarding fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability (including those valued based on their market values as described in Note A.1 above). 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 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 based on the best information available in the circumstances. Each investment is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs which are significant to the overall valuation. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.
• | Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments |
• | Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• | Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The fair value of debt instruments, such as bonds, andover-the-counter derivatives is generally based on market price quotations, recently executed market transactions (where observable) or industry recognized modeling techniques and are generally classified as Level 2. Pricing vendor inputs to Level 2 valuations may include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, interest rate curves, coupon rates, currency rates, yield curves, option adjusted spreads, default rates, credit spreads and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows
54 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
which are then discounted to calculate fair values. If these inputs are unobservable and significant to the fair value, these investments will be classified as Level 3. In addition,non-agency rated investments are classified as Level 3.
Where readily available market prices or relevant bid prices are not available for certain equity investments, such investments may be valued based on similar publicly traded investments, movements in relevant indices since last available prices or based upon underlying company fundamentals and comparable company data (such as multiples to earnings or other multiples to equity). Where an investment is valued using an observable input, such as another publicly traded security, the investment will be classified as Level 2. If management determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on restrictions on resale, illiquidity or uncertainty, and such adjustment is a significant component of the valuation, the investment will be classified as Level 3. An investment will also be classified as Level 3 where management uses company fundamentals and other significant inputs to determine the valuation.
Options are valued using market-based inputs to models, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, where such inputs and models are available. Alternatively, the values may be obtained through unobservable management determined inputs and/or management’s proprietary models. Where models are used, the selection of a particular model to value an option depends upon the contractual terms of, and specific risks inherent in, the option as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, measures of volatility and correlations of such inputs. Exchange traded options generally will be classified as Level 2. For options that do not trade on exchange but trade in liquid markets, inputs can generally be verified and model selection does not involve significant management judgment. Options are classified within Level 2 on the fair value hierarchy when all of the significant inputs can be corroborated to market evidence. Otherwise such instruments are classified as Level 3.
Valuations of mortgage-backed or other asset-backed securities, by pricing vendors, are based on both proprietary and industry recognized models and discounted cash flow techniques. Significant inputs to the valuation of these instruments are value of the collateral, the rates and timing of delinquencies, the rates and timing of prepayments, and default and loss expectations, which are driven in part by housing prices for residential mortgages. Significant inputs are determined based on relative value analyses, which incorporate comparisons to instruments with similar collateral and risk profiles, including relevant indices. Mortgage and asset-backed securities for which management has collected current observable
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 55 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
data through pricing services are generally categorized within Level 2. Those investments for which current observable data has not been provided are classified as Level 3.
Bank loan prices are provided by third party pricing services and consist of a composite of the quotes received by the vendor into a consensus price. Certain bank loans are classified as Level 3, as significant input used in the fair value measurement of these instruments is the market quotes that are received by the vendor and these inputs are not observable.
Other fixed income investments, includingnon-U.S. government and corporate debt, are generally valued using quoted market prices, if available, which are typically impacted by current interest rates, maturity dates and any perceived credit risk of the issuer. Additionally, in the absence of quoted market prices, these inputs are used by pricing vendors to derive a valuation based upon industry or proprietary models which incorporate issuer specific data with relevant yield/spread comparisons with more widely quoted bonds with similar key characteristics. Those investments for which there are observable inputs are classified as Level 2. Where the inputs are not observable, the investments are classified as Level 3.
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Fund’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of March 31, 2019:
Investments in | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
Assets: |
| |||||||||||||||
Corporates –Non-Investment Grade | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 119,271,358 | $ | 793,891 | (a) | $ | 120,065,249 | ||||||
Corporates – Investment Grade | – 0 | – | 62,457,918 | – 0 | – | 62,457,918 | ||||||||||
Bank Loans | – 0 | – | 19,493,992 | 2,894,062 | 22,388,054 | |||||||||||
Emerging Markets – Sovereigns | – 0 | – | 7,753,552 | – 0 | – | 7,753,552 | ||||||||||
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations | – 0 | – | 7,131,367 | – 0 | – | 7,131,367 | ||||||||||
Emerging Markets – Treasuries | – 0 | – | 6,991,677 | – 0 | – | 6,991,677 | ||||||||||
Asset-Backed Securities | – 0 | – | 743,041 | 3,395,049 | 4,138,090 | |||||||||||
Emerging Markets – Corporate Bonds | – 0 | – | 3,983,660 | 19,331 | 4,002,991 | |||||||||||
Collateralized Loan Obligations | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | 2,091,059 | 2,091,059 | ||||||||||
Governments – Sovereign Bonds | – 0 | – | 1,651,609 | – 0 | – | 1,651,609 | ||||||||||
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | – 0 | – | 288,705 | 233,447 | 522,152 | |||||||||||
Governments – Treasuries | – 0 | – | 463,007 | – 0 | – | 463,007 |
56 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
Investments in | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
Options Purchased – Puts | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 27,087 | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 27,087 | ||||||
Short-Term Investments: | ||||||||||||||||
Investment Companies | 2,800,062 | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | 2,800,062 | ||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills | – 0 | – | 902,741 | – 0 | – | 902,741 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Total Investments in Securities | 2,800,062 | 231,159,714 | 9,426,839 | 243,386,615 | ||||||||||||
Other Financial Instruments(b): | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
| |||||||||||||||
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | – 0 | – | 913,320 | – 0 | – | 913,320 | ||||||||||
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps | – 0 | – | 985,144 | – 0 | – | 985,144 | (c) | |||||||||
Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps | – 0 | – | 146,439 | – 0 | – | 146,439 | (c) | |||||||||
Credit Default Swaps | – 0 | – | 537,575 | – 0 | – | 537,575 | ||||||||||
Total Return Swaps | – 0 | – | 74,979 | – 0 | – | 74,979 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: |
| |||||||||||||||
Futures | (62,511 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (62,511 | )(c) | ||||||||
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts | – 0 | – | (61,964 | ) | – 0 | – | (61,964 | ) | ||||||||
Put Options Written | – 0 | – | (12,674 | ) | – 0 | – | (12,674 | ) | ||||||||
Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps | – 0 | – | (11,422 | ) | – 0 | – | (11,422 | )(c) | ||||||||
Credit Default Swaps | – 0 | – | (879,502 | ) | – 0 | – | (879,502 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Total | $ | 2,737,551 | $ | 232,851,609 | $ | 9,426,839 | $ | 245,015,999 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) | The Fund held securities with zero market value at period end. |
(b) | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments, such as futures, forwards and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on the instrument. Other financial instruments may also include swaps with upfront premiums, options written and swaptions written which are valued at market value. |
(c) | Only variation margin receivable/(payable) at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments. Where applicable, centrally cleared swaps with upfront premiums are presented here at market value. |
The following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value.
Corporates - Non-Investment Grade(a) | Bank Loans | Asset-Backed Securities | ||||||||||
Balance as of 9/30/18 | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 3,516,154 | $ | 1,981,202 | |||||
Accrued discounts/(premiums) | 7,163 | 3,003 | (258 | ) | ||||||||
Realized gain (loss) | – 0 | – | (62,232 | ) | – 0 | – | ||||||
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | (36,002 | ) | (76,258 | ) | 46,878 | |||||||
Purchases | – 0 | – | 625,333 | 2,406,397 | ||||||||
Sales/Paydowns | – 0 | – | (314,807 | ) | (1,039,170 | ) | ||||||
Transfers in to Level 3 | 822,730 | 721,544 | – 0 | – | ||||||||
Transfers out of Level 3 | – 0 | – | (1,518,675 | ) | – 0 | – | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 57 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
Corporates - Non-Investment Grade(a) | Bank Loans | Asset-Backed Securities | ||||||||||
Balance as of 3/31/19 | $ | 793,891 | $ | 2,894,062 | $ | 3,395,049 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments held as of 3/31/19(b) | $ | (36,002 | ) | $ | (75,257 | ) | $ | 46,837 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Emerging Markets - Corporate Bonds | Collateralized Loan Obligations | Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | ||||||||||
Balance as of 9/30/18 | $ | 32,391 | $ | 1,615,734 | $ | 91,814 | ||||||
Accrued discounts/(premiums) | – 0 | – | 2 | (28 | ) | |||||||
Realized gain (loss) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | (13,060 | ) | (24,527 | ) | 3,236 | |||||||
Purchases | – 0 | – | 499,850 | 138,425 | ||||||||
Sales/Paydowns | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||
Transfers in to Level 3 | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||
Transfers out of Level 3 | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Balance as of 3/31/19 | $ | 19,331 | $ | 2,091,059 | $ | 233,447 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments held as of 3/31/19(b) | $ | (13,060 | ) | $ | (24,527 | ) | $ | 3,236 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total | ||||||||||||
Balance as of 9/30/18 | $ | 7,237,295 | ||||||||||
Accrued discounts/(premiums) | 9,882 | |||||||||||
Realized gain (loss) | (62,232 | ) | ||||||||||
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | (99,733 | ) | ||||||||||
Purchases | 3,670,005 | |||||||||||
Sales/Paydowns | (1,353,977 | ) | ||||||||||
Transfers in to Level 3 | 1,544,274 | (c) | ||||||||||
Transfers out of Level 3 | (1,518,675 | )(c) | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Balance as of 3/31/19 | $ | 9,426,839 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation from investments held as of 3/31/19(b) | $ | (98,773 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
(a) | The Fund held securities with zero market value at period end. |
(b) | The unrealized appreciation/depreciation is included in net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and other financial instruments in the accompanying statement of operations. |
(c) | There were de minimis transfers under 1% of net assets during the reporting period. |
58 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
The following presents information about significant unobservable inputs related to the Fund’s Level 3 investments at March 31, 2019. Securities priced by the third party vendors are excluded from the following table:
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value at 3/31/19 | Valuation Technique | Unobservable Input | Input | |||||||
Corporates –Non-Investment | $ | – 0 | – | Qualitative Assessment | $0.00 / N/A |
3. Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and commitments under forward currency exchange contracts are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the quoted bid and ask prices of such currencies against the U.S. dollar. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing when such securities were acquired or sold. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at rates of exchange prevailing when accrued.
Net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions represents foreign exchange gains and losses from sales and maturities of foreign fixed income investments, holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on foreign investment transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains and losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.
4. Taxes
It is the Fund’s policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no provisions for federal income or excise taxes are required. The Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued and applied to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation/depreciation as such income and/or gains are earned.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 59 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regarding accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken or expected to be taken on federal and state income tax returns for all open tax years (the current and the prior three tax years) and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements.
5. Investment Income and Investment Transactions
Dividend income is recorded on theex-dividend date or as soon as the Fund is informed of the dividend. Interest income is accrued daily. Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Investment gains or losses are determined on the identified cost basis. The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as adjustments to interest income.
6. Class Allocations
All income earned and expenses incurred by the Fund are borne on apro-rata basis by each outstanding class of shares, based on the proportionate interest in the Fund represented by the net assets of such class, except for class specific expenses which are allocated to the respective class. Expenses of the Company are charged proportionately to each fund or based on other appropriate methods. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated among the various share classes based on respective net assets.
7. Dividends and Distributions
Dividends and distributions to shareholders, if any, are recorded on theex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations and may differ from those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.
NOTE B
Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser an advisory fee at an annual rate of .55% of the first $2.5 billion, .50% of the next $2.5 billion and .45% in excess of $5 billion, of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly. The Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and bear certain expenses to the extent necessary to limit total operating expenses on an annual basis (the “Expense Caps”) to .95%, 1.70%, .70%, 1.20%, .95% and .70% of the daily average net assets for the Class A, Class C, Advisor Class, Class R, Class K and Class I shares, respectively. The Expense Caps may not be terminated before January 31, 2020. For the six months ended March 31, 2019, such reimbursements/waivers amounted to $126,286.
60 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
During 2017, AXA S.A. (“AXA”), a French holding company for the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in life, property and casualty and health insurance and asset management, announced its intention to pursue the sale of a minority stake in its subsidiary, AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (“AXA Equitable”), the holding company for a diversified financial services organization, through an initial public offering (“IPO”). AXA Equitable is the holding company for a diverse group of financial services companies, including an approximately 65.2% economic interest in the Adviser and a 100% interest in AllianceBernstein Corporation, the general partner of the Adviser. In March 2018, AXA announced its intention to sell its entire interest in AXA Equitable over time, subject to market conditions and other factors (the “Plan”). During the second quarter of 2018, AXA Equitable completed the IPO. Additional secondary offerings of AXA Equitable shares were completed in the Fourth Quarter of 2018 and the First Quarter of 2019, and AXA Equitable also repurchased shares from AXA in connection with each of these secondary offerings pursuant to agreements with AXA. Following the IPO and subsequent transactions, including secondary offerings and share repurchases, AXA owns approximately 48.3% of the outstanding shares of common stock of AXA Equitable. Contemporaneously with the IPO, AXA sold $862.5 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.25% mandatorily exchangeable notes (the “MxB Notes”) due May 15, 2021 and exchangeable into up to 43,125,000 shares of common stock (or approximately 7% of the outstanding shares of common stock of AXA Equitable). AXA retains ownership (including voting rights) of such shares of common stock until the MxB Notes are exchanged, which may be on a date that is earlier than the maturity date at AXA’s option upon the occurrence of certain events.
It is anticipated that one or more of the transactions contemplated by the Plan may ultimately result in the indirect transfer of a “controlling block” of voting securities of the Adviser (a “Change of Control Event”) and therefore may be deemed an “assignment” causing a termination of each Fund’s current investment advisory agreement. In order to ensure that the existing investment advisory services could continue uninterrupted, at meetings held in late July through early August 2018, the Boards of Directors/Trustees (each a “Board” and collectively, the “Boards”) approved new investment advisory agreements with the Adviser, in connection with the Plan. The Boards also agreed to call and hold a joint meeting of shareholders on October 11, 2018, for shareholders of each Fund to (1) approve the new investment advisory agreement with the Adviser that would be effective after the first Change of Control Event and (2) approve any future advisory agreement approved by the Board and that has terms not materially different from the current agreement, in the event there are subsequent Change of Control Events arising from completion of the Plan that terminate the advisory agreement after the first Change of Control
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 61 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
Event. Approval of a future advisory agreement means that shareholders may not have another opportunity to vote on a new agreement with the Adviser even upon a change of control, as long as no single person or group of persons acting together gains “control” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of AXA Equitable.
At the November 14, 2018 adjourned shareholder meeting, shareholders approved the new and future investment advisory agreements.
Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Fund may reimburse the Adviser for certain legal and accounting services provided to the Fund by the Adviser. For the six months ended March 31, 2019, the reimbursement for such services amounted to $34,368.
The Fund compensates AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. (“ABIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, under a Transfer Agency Agreement for providing personnel and facilities to perform transfer agency services for the Fund. ABIS may make payments to intermediaries that provide omnibus account services,sub-accounting services and/or networking services. Such compensation retained by ABIS amounted to $22,258 for the six months ended March 31, 2019.
AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, serves as the distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor has advised the Fund that it has retainedfront-end sales charges of $870 from the sale of Class A shares and received $50 and $683 in contingent deferred sales charges imposed upon redemptions by shareholders of Class A and Class C shares, respectively, for the six months ended March 31, 2019.
The Fund may invest in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Government Money Market Portfolio”) which has a contractual annual advisory fee rate of .20% of the portfolio’s average daily net assets and bears its own expenses. Effective August 1, 2018, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive .10% of the advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio (resulting in a net advisory fee of .10%) until August 31, 2019. In connection with the investment by the Fund in Government Money Market Portfolio, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of the effective advisory fee of Government Money Market Portfolio, as borne indirectly by the Fund as an acquired fund fee and expense. For the six months ended March 31, 2019, such waiver amounted to $6,932.
62 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
A summary of the Fund’s transactions in AB mutual funds for the six months ended March 31, 2019 is as follows:
Fund | Market Value 9/30/18 (000) | Purchases at Cost (000) | Sales Proceeds (000) | Market Value 3/31/19 (000) | Dividend Income (000) | |||||||||||||||
Government Money Market Portfolio | $ | 20,504 | $ | 58,526 | $ | 76,230 | $ | 2,800 | $ | 155 |
Brokerage commissions paid on investment transactions for the six months ended March 31, 2019 amounted to $3,842, of which $0 and $0, respectively, was paid to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC and Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, affiliates of the Adviser.
NOTE C
Distribution Services Agreement
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) pursuant to Rule12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Under the Agreement, the Fund pays distribution and servicing fees to the Distributor at an annual rate of up to .30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares, 1% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares, .50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares and .25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class K shares. There are no distribution and servicing fees on the Advisor Class and Class I shares. Effective January 29, 2016, payments under the Class A plan are limited to .25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares. The fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. The Agreement provides that the Distributor will use such payments in their entirety for distribution assistance and promotional activities. Since the commencement of the Fund’s operations, the Distributor has incurred expenses in excess of the distribution costs reimbursed by the Fund in the amounts of$-0-,$-0- and$-0- for Class C, Class R and Class K shares, respectively. While such costs may be recovered from the Fund in future periods so long as the Agreement is in effect, the rate of the distribution and servicing fees payable under the Agreement may not be increased without a shareholder vote. In accordance with the Agreement, there is no provision for recovery of unreimbursed distribution costs incurred by the Distributor beyond the current fiscal year for Class A shares. The Agreement also provides that the Adviser may use its own resources to finance the distribution of the Fund’s shares.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 63 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
NOTE D
Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the six months ended March 31, 2019 were as follows:
Purchases | Sales | |||||||
Investment securities (excluding U.S. government securities) | $ | 38,778,905 | $ | 42,304,826 | ||||
U.S. government securities | 4,958,645 | 882,000 |
The cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, gross unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation are as follows:
Gross unrealized appreciation | $ | 4,090,014 | ||
Gross unrealized depreciation | (4,231,772 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net unrealized depreciation | $ | (141,758 | ) | |
|
|
1. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Fund may use derivatives in an effort to earn income and enhance returns, to replace more traditional direct investments, to obtain exposure to otherwise inaccessible markets (collectively, “investment purposes”), or to hedge or adjust the risk profile of its portfolio.
The principal types of derivatives utilized by the Fund, as well as the methods in which they may be used are:
• | Futures |
The Fund may buy or sell futures for investment purposes or for the purpose of hedging its portfolio against adverse effects of potential movements in the market. The Fund bears the market risk that arises from changes in the value of these instruments and the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures and movements in the price of the assets, reference rates or indices which they are designed to track. Among other things, the Fund may purchase or sell futures for foreign currencies or options thereon fornon-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investment in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
At the time the Fund enters into futures, the Fund deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the exchange on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily
64 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for exchange-traded futures is generally less than privately negotiated futures, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded future, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.
Use of long futures subjects the Fund to risk of loss in excess of the amounts shown on the statement of assets and liabilities, up to the notional value of the futures. Use of short futures subjects the Fund to unlimited risk of loss. Under some circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of futures can vary from the previous day’s settlement price, which could effectively prevent liquidation of unfavorable positions.
During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund held futures for hedging andnon-hedging purposes.
• | Forward Currency Exchange Contracts |
The Fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchase and sale commitments denominated in foreign currencies and fornon-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions”.
A forward currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contract and the closing of such contract would be included in net realized gain or loss on forward currency exchange contracts. Fluctuations in the value of open forward currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and/or depreciation by the Fund. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund held forward currency exchange contracts for hedging andnon-hedging purposes.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 65 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
• | Option Transactions |
For hedging and investment purposes, the Fund may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on U.S. and foreign securities, including government securities, and foreign currencies that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges andover-the-counter markets. Among other things, the Fund may use options transactions fornon-hedging purposes as a means of making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions” and may use options strategies involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put options, for hedging and investment purposes.
The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. If a put or call option purchased by the Fund were permitted to expire without being sold or exercised, its premium would represent a loss to the Fund. Put and call options purchased are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid.
When the Fund writes an option, the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written. The Fund’s maximum payment for written put options equates to the number of shares multiplied by the strike price. In certain circumstances maximum payout amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced assets and upfront premium received upon entering into the contract. Premiums received from written options which expire unexercised are recorded by the Fund on the expiration date as realized gains from options written. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or if the premium received is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium received is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium received reduces the cost basis of the security or currency purchased by the Fund. In writing an option, the Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security or currency underlying the written option. Exercise of an option written by the Fund could result in the Fund selling or buying a security or currency at a price different from the current market value.
66 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
The Fund may also invest in options on swap agreements, also called “swaptions”. A swaption is an option that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a swap on a future date in exchange for paying a market-based “premium”. A receiver swaption gives the owner the right to receive the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. A payer swaption gives the owner the right to pay the total return on a specified asset, reference rate, or index. Swaptions also include options that allow an existing swap to be terminated or extended by one of the counterparties.
During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund held purchased swaptions for hedging andnon-hedging purposes. During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund held written swaptions for hedging andnon-hedging purposes.
During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund held purchased options for hedging andnon-hedging purposes. During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund held written options for hedging purposes.
• | Swaps |
The Fund may enter into swaps to hedge its exposure to interest rates, credit risk, equity markets or currencies. The Fund may also enter into swaps fornon-hedging purposes as a means of gaining market exposures, making direct investments in foreign currencies, as described below under “Currency Transactions” or in order to take a “long” or “short” position with respect to an underlying referenced asset described below under “Total Return Swaps”. A swap is an agreement that obligates two parties to exchange a series of cash flows at specified intervals based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates for a specified amount of an underlying asset. The payment flows are usually netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other. In addition, collateral may be pledged or received by the Fund in accordance with the terms of the respective swaps to provide value and recourse to the Fund or its counterparties in the event of default, bankruptcy or insolvency by one of the parties to the swap.
Risks may arise as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the swap to comply with the terms of the swap. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net interim payment to be received by the Fund, and/or the termination value at the end of the contract. Therefore, the Fund considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a swap in evaluating potential counterparty risk. This risk is mitigated by having a netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 67 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
counterparty. Additionally, risks may arise from unanticipated movements in interest rates or in the value of the underlying securities. The Fund accrues for the interim payments on swaps on a daily basis, with the net amount recorded within unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of assets and liabilities, where applicable. Once the interim payments are settled in cash, the net amount is recorded as realized gain/(loss) on swaps on the statement of operations, in addition to any realized gain/(loss) recorded upon the termination of swaps. Upfront premiums paid or received for OTC swaps are recognized as cost or proceeds on the statement of assets and liabilities and are amortized on a straight line basis over the life of the contract. Amortized upfront premiums are included in net realized gain/(loss) from swaps on the statement of operations. Fluctuations in the value of swaps are recorded as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps on the statement of operations.
Certain standardized swaps, including certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps, are (or soon will be) subject to mandatory central clearing. Cleared swaps are transacted through futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) that are members of central clearinghouses, with the clearinghouse serving as central counterparty, similar to transactions in futures contracts. Centralized clearing will be required for additional categories of swaps on aphased-in basis based on requirements published by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
At the time the Fund enters into a centrally cleared swap, the Fund deposits and maintains as collateral an initial margin with the broker, as required by the clearinghouse on which the transaction is effected. Such amount is shown as cash collateral due from broker on the statement of assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of the contract. The credit/counterparty risk for centrally cleared swaps is generally less thannon-centrally cleared swaps, since the clearinghouse, which is the issuer or counterparty to each centrally cleared swap, has robust risk mitigation standards, including the requirement to provide initial and variation margin. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the time it was closed.
68 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
Interest Rate Swaps:
The Fund is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Fund holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Fund may enter into interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps are agreements between two parties to exchange cash flows based on a notional amount. The Fund may elect to pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate, or, receive a fixed rate and pay a floating rate on a notional amount.
In addition, the Fund may also enter into interest rate swap transactions to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, or protecting against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments) computed based on a contractually-based principal (or “notional”) amount. Interest rate swaps are entered into on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments).
During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund held interest rate swaps for hedging purposes.
Credit Default Swaps:
The Fund may enter into credit default swaps, including to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults by corporate and sovereign issuers held by the Fund, or to create exposure to corporate or sovereign issuers to which it is not otherwise exposed. The Fund may purchase credit protection (“Buy Contract”) or provide credit protection (“Sale Contract”) on the referenced obligation of the credit default swap. During the term of the swap, the Fund receives/(pays) fixed payments from/(to) the respective counterparty, calculated at the agreed upon rate applied to the notional amount. If the Fund is a buyer/(seller) of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of the swap, the Fund will either (i) receive from the seller/(pay to the buyer) of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap (the “Maximum Payout Amount”) and deliver/(take delivery of) the referenced obligation or (ii) receive/(pay) a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation.
In certain circumstances Maximum Payout Amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced obligations,
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 69 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
upfront premium received upon entering into the agreement, or net amounts received from settlement of buy protection credit default swaps entered into by the Fund for the same referenced obligations with the same counterparty. As of March 31, 2019, the Fund had Buy Contracts outstanding with respect to the same referenced obligation and same counterparty for its Sales Contracts which may partially offset the Maximum Payout Amount in the amount of $1,190,000.
Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if a Fund had invested in the referenced obligation directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. If the Fund is a buyer of protection and no credit event occurs, it will lose the payments it made to its counterparty. If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, the value of the referenced obligation received by the Fund coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the Maximum Payout Amount it pays to the buyer, resulting in a net loss to the Fund.
Implied credit spreads over U.S. Treasuries of comparable maturity utilized in determining the market value of credit default swaps on issuers as of period end are disclosed in the portfolio of investments. The implied spreads serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and typically reflect the likelihood of default by the issuer of the referenced obligation. The implied credit spread of a particular reference obligation also reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may reflect upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Widening credit spreads typically represent a deterioration of the referenced obligation’s credit soundness and greater likelihood of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced obligation.
During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund held credit default swaps for hedging andnon-hedging purposes.
Total Return Swaps:
The Fund may enter into total return swaps in order to take a “long” or “short” position with respect to an underlying referenced asset. The Fund is subject to market price volatility of the underlying referenced asset. A total return swap involves commitments to pay interest in exchange for a market linked return based on a notional amount. To the extent that the total return of the security, group of securities or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest obligation, the Fund will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty.
During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund held total return swaps for hedging andnon-hedging purposes.
70 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
The Fund typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreement”) with its OTC derivative contract counterparties in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to OTC counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund typically may offset with the OTC counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment(close-out netting) in the event of default or termination. In the event of a default by an OTC counterparty, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Fund’s net liability, held by the defaulting party, may be delayed or denied.
The Fund’s ISDA Master Agreements may contain provisions for early termination of OTC derivative transactions in the event the net assets of the Fund decline below specific levels (“net asset contingent features”). If these levels are triggered, the Fund’s OTC counterparty has the right to terminate such transaction and require the Fund to pay or receive a settlement amount in connection with the terminated transaction. If OTC derivatives were held at period end, please refer to netting arrangements by the OTC counterparty tables below for additional details.
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||||
Derivative Type | Statement of | Fair Value | Statement of | Fair Value | ||||||||
Interest rate contracts | Receivable/Payable for variation margin on futures | $ | 62,511 | * | ||||||||
Credit contracts | Receivable/Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared swaps | $ | 204,060 | * | ||||||||
Interest rate contracts | Receivable/Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared swaps | 146,439 | * | Receivable/Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared swaps | 11,422 | * | ||||||
Foreign currency contracts | Unrealized appreciation on forward currency exchange contracts | 913,320 | Unrealized depreciation on forward currency exchange contracts | 61,964 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 71 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||||
Derivative Type | Statement of | Fair Value | Statement of | Fair Value | ||||||||
Equity contracts | Investments in securities, at value | $ | 27,087 | |||||||||
Equity contracts | Options written, at value | $ | 12,674 | |||||||||
Credit contracts | Market value on credit default swaps | 537,575 | Market value on credit default swaps | 879,502 | ||||||||
Credit contracts | Unrealized appreciation on total return swaps | 74,979 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Total | $ | 1,903,460 | $ | 1,028,073 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
* | Only variation margin receivable/payable at period end is reported within the statement of assets and liabilities. This amount reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures and centrally cleared swaps as reported in the portfolio of investments. |
Derivative Type | Location of Gain or | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) | |||||||
Interest rate contracts | Net realized gain (loss) on futures; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of futures | $ | (48,882 | ) | $ | (119,504 | ) | |||
Foreign currency contracts | Net realized gain (loss) on forward currency exchange contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of forward currency exchange contracts | | 50,689 | | 443,708 | |||||
Foreign exchange contracts | Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | | (21,964 | ) | | – 0 | – |
72 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
Derivative Type | Location of Gain or | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) | |||||||
Credit contracts | Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | $ | (71,992 | ) | $ | 37,379 | ||||
Equity contracts | Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments | (39,449 | ) | (31,578 | ) | |||||
Equity contracts | Net realized gain (loss) on options written; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of options written | 26,646 | 20,108 | |||||||
Credit contracts | Net realized gain (loss) on swaptions written; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaptions written | 58,919 | – 0 | – | ||||||
Interest rate contracts | Net realized gain (loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps | 20,612 | (368,738 | ) | ||||||
Credit contracts | Net realized gain (loss) on swaps; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swaps | 676,746 | 62,726 | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total | $ | 651,325 | $ | 44,101 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
The following table represents the average monthly volume of the Fund’s derivative transactions during the six months ended March 31, 2019:
Futures: | ||||
Average notional amount of sale contracts | $ | 7,649,072 | ||
Forward Currency Exchange Contracts: | ||||
Average principal amount of buy contracts | $ | 2,470,445 | ||
Average principal amount of sale contracts | $ | 32,311,447 |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 73 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
Purchased Options: | ||||
Average notional amount | $ | 10,327,100 | (a) | |
Purchased Swaptions: | ||||
Average notional amount | $ | 12,056,750 | (b) | |
Options Written: | ||||
Average notional amount | $ | 10,110,000 | (a) | |
Swaptions Written: | ||||
Average notional amount | $ | 9,045,667 | (b) | |
Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps: | ||||
Average notional amount | $ | 6,880,000 | ||
Credit Default Swaps: | ||||
Average notional amount of buy contracts | $ | 1,730,000 | ||
Average notional amount of sale contracts | $ | 9,143,602 | ||
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps: | ||||
Average notional amount of buy contracts | $ | 5,000,485 | (a) | |
Average notional amount of sale contracts | $ | 6,871,465 | ||
Total Return Swaps: | ||||
Average notional amount | $ | 8,860,000 |
(a) | Positions were open for two months during the period. |
(b) | Positions were open for three months during the period. |
For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the statement of assets and liabilities.
All OTC derivatives held at period end were subject to netting arrangements. The following table presents the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities by OTC counterparty net of amounts available for offset under ISDA Master Agreements (“MA”) and net of the related collateral received/pledged by the Fund as of March 31, 2019. Exchange-traded derivatives and centrally cleared swaps are not subject to netting arrangements and as such are excluded from the tables.
Counterparty | Derivative Assets Subject to a MA | Derivatives Available for Offset | Cash Collateral Received* | Security Collateral Received* | Net Amount of Derivative Assets | |||||||||||||||
Bank of America, NA | $ | 385 | $ | – 0 | – | $ | – 0 | – | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 385 | |||||||
Barclays Bank PLC | 21,112 | (1,849 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | 19,263 | ||||||||||||
Citibank, NA | 54,405 | (7,110 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | 47,295 | ||||||||||||
Credit Suisse International | 180,699 | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | 180,699 | ||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Bank USA/Goldman Sachs International | 330,850 | (330,850 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | |||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA | 15,720 | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | 15,720 |
74 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
Counterparty | Derivative Assets Subject to a MA | Derivatives Available for Offset | Cash Collateral Received* | Security Collateral Received* | Net Amount of Derivative Assets | |||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC/Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc. | $ | 677,732 | $ | – 0 | – | $ | – 0 | – | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 677,732 | |||||||
Standard Chartered Bank | 193,398 | (16,232 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | 177,166 | ||||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | 51,573 | (36,773 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | 14,800 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,525,874 | $ | (392,814 | ) | $ | – 0 | – | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 1,133,060 | ^ | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Counterparty | Derivative Liabilities Subject to a MA | Derivatives Available for Offset | Cash Collateral Pledged* | Security Collateral Pledged* | Net Amount of Derivative Liabilities | |||||||||||||||
Barclays Bank PLC | $ | 1,849 | $ | (1,849 | ) | $ | – 0 | – | $ | – 0 | – | $ | – 0 | – | ||||||
Citibank, NA | 7,110 | (7,110 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | |||||||||||
Deutsche Bank AG | 172,812 | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (172,812 | ) | – 0 | – | |||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Bank USA/Goldman Sachs International | 706,690 | (330,850 | ) | – 0 | – | (314,214 | ) | 61,626 | ||||||||||||
Standard Chartered Bank | 16,232 | (16,232 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | |||||||||||
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | 36,773 | (36,773 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Total | $ | 941,466 | $ | (392,814 | ) | $ | – 0 | – | $ | (487,026 | ) | $ | 61,626 | ^ | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* | The actual collateral received/pledged may be more than the amount reported due to over-collateralization. |
^ | Net amount represents the net receivable/payable that would be due from/to the counterparty in the event of default or termination. The net amount from OTC financial derivative instruments can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same counterparty. |
2. Currency Transactions
The Fund may invest innon-U.S. Dollar-denominated securities on a currency hedged or unhedged basis. The Fund may seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures and options on futures, swaps, and other options. The Fund may enter into transactions for investment opportunities when it anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value but securities denominated in that currency are not held by the Fund and do not present attractive investment opportunities. Such transactions may also be used
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 75 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
when the Adviser believes that it may be more efficient than a direct investment in a foreign currency-denominated security. The Fund may also conduct currency exchange contracts on a spot basis (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market for buying or selling currencies).
3. Loan Participations and Assignments
The Fund may invest in direct debt instruments which are interests in amounts owed to lenders or lending syndicates by corporate, governmental, or other borrowers, either in the form of participations at the time the loan is originated (“Participations”) or by buying an interest in the loan in the secondary market from a financial institution or institutional investor (“Assignments”). A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution (the “Lender”) that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the term of the loan as specified in the loan agreement. When investing in Participations, the Fund generally has no right to enforce compliance with the terms of the loan agreement with the borrower. In addition, when investing in Participations, the Fund has the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender and only upon receipt of payments by the Lender from the borrower. As a result, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of both the borrower and the Lender. When the Fund purchases Assignments from Lenders, it will typically acquire direct rights against the borrower on the loan. These loans may include participations in “bridge loans”, which are loans taken out by borrowers for a short period (typically less than six months) pending arrangement of more permanent financing through, for example, the issuance of bonds, frequently high-yield bonds issued for the purpose of acquisitions. The Fund may also participate in unfunded loan commitments, which are contractual obligations for investing in future Participations, and may receive a commitment fee based on the amount of the commitment. Under these arrangements, the Fund may receive a fixed rate commitment fee and, if and to the extent the borrower borrows under the facility, the Fund may receive an additional funding fee.
Unfunded loan commitments and funded loans are marked to market daily.
As of March 31, 2019, the Fund had no bridge loan commitment outstanding.
During the six months ended March 31, 2019, the Fund did not receive commitment fees or additional funding fees.
76 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
NOTE E
Capital Stock
Each class consists of 3,000,000,000 authorized shares. Transactions in capital shares for each class were as follows:
Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended March 31, 2019 (unaudited) | Year Ended September 30, 2018 | Six Months Ended March 31, 2019 (unaudited) | Year Ended September 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 611,496 | 591,674 | $ | 6,137,598 | $ | 6,093,196 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | 25,433 | 51,855 | 256,572 | 532,687 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares converted from Class C | 1,973 | 3,893 | 20,034 | 40,100 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (683,884 | ) | (1,167,192 | ) | (6,829,622 | ) | (12,014,088 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net decrease | (44,982 | ) | (519,770 | ) | $ | (415,418 | ) | $ | (5,348,105 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 418,106 | 271,152 | $ | 4,196,250 | $ | 2,798,201 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | 22,347 | 43,252 | 225,343 | 443,976 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares converted to Class A | (1,975 | ) | (3,895 | ) | (20,034 | ) | (40,100 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (515,616 | ) | (822,329 | ) | (5,196,191 | ) | (8,453,666 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net decrease | (77,138 | ) | (511,820 | ) | $ | (794,632 | ) | $ | (5,251,589 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advisor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 5,234,267 | 8,618,728 | $ | 52,680,336 | $ | 88,497,070 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | 331,994 | 636,930 | 3,346,861 | 6,532,813 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (6,296,027 | ) | (14,497,867 | ) | (63,405,973 | ) | (149,263,022 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net decrease | (729,766 | ) | (5,242,209 | ) | $ | (7,378,776 | ) | $ | (54,233,139 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | – 0 | – | 1 | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase | – 0 | – | 1 | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class K | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | – 0 | – | 0 | (a) | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | – 0 | – | 0 | (a) | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | $ | – 0 | – | $ | 5 | |||||||||||||||
|
(a) | Amount is less than one share. |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 77 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
There were no transactions in capital shares for Class R, Class K and Class I for the six months ended March 31, 2019.
NOTE F
Risks Involved in Investing in the Fund
Interest Rate Risk and Credit Risk—Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in interest rates will affect the value of the Fund’s investments in fixed-income debt securities such as bonds or notes. Increases in interest rates may cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security, or the counterparty to a derivative contract, will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating. Credit risk is greater for medium quality and lower-rated securities. Lower-rated debt securities and similar unrated securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) have speculative elements or are predominantly speculative risks.
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk—Investments in fixed-income securities with lower ratings (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to a higher probability that an issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate developments and negative perceptions of the junk bond market generally and may be more difficult to trade or dispose of than other types of securities.
Duration Risk—Duration is a measure that relates the expected price volatility of a fixed-income security to changes in interest rates. The duration of a fixed-income security may be shorter than or equal to full maturity of a fixed-income security. Fixed-income securities with longer durations have more risk and will decrease in price as interest rates rise.
Inflation Risk—This is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s assets can decline as can the real value of the Fund’s distributions. This risk is significantly greater if the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in fixed-income securities with longer maturities.
Derivatives Risk—The Fund may enter into derivative transactions such as forwards, options, futures and swaps. Derivatives may be illiquid, difficult to price, and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund, and subject to counterparty risk to a greater degree than more traditional investments. Derivatives may result in significant losses, including losses that are far greater than the value of the derivatives reflected on the statement of assets and liabilities.
78 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
Foreign(Non-U.S.) Risk—Investments in securities ofnon-U.S. issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be more difficult to trade or dispose of due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.
Emerging Market Risk—Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid, and because these investments may be subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties.
Currency Risk—Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce its returns.
Leverage Risk—When the Fund borrows money or otherwise leverages its investments, its performance may be volatile because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s investments. The Fund may create leverage through the use of reverse repurchase arrangements, forward currency exchange contracts, forward commitments, dollar rolls or futures or by borrowing money. The use of other types of derivative instruments by the Fund, such as options and swaps, may also result in a form of leverage. Leverage may result in higher returns to the Fund than if the Fund were not leveraged, but may also adversely affect returns, particularly if the market is declining.
Illiquid Investments Risk—Illiquid investments risk exists when certain investments become difficult to purchase or sell. Difficulty in selling such investments may result in sales at disadvantageous prices affecting the value of your investment in the Fund. Causes of illiquid investments risk may include low trading volumes, large positions and heavy redemptions of fund shares. Over recent years illiquid investments risk has also increased because the capacity of dealers in the secondary market for fixed-income securities to make markets in these securities has decreased, even as the overall bond market has grown significantly, due to, among other things, structural changes, additional regulatory requirements and capital and risk restraints that have led to reduced inventories. Illiquid investments risk may be higher in a rising interest rate environment, when the value and liquidity of fixed income securities generally decline.
Indemnification Risk—In the ordinary course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of loss thereunder to be remote. Therefore, the Fund has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnification provisions.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 79 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
NOTE G
Joint Credit Facility
A number ofopen-end mutual funds managed by the Adviser, including the Fund, participate in a $325 million revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) intended to provide short-term financing, if necessary, subject to certain restrictions in connection with abnormal redemption activity. Commitment fees related to the Facility are paid by the participating funds and are included in miscellaneous expenses in the statement of operations. The Fund did not utilize the Facility during the six months ended March 31, 2019.
NOTE H
Distributions to Shareholders
The tax character of distributions to be paid for the year ending September 30, 2019 will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 were as follows:
2018 | 2017 | |||||||
Distributions paid from: | ||||||||
Ordinary income | $ | 10,367,978 | $ | 12,196,920 | ||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total taxable distributions paid | 10,367,978 | 12,196,920 | ||||||
Return of capital | 507,896 | – 0 | – | |||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total distributions paid | $ | 10,875,874 | $ | 12,196,920 | ||||
|
|
|
|
As of September 30, 2018, the components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
Accumulated capital and other losses | $ | (7,118,307 | )(a) | |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | (1,790,535 | )(b) | ||
|
| |||
Total accumulated earnings/(deficit) | $ | (8,908,842 | )(c) | |
|
|
(a) | As of September 30, 2018, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $7,118,307. During the fiscal year, the Fund utilized $358,930 of capital loss carry forwards to offset current year net realized gains. |
(b) | The differences between book-basis andtax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, the tax treatment of swaps, and the recognition for tax purposes of unrealized gains/losses on certain derivative instruments. |
(c) | The differences between book-basis andtax-basis components of accumulated earnings/(deficit) are attributable primarily to dividends payable and the tax treatment of defaulted securities. |
For tax purposes, net realized capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains, if any. Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses for an indefinite period, and such losses will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. As of September 30, 2018, the Fund had a net short-term capital loss carryforward of $1,381,020 and a net long-term capital loss carryforward of $5,737,287 which may be carried forward for an indefinite period.
80 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)
NOTE I
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU2017-08, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic310-20), Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities which amends the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium, shortening such period to the earliest call date. The ASU2017-08 does not require any accounting change for debt securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. The ASU2017-08 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of these changes on the financial statements.
In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update, ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement which removes, modifies and adds disclosures to Topic 820. The amendments in this ASU 2018-13 (“ASU”) apply to all entities that are required, under existing U.S. GAAP, to make disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Management has evaluated the impact of the amendments and elected to early adopt the ASU. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the disclosure and presentation of the financial statements of the Fund.
NOTE J
Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events for possible recognition or disclosure in the financial statements through the date the financial statements are issued. Management has determined that there are no material events that would require disclosure in the Fund’s financial statements through this date.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 81 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Months (unaudited) | Year Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 10.24 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.31 | $ 9.97 | $ 10.49 | $ 10.60 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(a)(b) | .20 | .38 | .33 | .34 | .39 | .38 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | .05 | (.16 | ) | .12 | .37 | (.39 | ) | (.06 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Contributions from Affiliates | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | .00 | (c) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase in net asset value from operations | .25 | .22 | .45 | .71 | – 0 | – | .32 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income | (.23 | ) | (.36 | ) | (.36 | ) | (.37 | ) | (.48 | ) | (.41 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | ||||||||||||
Tax return of capital | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.04 | ) | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions | (.23 | ) | (.38 | ) | (.36 | ) | (.37 | ) | (.52 | ) | (.43 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ 10.26 | $ 10.24 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.31 | $ 9.97 | $ 10.49 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Return | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(d) | 2.45 | % | 2.23 | % | 4.44 | % | 7.29 | %+ | (.09 | )% | 2.99 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | $17,476 | $17,897 | $23,596 | $27,656 | $32,515 | $56,628 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | .95 | %^ | .95 | % | .95 | % | 1.04 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.05 | % | ||||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | 1.06 | %^ | 1.05 | % | 1.04 | % | 1.11 | % | 1.13 | % | 1.13 | % | ||||||||||||
Net investment income(b) | 3.93 | %^ | 3.69 | % | 3.18 | % | 3.42 | % | 3.77 | % | 3.57 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 18 | % | 39 | % | 46 | % | 57 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios | .01 | %^ | .01 | % | .02 | % | .01 | % | – 0 | – | – 0 | – |
See footnote summary on page 88.
82 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Class C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Months (unaudited) | Year Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 10.23 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.30 | $ 9.96 | $ 10.48 | $ 10.59 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(a)(b) | .16 | .30 | .25 | .27 | .32 | .31 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | .05 | (.16 | ) | .13 | .37 | (.40 | ) | (.07 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Contributions from Affiliates | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | .00 | (c) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | .21 | .14 | .38 | .64 | (.08 | ) | .24 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income | (.19 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.40 | ) | (.33 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | ||||||||||||
Tax return of capital | – 0 | – | (.01 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.04 | ) | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions | (.19 | ) | (.31 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.44 | ) | (.35 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ 10.25 | $ 10.23 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.30 | $ 9.96 | $ 10.48 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Return | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(d) | 2.07 | % | 1.37 | % | 3.76 | % | 6.52 | %+ | (.79 | )% | 2.27 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | $20,669 | $21,412 | $27,083 | $30,478 | $29,336 | $32,323 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | 1.70 | %^ | 1.70 | % | 1.70 | % | 1.77 | % | 1.75 | % | 1.75 | % | ||||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | 1.81 | %^ | 1.80 | % | 1.79 | % | 1.85 | % | 1.84 | % | 1.84 | % | ||||||||||||
Net investment income(b) | 3.18 | %^ | 2.95 | % | 2.43 | % | 2.68 | % | 3.07 | % | 2.87 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 18 | % | 39 | % | 46 | % | 57 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios | .01 | %^ | .01 | % | .02 | % | .01 | % | – 0 | – | – 0 | – |
See footnote summary on page 88.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 83 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Advisor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Months (unaudited) | Year Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 10.22 | $ 10.39 | $ 10.30 | $ 9.95 | $ 10.48 | $ 10.59 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(a)(b) | .21 | .41 | .36 | .37 | .42 | .41 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | .05 | (.17 | ) | .12 | .38 | (.40 | ) | (.06 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Contributions from Affiliates | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | .00 | (c) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase in net asset value from operations | .26 | .24 | .48 | .75 | .02 | .35 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income | (.24 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.40 | ) | (.50 | ) | (.44 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | ||||||||||||
Tax return of capital | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.05 | ) | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions | (.24 | ) | (.41 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.40 | ) | (.55 | ) | (.46 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ 10.24 | $ 10.22 | $ 10.39 | $ 10.30 | $ 9.95 | $ 10.48 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Return | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(d) | 2.58 | % | 2.38 | % | 4.80 | % | 7.69 | %+ | .11 | % | 3.30 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | $218,735 | $225,703 | $283,856 | $268,421 | $217,429 | $296,386 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | .70 | %^ | .69 | % | .70 | % | .77 | % | .75 | % | .75 | % | ||||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | .80 | %^ | .80 | % | .79 | % | .84 | % | .84 | % | .84 | % | ||||||||||||
Net investment income(b) | 4.18 | %^ | 3.94 | % | 3.45 | % | 3.66 | % | 4.07 | % | 3.86 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 18 | % | 39 | % | 46 | % | 57 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios | .01 | %^ | .01 | % | .02 | % | .01 | % | – 0 | – | – 0 | – |
See footnote summary on page 88.
84 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Class R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Months (unaudited) | Year Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 10.23 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.31 | $ 9.97 | $ 10.49 | $ 10.60 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(a)(b) | .19 | .35 | .31 | .32 | .37 | .36 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | .05 | (.16 | ) | .11 | .37 | (.40 | ) | (.07 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Contributions from Affiliates | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | .00 | (c) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | .24 | .19 | .42 | .69 | (.03 | ) | .29 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income | (.21 | ) | (.34 | ) | (.33 | ) | (.35 | ) | (.45 | ) | (.38 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | ||||||||||||
Tax return of capital | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.04 | ) | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions | (.21 | ) | (.36 | ) | (.33 | ) | (.35 | ) | (.49 | ) | (.40 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ 10.26 | $ 10.23 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.31 | $ 9.97 | $ 10.49 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Return | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(d) | 2.42 | % | 1.87 | % | 4.17 | % | 7.03 | % | (.31 | )% | 2.76 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $11 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | 1.20 | %^ | 1.20 | % | 1.20 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.25 | % | 1.25 | % | ||||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | 1.31 | %^ | 1.32 | % | 1.30 | % | 1.35 | % | 1.33 | % | 1.34 | % | ||||||||||||
Net investment income(b) | 3.66 | %^ | 3.43 | % | 2.96 | % | 3.17 | % | 3.55 | % | 3.38 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 18 | % | 39 | % | 46 | % | 57 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios | .01 | %^ | .01 | % | .02 | % | .01 | % | – 0 | – | – 0 | – |
See footnote summary on page 88.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 85 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Class K | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Months (unaudited) | Year Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 10.23 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.31 | $ 9.96 | $ 10.49 | $ 10.60 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(a)(b) | .20 | .38 | .33 | .34 | .39 | .39 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | .05 | (.17 | ) | .12 | .38 | (.40 | ) | (.07 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Contributions from Affiliates | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | .00 | (c) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value from operations | .25 | .21 | .45 | .72 | (.01 | ) | .32 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income | (.22 | ) | (.36 | ) | (.36 | ) | (.37 | ) | (.48 | ) | (.41 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | ||||||||||||
Tax return of capital | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.04 | ) | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions | (.22 | ) | (.38 | ) | (.36 | ) | (.37 | ) | (.52 | ) | (.43 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ 10.26 | $ 10.23 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.31 | $ 9.96 | $ 10.49 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Return | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(d) | 2.55 | % | 2.12 | % | 4.43 | % | 7.40 | %+ | (.16 | )% | 3.01 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $11 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | .95 | %^ | .95 | % | .95 | % | 1.03 | % | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | ||||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | 1.05 | %^ | 1.06 | % | 1.04 | % | 1.08 | % | 1.07 | % | 1.08 | % | ||||||||||||
Net investment income(b) | 3.94 | %^ | 3.67 | % | 3.21 | % | 3.41 | % | 3.80 | % | 3.63 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 18 | % | 39 | % | 46 | % | 57 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios | .01 | %^ | .01 | % | .02 | % | .01 | % | – 0 | – | – 0 | – |
See footnote summary on page 88.
86 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six Months (unaudited) | Year Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 10.24 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.31 | $ 9.97 | $ 10.49 | $ 10.60 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income From Investment Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(a)(b) | .21 | .40 | .36 | .37 | .42 | .42 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment and foreign currency transactions | .05 | (.15 | ) | .12 | .37 | (.39 | ) | (.07 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Contributions from Affiliates | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | .00 | (c) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net increase in net asset value from operations | .26 | .25 | .48 | .74 | .03 | .35 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Dividends and Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends from net investment income | (.24 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.40 | ) | (.50 | ) | (.44 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distributions from net realized gain on investment transactions | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | ||||||||||||
Tax return of capital | – 0 | – | (.02 | ) | – 0 | – | – 0 | – | (.05 | ) | – 0 | – | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions | (.24 | ) | (.41 | ) | (.39 | ) | (.40 | ) | (.55 | ) | (.46 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ 10.26 | $ 10.24 | $ 10.40 | $ 10.31 | $ 9.97 | $ 10.49 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Return | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return based on net asset value(d) | 2.58 | % | 2.47 | % | 4.69 | % | 7.60 | %+ | .26 | % | 3.35 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted) | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $9 | $10 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio to average net assets of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses, net of waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | .70 | %^ | .70 | % | .70 | % | .78 | % | .75 | % | .75 | % | ||||||||||||
Expenses, before waivers/reimbursements(e)‡ | .77 | %^ | .77 | % | .75 | % | .84 | % | .84 | % | .84 | % | ||||||||||||
Net investment income(b) | 4.16 | %^ | 3.93 | % | 3.46 | % | 3.70 | % | 4.10 | % | 3.95 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 18 | % | 39 | % | 46 | % | 57 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||||||||
‡ Expense ratios exclude the estimated acquired fund fees of the affiliated/unaffiliated underlying |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
portfolios | .01 | %^ | .01 | % | .02 | % | .01 | % | – 0 | – | – 0 | – |
See footnote summary on page 88.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 87 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(continued)
Selected Data For A Share Of Capital Stock Outstanding Throughout Each Period
(a) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | Net of fees and expenses waived/reimbursed by the Adviser. |
(c) | Amount is less than $.005. |
(d) | Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period. Initial sales charges or contingent deferred sales charges are not reflected in the calculation of total investment return. Total return does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Total investment return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. |
(e) | In connection with the Fund’s investments in affiliated underlying portfolios, the Fund incurs no direct expenses, but bears proportionate shares of the fees and expenses (i.e., operating, administrative and investment advisory fees) of the affiliated underlying portfolios. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees from the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of certain acquired fund fees and expenses, and for the six months ended March 31, 2019 and the years ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, such waiver amounted to .01%, .01% and .02%, respectively. |
+ | The net asset value and total return include adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for financial reporting purposes. As such, the net asset value and total return for shareholder transactions may differ from financial statements. |
^ | Annualized. |
See notes to financial statements.
88 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
RESULTS OF STOCKHOLDER MEETING
(unaudited)
A Special Meeting of Stockholders of the AB Bond Fund, Inc. (the “Company”)—AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio (the “Fund”) was held on October 11, 2018 and adjourned until November 14, 2018. A description of the proposals and number of shares voted at the Meeting are as follows (the proposal number shown below corresponds to the proposal number in the Fund’s proxy statement):
1. | To approve and vote upon the election of Directors for the Company, each such Director to serve for a term of indefinite duration and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. |
Director: | Voted For: | Authority Withheld: | ||||||
Michael J. Downey | 552,116,673 | 8,282,940 | ||||||
William H. Foulk, Jr.* | 551,877,052 | 8,522,561 | ||||||
Nancy P. Jacklin | 552,933,422 | 7,466,191 | ||||||
Robert M. Keith | 552,821,117 | 7,578,496 | ||||||
Carol C. McMullin | 553,112,515 | 7,287,098 | ||||||
Gary L. Moody | 552,308,024 | 8,091,589 | ||||||
Marshall C. Turner, Jr. | 552,161,346 | 8,238,266 | ||||||
Earl D. Weiner | 551,845,466 | 8,554,147 |
2. | To vote upon the approval of new advisory agreements for the Fund with AllianceBernstein L.P. |
Voted For: | Voted Against: | Abstain: | Broker Non-Votes: | |||||||||||
11,065,444 | 69,109 | 336,964 | 3,982,847 |
* | Mr. Foulk retired December 31, 2018. |
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 89 |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marshall C. Turner, Jr.(1), Chairman Michael J. Downey(1) Nancy P. Jacklin(1) Robert M. Keith,President and Chief Executive Officer | Carol C. McMullen(1) Garry L. Moody(1) Earl D. Weiner(1) |
OFFICERS
Gershon M. Distenfeld(2),Vice President Jacqueline Pincus(2),Vice President William Smith(2),Vice President Emilie D. Wrapp,Secretary | Michael B. Reyes,Senior Analyst Joseph J. Mantineo,Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Phyllis J. Clarke,Controller Vincent S. Noto,Chief Compliance Officer |
Custodian and Accounting Agent State Street Bank and State Street Corporation CCB/5 1 Iron Street Boston, MA 02210
Principal Underwriter AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10105
Transfer Agent AllianceBernstein Investor Services, Inc. P.O. Box 786003 San Antonio, TX 78278-6003 Toll-Free (800) 221-5672 | Independent Registered Public Ernst & Young LLP 5 Times Square New York, NY 10036
Legal Counsel Seward & Kissel LLP One Battery Park Plaza New York, NY 10004 |
1 | Member of the Audit Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee, and the Independent Directors Committee. |
2 | The day-to-day management of, and investment decisions for, the Fund’s portfolio are made by its Limited Duration High Income Investment Team. |
90 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
Information Regarding the Review and Approval of the Fund’s Proposed New Advisory Agreement and Interim Advisory Agreement in the Context of Potential Assignments
As described in more detail in the Proxy Statement for the AB Funds dated August 20, 2018, the Boards of the AB Funds, at a meeting held onJuly 31-August 2, 2018, approved new advisory agreements with the Adviser (the “Proposed Agreements”) for the AB Funds, including AB Bond Fund, Inc. in respect of AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio (the “Fund”), in connection with the planned disposition by AXA S.A. of its remaining shares of AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (the indirect holder of a majority of the partnership interests in the Adviser and the indirect parent of AllianceBernstein Corporation, the general partner of the Adviser) in one or more transactions and the related potential for one or more “assignments” (within the meaning of section 2(a)(4) of the Investment Company Act) of the advisory agreements for the AB Funds, including the Fund’s Advisory Agreement, resulting in the automatic termination of such advisory agreements.
At the same meeting, the AB Boards also considered and approved interim advisory agreements with the Adviser (the “Interim Advisory Agreements”) for the AB Funds, including the Fund, to be effective only in the event that stockholder approval of a Proposed Agreement had not been obtained as of the date of one or more transactions resulting in an “assignment” of the Adviser’s advisory agreements, resulting in the automatic termination of such advisory agreements.
The shareholders of the Fund subsequently approved the Proposed Agreements at an annual meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors and voting on the Proposed Agreements.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Boards’ approvals at a meeting held onJuly 31-August 2, 2018 is set forth below.
At a meeting of the AB Boards held on July31-August 2, 2018, the Adviser presented its recommendation that the Boards consider and approve the Proposed Agreements. Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act provides that, after an initial period, a Fund’s Current Agreement and currentsub-advisory agreement, as applicable, will remain in effect only if the Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, annually reviews and approves them. Each of the Current Agreements had been approved by a Board within theone-year period prior to approval of its related Proposed Agreement, except that the Current Agreements for certain FlexFee funds were approved in February 2017. In connection with their approval of the Proposed Agreements, the Boards considered their conclusions in connection with their most recent approvals of the Current Agreements, in particular in cases where the last approval of a Current Agreement was relatively recent, including the Boards’ general satisfaction with the nature and quality of services being provided and, as applicable, in the case of
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 91 |
certain Funds, actions taken or to be taken in an effort to improve investment performance or reduce expense ratios. The Directors also reviewed updated information provided by the Adviser in respect of each Fund. Also in connection with their approval of the Proposed Agreements, the Boards considered a representation made to them at that time by the Adviser that there were no additional developments not already disclosed to the Boards since their most recent approvals of the Current Agreements that would be a material consideration to the Boards in connection with their consideration of the Proposed Agreements, except for matters disclosed to the Boards by the Adviser. The Directors considered the fact that each Proposed Agreement would have corresponding terms and conditions identical to those of the corresponding Current Agreement with the exception of the effective date and initial term under the Proposed Agreement.
The Directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to each Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the Directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the Directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the Funds. The Directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of each Fund.
The Directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the Directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the management fees of the Funds they oversee. The Directors did not identify any particular information that wasall-important or controlling, and different Directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Funds, and the overall arrangements between the Funds and the Adviser, as provided in the Proposed Agreements, including the management fees, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed under the Current Agreements and to be performed under the Proposed Agreements, expenses incurred and to be incurred and such other matters as the Directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Directors’ determinations included the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided
The Directors considered the scope and quality of services to be provided by the Adviser under the Proposed Agreements, including the quality of
92 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Funds. They also considered the information that had been provided to them by the Adviser concerning the anticipated implementation of the Plan and the Adviser’s representation that it did not anticipate that such implementation would affect the management or structure of the Adviser, have a material adverse effect on the Adviser, or adversely affect the quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Adviser and its affiliates. The Directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews each Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the Directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of each Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The Directors also considered that certain Proposed Agreements, similar to the corresponding Current Agreements, provide that the Funds will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Funds by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the Directors. The Directors noted that the Adviser did not request any reimbursements from certain Funds in the Fund’s latest fiscal year reviewed. The Directors noted that the methodology to be used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant retained by the Funds’ former Senior Officer/Independent Compliance Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Funds’ other service providers, also was considered. The Directors of each Fund concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided to the Funds under the Proposed Agreement for the Fund.
Costs of Services to be Provided and Profitability
The Directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of each Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2016 and 2017, as applicable, that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Funds’ former Senior Officer/Independent Compliance Officer. The Directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The Directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with a Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency, distribution and brokerage services to the Fund, as applicable. The Directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Proposed Agreements with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 93 |
affected by numerous factors. The Directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with each Fund before taxes and distribution expenses, as applicable. The Directors noted that certain Funds were not profitable to the Adviser in one or more periods reviewed. The Directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the other Funds was not unreasonable. The Directors were unable to consider historical information about the profitability of certain Funds that had recently commenced operations and for which historical profitability information was not available. The Adviser agreed to provide the Directors with profitability information in connection with future proposed continuances of the Proposed Agreements.
Fall-Out Benefits
The Directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Funds, including, but not limited to, as applicable, benefits relating to soft dollar arrangements (whereby investment advisers receive brokerage and research services from brokers that execute agency transactions for their clients) in the case of certain Funds;12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of certain classes of the shares of most of the Funds; brokerage commissions paid by certain Funds to brokers affiliated with the Adviser; and transfer agency fees paid by most of the Funds to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The Directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower, and that a Fund’s unprofitability to the Adviser would be exacerbated, without these benefits. The Directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Funds.
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the Directors in connection with the Board meeting at which the Proposed Agreements were approved, the Directors receive detailed performance information for the Funds at each regular Board meeting during the year.
The Boards’ consideration of each Proposed Agreement was informed by their most recent approval of the related Current Agreement, and, in the case of certain Funds, their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for those Funds’ underperformance in certain periods. The Directors also reviewed updated performance information and, in some cases, discussed with the Adviser the reasons for changes in performance or continued underperformance. On the basis of this review, the Directors concluded that each Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.
Management Fees and Other Expenses
The Directors considered the management fee rate payable by each Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by an independent service provider
94 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
(the ‘‘15(c) provider’’) concerning management fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The Directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of management fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees paid by other funds. The Directors compared each Fund’s contractual management fee rate with a peer group median, and where applicable, took into account the impact on the management fee rate of the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year. In the case of the ACS Funds, the Directors noted that the management fee rate is zero but also were cognizant that the Adviser is indirectly compensated by the wrap fee program sponsors that use the ACS Funds as an investment vehicle for their clients.
The Directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients pursuing a similar investment style to each Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Funds’ Senior Analyst and noted the differences between a Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to anysub-advised funds pursuing a similar investment strategy as the Fund, on the other, as applicable. The Directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the Directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The Adviser also informed the Directors that, in the case of certain Funds, there were no institutional products managed by the Adviser that have a substantially similar investment style. The Directors also discussed these matters with their independent fee consultant.
The Adviser reviewed with the Directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to each Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund andsub-advised fund clients, as applicable. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore orsub-advisory accounts, each Fund, as applicable, (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows (in the case ofopen-end Funds); (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional,
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 95 |
offshore fund andsub-advised fund clients as compared to the Funds, and the different risk profile, the Directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The Directors noted that many of the Funds may invest in shares of exchange-traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’), subject to the restrictions and limitations of the 1940 Act as these may be varied as a result of exemptive orders issued by the SEC. The Directors also noted that ETFs pay advisory fees pursuant to their advisory contracts. The Directors concluded, based on the Adviser’s explanation of how it uses ETFs when they are the most cost-effective way to obtain desired exposures, in some cases pending purchases of underlying securities, that each Fund’s management fee would be for services that would be in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided under the advisory contracts of the ETFs.
With respect to each Fund’s management fee, the Directors considered the total expense ratio of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Directors also considered the Adviser’s expense caps for certain Funds. The Directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to a Fund by others.
The Boards’ consideration of each Proposed Agreement was informed by their most recent approval of the related Current Agreement, and, in the case of certain Funds, their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for those Funds’ expense ratios in certain periods. The Directors also reviewed updated expense ratio information and, in some cases, discussed with the Adviser the reasons for the expense ratios of certain Funds. On the basis of this review, the Directors concluded that each Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.
The Directors did not consider comparative expense information for the ACS Funds because those Funds do not bear ordinary expenses.
Economies of Scale
The Directors noted that the management fee schedules for certain Funds do not contain breakpoints and that they had discussed their strong preference for breakpoints in advisory contracts with the Adviser. The Directors took into consideration prior presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the Funds, and by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The Directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Board meeting. The Directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The Directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific
96 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The Directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to each Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The Directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. The Directors informed the Adviser that they would monitor the asset levels of the Funds without breakpoints and their profitability to the Adviser and anticipated revisiting the question of breakpoints in the future if circumstances warrant doing so.
The Directors did not consider the extent to which fee levels in the Advisory Agreement for the ACS Funds reflect economies of scale because that Advisory Agreement does not provide for any compensation to be paid to the Adviser by the ACS Funds and the expense ratio of each of those Funds is zero.
Interim Advisory Agreements
In approving the Interim Advisory Agreements, the Boards, with the assistance of independent counsel, considered similar factors to those considered in approving the Proposed Agreements. The Interim Advisory Agreements approved by the Boards are identical to the Proposed Agreements, as well as the Current Agreements, in all material respects except for their proposed effective and termination dates and provisions intended to comply with the requirements of the relevant SEC rule, such as provisions requiring escrow of advisory fees. Under the Interim Advisory Agreements, the Adviser would continue to manage a Fund pursuant to an Interim Advisory Agreement until a new advisory agreement was approved by stockholders or until the end of the150-day period, whichever would occur earlier. All fees earned by the Adviser under an Interim Advisory Agreement would be held in escrow pending shareholder approval of the Proposed Agreement. Upon approval of a new advisory agreement by stockholders, the escrowed management fees would be paid to the Adviser, and the Interim Advisory Agreement would terminate.
Information Regarding the Review and Approval of the Fund’s Current Advisory Agreement
The disinterested directors (the “directors”) of AB Bond Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously approved the continuance of the Company’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser in respect of AB Limited Duration High Income Portfolio (the “Fund”) at a meeting held onNovember 6-8, 2018 (the “Meeting”).
Prior to approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement, the directors had requested from the Adviser, and received and evaluated, extensive materials. They reviewed the proposed continuance of the Advisory
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 97 |
Agreement with the Adviser and with experienced counsel who are independent of the Adviser, who advised on the relevant legal standards. The directors also reviewed additional materials, including materials from an outside consultant, who acted as their independent fee consultant, and comparative analytical data prepared by the Senior Analyst for the Fund. The directors also discussed the proposed continuance in private sessions with counsel.
The directors considered their knowledge of the nature and quality of the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund gained from their experience as directors or trustees of most of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser, their overall confidence in the Adviser’s integrity and competence they have gained from that experience, the Adviser’s initiative in identifying and raising potential issues with the directors and its responsiveness, frankness and attention to concerns raised by the directors in the past, including the Adviser’s willingness to consider and implement organizational and operational changes designed to improve investment results and the services provided to the AB Funds. The directors noted that they have four regular meetings each year, at each of which they review extensive materials and information from the Adviser, including information on the investment performance of the Fund.
The directors also considered all factors they believed relevant, including the specific matters discussed below. During the course of their deliberations, the directors evaluated, among other things, the reasonableness of the advisory fee. The directors did not identify any particular information that wasall-important or controlling, and different directors may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The directors determined that the selection of the Adviser to manage the Fund and the overall arrangements between the Fund and the Adviser, as provided in the Advisory Agreement, including the advisory fee, were fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, expenses incurred and such other matters as the directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the directors’ determinations included the following:
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided
The directors considered the scope and quality of services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, including the quality of the investment research capabilities of the Adviser and the other resources it has dedicated to performing services for the Fund. The directors noted that the Adviser from time to time reviews the Fund’s investment strategies and from time to time proposes changes intended to improve the Fund’s relative or absolute performance for the directors’ consideration. They also noted the professional experience and qualifications of the Fund’s portfolio management team and other senior personnel of the Adviser. The directors also considered that the Advisory Agreement provides that the Fund
98 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
will reimburse the Adviser for the cost to it of providing certain clerical, accounting, administrative and other services to the Fund by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. Requests for these reimbursements are made on a quarterly basis and subject to approval by the directors. Reimbursements, to the extent requested and paid, result in a higher rate of total compensation from the Fund to the Adviser than the fee rate stated in the Advisory Agreement. The directors noted that the methodology used to determine the reimbursement amounts had been reviewed by an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s former Senior Officer/Independent Compliance Officer. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Adviser’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers, also was considered. The directors concluded that, overall, they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement.
Costs of Services Provided and Profitability
The directors reviewed a schedule of the revenues and expenses and related notes indicating the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser for calendar years 2016 and 2017 that had been prepared with an expense allocation methodology arrived at in consultation with an independent consultant retained by the Fund’s former Senior Officer/Independent Compliance Officer. The directors noted the assumptions and methods of allocation used by the Adviser in preparing fund-specific profitability data and understood that there are a number of potentially acceptable allocation methodologies for information of this type. The directors noted that the profitability information reflected all revenues and expenses of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund, including those relating to its subsidiaries that provide transfer agency and distribution services to the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of the profitability of the Advisory Agreement with the profitability of fund advisory contracts for unaffiliated funds because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors. The directors focused on the profitability of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund before taxes and distribution expenses. The directors concluded that the Adviser’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable.
Fall-Out Benefits
The directors considered the other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund and the underlying fund advised by the Adviser in which the Fund invests, including, but not limited to, benefits relating to12b-1 fees and sales charges received by the Fund’s principal underwriter (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser) in respect of certain classes of the Fund’s shares; and transfer agency fees paid by the Fund to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The directors recognized that the Adviser’s profitability would be somewhat lower without these benefits. The directors understood that the Adviser also might derive reputational and other benefits from its association with the Fund.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 99 |
Investment Results
In addition to the information reviewed by the directors in connection with the Meeting, the directors receive detailed performance information for the Fund at each regular Board meeting during the year.
At the Meeting, the directors reviewed performance information prepared by an independent service provider (the “15(c) service provider”), showing the performance of the Class A Shares of the Fund against a group of similar funds (“peer group”) and a larger group of similar funds (“peer universe”), each selected by the 15(c) service provider, and information prepared by the Adviser showing performance of the Class A Shares against a broad-based securities market index, in each case for the1-,3- and5-year periods ended July 31, 2018 and (in the case of comparisons with the broad-based securities market index) for the period from inception. Based on their review, and their discussion with the Adviser of the reasons for the Fund’s underperformance in certain periods, the directors concluded that the Fund’s investment performance was acceptable.
Advisory Fees and Other Expenses
The directors considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser and information prepared by the 15(c) service provider concerning advisory fee rates payable by other funds in the same category as the Fund. The directors recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of advisory fees because there are variations in the services that are included in the fees payable by other funds. The directors compared the Fund’s contractual effective advisory fee rate with a peer group median and took into account the impact on the advisory fee rate of the administrative expense reimbursement paid to the Adviser in the latest fiscal year.
The directors also considered the Adviser’s fee schedule for other clients pursuing a similar investment style to the Fund. For this purpose, they reviewed the relevant advisory fee information from the Adviser’s Form ADV and in a report from the Fund’s Senior Analyst and noted the differences between the Fund’s fee schedule, on the one hand, and the Adviser’s institutional fee schedule and the schedule of fees charged by the Adviser to any offshore funds and for services to anysub-advised funds pursuing a similar investment strategy as the Fund, on the other. The directors noted that the Adviser may, in some cases, agree to fee rates with large institutional clients that are lower than those reviewed by the directors and that they had previously discussed with the Adviser its policies in respect of such arrangements. The directors also discussed these matters with their independent fee consultant.
The Adviser reviewed with the directors the significantly greater scope of the services it provides to the Fund relative to institutional, offshore fund andsub-advised fund clients. In this regard, the Adviser noted, among other things, that, compared to institutional and offshore orsub-advisory
100 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
accounts, the Fund (i) demands considerably more portfolio management, research and trading resources due to significantly higher daily cash flows; (ii) has more tax and regulatory restrictions and compliance obligations; (iii) must prepare and file or distribute regulatory and other communications about fund operations; and (iv) must provide shareholder servicing to retail investors. The Adviser also reviewed the greater legal risks presented by the large and changing population of Fund shareholders who may assert claims against the Adviser in individual or class actions, and the greater entrepreneurial risk in offering new fund products, which require substantial investment to launch, may not succeed, and generally must be priced to compete with larger, more established funds resulting in lack of profitability to the Adviser until a new fund achieves scale. In light of the substantial differences in services rendered by the Adviser to institutional, offshore fund andsub-advised fund clients as compared to the Fund, the directors considered these fee comparisons inapt and did not place significant weight on them in their deliberations.
The directors noted that the Fund may invest in shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as these may be varied as a result of exemptive orders issued by the SEC. The directors also noted that ETFs pay advisory fees pursuant to their advisory contracts. The directors concluded, based on the Adviser’s explanation of how it may use ETFs when they are the most cost-effective way to obtain desired exposures for a fund, in some cases pending purchases of underlying securities, that the advisory fee for the Fund would be for services that would be in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided under the advisory contracts of the ETFs.
In connection with their review of the Fund’s advisory fee, the directors also considered the total expense ratio of the Class A shares of the Fund in comparison to a peer group and a peer universe selected by the 15(c) service provider. The Class A expense ratio of the Fund was based on the Fund’s latest fiscal year and the directors considered the Adviser’s expense cap for the Fund. The directors noted that it was likely that the expense ratios of some of the other funds in the Fund’s category were lowered by waivers or reimbursements by those funds’ investment advisers, which in some cases might be voluntary or temporary. The directors view expense ratio information as relevant to their evaluation of the Adviser’s services because the Adviser is responsible for coordinating services provided to the Fund by others. Based on their review, the directors concluded that the Fund’s expense ratio was acceptable.
Economies of Scale
The directors noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund contains breakpoints that reduce the fee rates on assets above specified levels. The directors took into consideration presentations by an independent consultant on economies of scale in the mutual fund industry and for the AB Funds, and
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 101 |
presentations from time to time by the Adviser concerning certain of its views on economies of scale. The directors also discussed economies of scale with their independent fee consultant. The directors also had requested and received from the Adviser certain updates on economies of scale in advance of the Meeting. The directors believe that economies of scale may be realized (if at all) by the Adviser across a variety of products and services, and not only in respect of a single fund. The directors noted that there is no established methodology for setting breakpoints that give effect to the fund-specific services provided by a fund’s adviser and to the economies of scale that an adviser may realize in its overall mutual fund business or those components of it which directly or indirectly affect a fund’s operations. The directors observed that in the mutual fund industry as a whole, as well as among funds similar to the Fund, there is no uniformity or pattern in the fees and asset levels at which breakpoints (if any) apply. The directors also noted that the advisory agreements for many funds do not have breakpoints at all. Having taken these factors into account, the directors concluded that the Fund’s shareholders would benefit from a sharing of economies of scale in the event the Fund’s net assets exceed a breakpoint in the future.
102 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
This page is not part of the Shareholder Report or the Financial Statements.
AB FAMILY OF FUNDS
US EQUITY
US CORE
Core Opportunities Fund
FlexFee™ US Thematic Portfolio
Select US Equity Portfolio
US GROWTH
Concentrated Growth Fund
Discovery Growth Fund
FlexFee™ Large Cap Growth Portfolio
Growth Fund
Large Cap Growth Fund
Small Cap Growth Portfolio
US VALUE
Discovery Value Fund
Equity Income Fund
Relative Value Fund
Small Cap Value Portfolio
Value Fund
INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL EQUITY
INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL CORE
FlexFee™ International Strategic Core Portfolio
Global Core Equity Portfolio
International Portfolio
International Strategic Core Portfolio
Sustainable Global Thematic Fund
Tax-Managed International Portfolio
Tax-Managed Wealth Appreciation Strategy
Wealth Appreciation Strategy
INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL GROWTH
Concentrated International Growth Portfolio
FlexFee™ Emerging Markets Growth Portfolio
INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL EQUITY(continued)
Sustainable International Thematic Fund
INTERNATIONAL/ GLOBAL VALUE
All China Equity Portfolio
International Value Fund
FIXED INCOME
MUNICIPAL
High Income Municipal Portfolio
Intermediate California Municipal Portfolio
Intermediate Diversified Municipal Portfolio
Intermediate New York Municipal Portfolio
Municipal Bond Inflation Strategy
Tax-Aware Fixed Income Portfolio
National Portfolio
Arizona Portfolio
California Portfolio
Massachusetts Portfolio
Minnesota Portfolio
New Jersey Portfolio
New York Portfolio
Ohio Portfolio
Pennsylvania Portfolio
Virginia Portfolio
TAXABLE
Bond Inflation Strategy
FlexFee™ High Yield Portfolio
FlexFee™ International Bond Portfolio
Global Bond Fund
High Income Fund
Income Fund
Intermediate Bond Portfolio
Limited Duration High Income Portfolio
Short Duration Portfolio
ALTERNATIVES
All Market Real Return Portfolio
Global Real Estate Investment Fund
Select US Long/Short Portfolio
Unconstrained Bond Fund
MULTI-ASSET
All Market Income Portfolio
All Market Total Return Portfolio
Conservative Wealth Strategy
Emerging Markets Multi-Asset Portfolio
Global Risk Allocation Fund
Tax-Managed All Market Income Portfolio
TARGET-DATE
Multi-Manager Select Retirement Allocation Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2010 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2015 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2020 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2025 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2030 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2035 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2040 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2045 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2050 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2055 Fund
Multi-Manager Select 2060 Fund
CLOSED-END FUNDS
Alliance California Municipal Income Fund
AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund
AllianceBernstein National Municipal Income Fund
We also offer Government Money Market Portfolio, which serves as the money market fund exchange vehicle for the AB mutual funds. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The Fund may impose a fee upon sale of your shares or may temporarily suspend your ability to sell shares if the Fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums because of market conditions or other factors. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. For copies of our prospectus or summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, visit us online at www.abfunds.com or contact your AB representative. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing.
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 103 |
NOTES
104 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 105 |
NOTES
106 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
NOTES
abfunds.com | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | 107 |
NOTES
108 | AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO | abfunds.com |
AB LIMITED DURATION HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10105
800 221 5672
LDHI-0152-0319
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
Not applicable when filing a semi-annual report to shareholders.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
Not applicable when filing a semi-annual report to shareholders.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
Not applicable when filing a semi-annual report to shareholders.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
Please see Schedule of Investments contained in the Report to Shareholders included under Item 1 of this FormN-CSR.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FORCLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OFCLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BYCLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
Not applicable to the registrant.
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board of Directors since the Fund last provided disclosure in response to this item.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule30a-2(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective at the reasonable assurance level based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this document.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.
The following exhibits are attached to this FormN-CSR:
EXHIBIT NO. | DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT | |
12 (b) (1) | Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
12 (b) (2) | Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
12 (c) | Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of theSarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant): AB Bond Fund, Inc.
By: | /s/ Robert M. Keith | |
Robert M. Keith | ||
President |
Date: | May 24, 2019 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: | /s/ Robert M. Keith | |
Robert M. Keith | ||
President |
Date: | May 24, 2019 |
By: | /s/ Joseph J. Mantineo | |
Joseph J. Mantineo | ||
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
Date: | May 24, 2019 |